The girls’ swim and dive team will be headed to regionals at Orlando’s Lake Highland Prep on Saturday after pushing through districts and the Cape Coast Conference. To qualify for regionals, individual swimmers or divers must place in the top 16 in an event.

“I think my team has done really well, we’ve put in a lot of effort and we’re dropping a lot of time,” freshman Nicole Riopelle said.

The team has had to overcome challenges, according to freshman Lillian Lohse.

“We all worked to support each other in and out of the pool,” Lohse said. “With a new team joining the league this year, we all had to work hard to keep our runner-up spot.”

COVID-19 has provided another challenge for the swim and dive team. Because of vaccines and social distancing regulations, some changes have been made for better or worse.

“This year we were not able to have spectators at most of our meets due to Covid,” Lohse said. “But the rules have definitely been altered from last year making it easier for all of us, for example we don’t have to wear masks.”

By Matthew Da Silva