By CASSANDRA REYES
After earning the Greater Boston League championship title, members of the Malden High School swim team went on to States. The remarkable performances at the States meet, held at MIT in Cambridge, MA, girls swimming on Saturday Feb. 15 and boys on Sunday Feb. 16, emphasized the dedication the team displayed throughout their undefeated season.
Advancing onto States for the girls was sophomore Blue and Gold member Lucia Quesada Nylen, sophomores Alexandra Lombardi and Samantha Forestier, freshmen Vivian Nguyen, Soukaina Hattal, and Felicia Lombardi and senior captain Bestine Cong. Whether the girls were swimming in a relay or an individual event, all of the girls made their mark, beating personal records and reaching personal goals. Quesada Nylen, Alexandra Lombardi, Nguyen, and Felicia Lombardi placed sixth in their 400 free relay. Felicia Lombardi placed 3rd in the 50 free and Nguyen placed 5th in the same event.
Swimming at states on the boys side was junior captain Kelvin Nguyen, juniors Nick Tang and Tristar To, sophomore Ryan Luu, and freshman Kevin Luu. Commenting on the States meet, Nguyen expressed that “even though [the team] did not come in first, States was a success.”
Just about all swimmers, on both the boys and the girls side, who got the opportunity to swim at the States meet, broke personal records and reached personal goals they set for the season and for that specific meet. New and old members of the team have contributed significantly, in various ways, throughout the season, all working towards that GBL Championship title.
Over the past couple of years, the team has grown, in numbers and in talent. The overall success for the school’s swim team this year just shows how dedicated and talented the young swimmers are. Coaches, classmates, staff members and many other members of the Malden community are proud of all of the boys and girls on the team. Many people, inside and outside of the team, are already anxious for what the swimmers will bring to the table next season.
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