Boys swimming, diving start strong

Team hopes to go undefeated this season, take down West Catholic League powerhouse

Captain+senior+Omri+Newman+practices+his+butterfly+stroke+to+prepare+for+the+upcoming+invitational+meet+this+weekend.

Keri Gee

Captain senior Omri Newman practices his butterfly stroke to prepare for the upcoming invitational meet this weekend.

After a successful first tri-meet on Feb. 28 against Menlo-Atherton High School and Menlo School, Palo Alto High School’s swim team has increasing confidence for a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) De Anza Division and Central Coast Section (CCS) championship.

While both Menlo School and Menlo-Atherton High School have had strong programs for the past few years, Paly has been extremely successful against them and wants to continue this throughout the season.

Senior varsity captain Omri Newman is confident that the team will continue to follow the pattern of winning from previous years.

“My predictions for the season are that we go undefeated in league meets and go on to win the SCVAL league championship just like we have done the past three years I’ve been at Paly,” Newman said.

Ever since the end of last season, Paly’s swimming and diving teams have focused on taking down Bellarmine College Preparatory at CCS, after Bellarmine’s 29th straight CCS title.

“We are going to take down Bellarmine at CCS,” senior Ethan Look said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, but our team is more than capable.”

Look is hopeful the success on Friday will energize the team.

After the meet, he is confident the team will go undefeated in the league.

“Expectations have not changed since the meet, if anything, expectations have risen because of our success yesterday,” Look said. “We have high hopes that everyone on our roster is going to take this immediate success as inspiration towards working harder on a daily basis.”

Newman mirrors Look’s remarks.

“I think the team needs to continue working hard at practice just like we have been doing so far, and we will continue winning,” Newman said.

While the team’s future is uncertain, Look is certain that they “just need to continue to work hard like we have been doing the past four weeks.” in order to win CCS.