BY KATELYN BUCHALTER
Editor in Chief
With the help of experienced leadership, freshmen and new recruits on the boys and girls swim teams started to make their mark during a rebuilding year. The girls concluded their season with a match against Sayreville while the boys ended their season with a 1-5 record in a GMC match against Marlboro.
Both teams fought hard and faced challenges. “Whilst we are in a tough division, we still had three very close meets,” expressed senior Thomas Fulton, who placed no lower than third in every event he swam. “Some of these teams have twice the amount of people we have. The fact we can even contend with them really shows the quality of our bunch.”
The girls confronted the struggle of restructuring a largely new team. “I knew we lost a lot of our stronger swimmers,” said junior standout Madelyn Hopkins, who placed first or second in a majority of her matches. “Having almost a completely new team, I think our season played out to my expectations.”
The season featured many highlights, from personal accomplishments to team bonding. “[My highlights were] hitting a new PR at GMCs and getting breakfast with the team after our Hour of Power practice,” said sophomore Elizabeth Techia.
Along with breaking a personal record, Hopkins broke a previous school record of 5:20 in the 500 free event with her time of 5:17. “I was able to break my own record, and I feel like we all swam much faster and stronger than previous meets,” said Hopkins about the performance she and her teammates put for in the GMC Tournament.
Regardless of the outcomes, Knights swim team members recognized their own achievements throughout the season. “My main personal highlight was getting a sub 24 second PB for my 50 freestyle,” said Fulton. “I have been working on improving in this specific event for years, and it’s finally nice to see the hard work paying off.”
Existing team members prioritized creating a stronger and tighter team for future seasons. “The team, in my opinion, was trying their best to make the season fun and easy for their teammates,” expressed junior Mohamed Elmokadem. “Especially since we had beginners this year, the more experienced swimmers such as Thomas Fulton were helping the new swimmers learn and become better overall.”
Experienced seniors made the team welcoming to rookies. “I went in thinking that I wouldn’t become close with the team since I’m a beginner, but my fellow swimmers were all so welcoming, and there were a lot of newbies that I could relate to,” said freshman Payton Kok.
Behind the leadership of older team members like All-Red Division and All-Conference swimmer Madelyn Hopkins, several freshmen, like her All-Red Division and All-Conference winning brother Tyler Hopkins earned accolades. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of such a great community! I am so proud that my hard work paid off,” said freshman All-Red Division swimmer Brianna Pagliuca.
The boys team finished the season strong by placing 7th out of 17 teams in the GMC Tournament, and both teams remain dedicated to constructing a more competitive team for next season. “I am hoping to recruit more swimmers for next season to build the team,” expressed Madelyn Hopkins.
Posted on 2/26/24
Photos by Caitlin Laflower and Dominic Marion
Knight Life 