This year, the swim team had a very impressive season with many individual athletes and relays making it to regions and three making it to states, as well as two relays. Also, winning the district championship, and their coach, Erica Bisaillon, won the district coach of the year award.
For the boys’ team, junior Lincoln Steele qualified for states in the 500 freestyle, and senior Keagan Black, qualified in the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Lincoln Steele, sophomore Ben Gresham, and freshman Elliot Steele qualified for the 400 freestyle relay. For the 200 medley relay, Elliot Steele, Keagan Black, sophomore Jacob Barney, and Ben Gresham qualified.
Lincoln Steele placed 13th in the 500 freestyle at the state meet. Keagan black placed 5th in the 100 butterfly and 4th in the backstroke. The 400 freestyle relay team placed 8th, and the 200 medley relay was disqualified.
This year, they had many new students who joined the swim team. Miles Holland, a junior, moved here this year and had a strong first year with the Wildcats and was very proud of the work that the team put in.
“This was by far the hardest-working swim team I have been on. We all worked hard for our district title,” Holland said.
Other new members to the Wildcat swim team were Lincoln and Elliot Steele; they are also in their first year with the team. Lincoln Steele won four races at the district championship and qualified for the state meet. Elliot Steele also went to the States for the relays.
This is Keagan Black’s 5th and final year on the Wildcats swim team and his 11th year swimming. Next year, he will be swimming at the Virginia Military Institute.
I’ve been swimming for most of my life now. I started when I was 7, and I’m now 18,” Black said. “This was my 5th and final year racing under the wildcat name, and it’s sad to be over. I can barely imagine a life without swimming because it’s so ingrained in my day-to-day life”.
While the team won’t have Black next year, this season’s successes cemented a bright future for the Wildcat swimmers.
