Boys Swimming Races to Second in Division — The Midwood Argus

By NING ZHENG

The Boys Swim Team capped issues off with a powerful 8-2 document this season, which got here to an finish with a 3rd place end within the 400-yard freestyle relay of their January 14 meet towards James Madison High School. Despite the 56–35 loss to their undefeated opponent, the workforce’s dedication was clear, with cheers of encouragement echoing by way of the pool louder than the splashes themselves.

The last meet was stuffed with shut finishes. In the 500-yard freestyle, sophomore Lasha Rainauli completed second (5:25.87), and within the 50-yard freestyle, Arthur Arapaki ‘28 rocketed to the finish in 24.67 seconds, missing first place by just 1.46 seconds.

Mentorship played a key role. “This year I was able to make friends with some incoming freshmen and help them in the way that my friends helped me when I was a freshman,” Arapaki said.

“You’ve obtained to handle your complete workforce,” mentioned Captain Anton Bereznitski ‘26. “For every meet, I make sure everyone knows what events they’re swimming, their lineups, and their order. I also make sure everyone gets there on time.”

“It was a new experience and a new sport for me,” mentioned Aleksandr Smykov ‘27, a primary yr swimmer. “The sense of community is my favorite part; it’s very welcoming and friendly. Everyone works well together.”

Arapaki set clear objectives for himself, aiming “to go sub-55 for 100 free, sub-24 for 50 free, and sub-one minute for 100 fly.” Swimming competitively is without doubt one of the finest exercises a pupil can get. “I’ve personally gotten faster and improved overall cardiovascularly and in my muscular strength,” he added.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the workforce of Nazar Palamarchuk ‘28, Leo Budovich ‘27, Bereznitski, and Austin Mei ‘29 placed third with a time of 1:42.06, while the 200-yard medley relay also earned a third-place finish, with key contributions from seniors Josiah Jones and Jamol Amanullaev.

For Jones, the season marked the culmination of his journey. “It’s definitely the end of an era,” he said. “I would say it’s a little bittersweet, but I enjoyed it. It was fun.” His role in a comeback victory against Prospect Heights registers as one of his personal favorite memories.

“Making finals this year was huge for me,” Bereznitski said. “Last year I couldn’t make it, however this yr I did. It was a very good feeling.”

Amanullaev mirrored on what his expertise on the workforce has meant to him. “Honestly, I felt amazing,” he mentioned. “The guys were amazing, and the whole team was incredible throughout my three years. It’s the best time I’ve had at Midwood.” His proudest second was when the workforce beat Goldstein head-to-head on December 5. Looking forward, Amanullaev plans to pursue the pre-dental area whereas persevering with to swim in his day by day life.

Finishing second within the division behind solely Madison meant the workforce needed to preserve pushing regardless of its challenges. “After a loss or as the season wore on, everyone was getting tired, but we kept giving our all in practices and meets,” Zachary Kiselev ‘28 said.

“This year, the team’s much more linked,” mentioned Kiselev. “There’s more of a spirit, especially with the freshmen and sophomores. We’re all one team, not just split into upperclassmen and underclassmen.”

“We support each other and talk things through,” Smykov mentioned. “Sometimes teammates will teach you how to improve your technique. If they see you doing something wrong, they’ll show you how to fix your strokes.”

Team supervisor Addisyn Zhang ‘29 performed an necessary position behind the scenes. “People might be surprised to learn that being a manager is actually a lot of fun,” she mentioned. “My main job is managing responsibilities at meets, recording times, keeping score, bringing motivation, and taking pictures and videos. The best part of the season has definitely been being right at the edge of the pool for the relays. There’s nothing like the energy of recording those close finishes.”

Through demanding practices, shut races, and supportive teamwork, the boys demonstrated grit and camaraderie, making certain that every meet meant extra to them than simply the ultimate rating.