Swim team breaks several school records

Team takes on two invitational meets

by Natalie Ditsler, Staff Writer|November 19, 2015

Natalie Ditsler

The Lions made it into the top 16 and moved on to the night session. The session lasted till around 10:00 p.m. before starting their two hour drive home.

The swim season is coming closer to an end with invitationals now over. The past two weeks the swimmers traveled to UT and A&M to compete against other teams in the area. The team placed 3rd at UT behind Cedar Park and Dripping Springs.

“It went really well,” junior Madeleine Phillips said. “A lot of people did their best times.”

Junior Tanner Hartwick placed 2nd and 3rd in 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle. Junior Ricardo Vargas and sophomore Sarah Cano both placed 3rd in 100 butterfly. The Boys’ team also won the 200 freestyle relay.

“Honestly just all of us pushing each other everyday in practice [helped us win],” junior Tanja Milanovic said. “Although swimming is an individual sport, on the Leander Lion swim team we really emphasize team effort, and Coach Sully is a boss, he pushes everyone.”

Milanovic set a school record in the 200 Freestyle. She placed first in both 5A and 6A in the 200 Freestyle. She also got 3rd overall and first in 5A in the 500 freestyle. At A&M she broke more records along with making 3rd in 200 IM and 2nd in 500 freestyle. 

“It feels good,” Milanovic said.“To me school records and every accomplishment I achieve in this sport, just represents the hard work I put in.”[/pullquote] It truly is an achievement of hard work.”

The Girls’ and Boys’ teams placed 7th and 18th at A&M invitationals. Sophomore Leon Ward and sophomore Matt Whieldon made 15th in 100 butterfly and 11th in 500 free for the Boys’ team.  Junior McKenzie Sumner made 6th in 500 free for the Girls’ team. Cano placed 4th in 200 IM and 1st place in 100 back, breaking a school record.

“I hope we have the best meets we can possibly have and that starts with me and just coming of with a end of the season plan that pushes these guys to their limits,” Coach Sully said. “Then we slowly start to come off of that intensity and just really store up energy. The rest is up to them, how much sleep they’re getting at night and how much effort they’re putting into their training. What I hope is that for most of our athletes that all that comes together on those days, and when it does it’s pretty awesome.”

The next meet will be December 5 at the Belton Year End Invitational. District, regionals and state are right around the corner for the team.