JARED DANGREMOND, staff writer
A number of Johns Creek divers finished their record setting season yesterday at Georgia Tech in the state championship and today the swimmers are leaving to do the same thing. The swimmers are heading off to Atlanta to compete in the same pool the olympic athletes used in 1996.
Coming off an extremely successful season with over ten school records set, most expected an easy success for the team this year, but that was not the case.
“We lost a lot of amazing swimmers last year. Kevin Cooney, Emily Ranzau, Kaitlin Kitchens, Abby Harty, the list goes on. We didn’t know how well we would fare,” said senior Kevin Webb.
At the team tryouts in October, however, a different story was being written. With an improved group of returning members and an outstanding class of freshmen, the team looked as good as ever.
The team ventured out to their first meet in early November and threw aside all doubt that they lost their anchors to graduation. The success continued and rolled into something that even the coach, math teacher Ms. Lisa Gooden, could not imagine.
“I was so impressed by the energy and effort the team put in. It was a sight to behold,” said Coach Gooden.
With multiple impressive meets, team stars began to emerge. Senior Colt Williamson continued to break records, including ones he set himself. His success was impressive enough for Georgia Tech, where he is going on a swimming scholarship.
Sophomore Michael Taylor has post high school swimming aspirations as well, including heading to the Olympics. Taylor has been swimming since before he could walk, and it shows. He has personally broken two records this year and holds the junior national title for the 200 backstroke. Let that sink in. This man walks around the hallways like anyone else, but he is number one in the United States of America for his age group. His record is unmatched in the state of Georgia, even by people older than him.
The divers have done exceptionally well this season too. Freshman Abby Moonan practices almost every night for multiple hours at Marist, along with junior Mary Grace Cordtz. Both girls dove on a summer team and have now adjusted to stricter high school meets.
“It was hard to adjust from summer diving to being on a high school team, but we all did it. And it’s great to be on a team with so many great people,” said Moonan.
Sophomore Allison Lopez finished in first place at the Lambert Dual Meet and qualified for state at the Fulton County Championship Meet at Marist High School.
“Qualifying for state was not easy, but I am very excited to represent the Johns Creek Swim and Dive team at Georgia Tech. With the right amount of focus and motivation, I know my team and I will achieve success and help add to the swim team’s overall score,” said sophomore Allison Lopez.
Freshman Martha Anne finished the season strong at the Greater Atlanta Christian(GAC) Invitational throwing six impressive dives.
Sophomore Emma Brown qualified for state at the County Championship Meet and earned an overall place of fifth with Lopez placing in sixth. Moonan was right behind them and finished in eighth place.
The swim and dive girls pulled off their fifth consecutive year as Fulton County champions and the team as a whole finished second in the state in the 6A group, the group of the largest schools in Georgia.
Both the swim and dive team continued to dominate, even on an away meet without key teammates.
“We had this meet in November where a bunch of our best weren’t able to be there and we were all pretty discouraged. We kind of felt like we lost before we competed. But the whole team rose to the occasion and we actually did very well,” said freshman Tatum Smith.
The team has many state-qualifying members, and as they head to the state championship, it is important to examine the adversity they have faced. Also, there are six alternatives adding to the state team.
The team has had an amazing season and has proven that they can rise above any expectations that people have for them, including their own.
Both the athletes and coaches have been preparing extensively for the state meet.