In an impressive display, the boys and girls swim teams put on a show at the Central Coast Section (CCS) meet, placing the girls team in a position to win big at states. The boys team also hopes to do well at states.

According to junior Lhaga Dingpontsawa, the CCS first-place finish for the girls was a memorable victory that will be remembered in Palo Alto High School history for years to come.

“CCS was huge for us as a team. We didn’t start off great, but we ended really well and that is a great boost for us before some of the group heads to States.”

junior Lhaga Dingpontsawa

The boys team, on the other hand, swam their way to seventh place, qualifying senior and Stanford University commit Alex Liang in his individual events as well as two of the other boys’ relays for States. The girls team won CCS last year, while the boys placed third; the competition was significantly tougher this year.

The team will now move onto the California Interscholastic Federation State meet in Clovis, Calif. starting on May 19 to face off against the very best swimmers and swimming programs that the “Golden State” has to offer.

At the state meet, the team wants to end their season on a very high note and make the 2017 campaign a notable one.

Last year at States, the girls team placed second, in addition to setting a series of records in the relays and individual events. The boys team placed fourth, with first-place finishes in Liang’s individual events of 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle.

“Our goal is to place high at the state meet,” Dingpontsawa said. “The team did well last year, but we want to improve from last year and maybe come in first place.”