Throughout this year’s season, CVCA swimmers have reached an unprecedented level of success. Through training hard from start to finish, the girls’ team walked away from Sectionals with a fifth-place finish. Swimming six days a week (many mornings beginning at 6:00 a.m.), dedication and practice helped the young team improve. The Royals qualified four swimmers (Kelly Ormond, Kaitlin Amicone, Laura Nice, and John MacMillan) for the District Meet at Cleveland State. The team also sent two relays to Districts: Nice, Amicone, Ormond, Andrea Nykamp, and Lindsay Rine. The girls’ 400 freestyle relay (Amicone, Nice, Nykamp, and Ormond) placed eighth at the Districts, missing States by one one-hundredth of a second. These remarkable swimmers left many parents, coaches, and other teams on the deck surprised by CVCA’s progress in only two seasons of existence.
“Our swimmers took the character challenge seriously,” shared Coach Heather Bailey Rios, a CVCA alumna. “I believe the Lord blessed that by giving us fast swims in the pool.” The season started with the question, “What will be scratched and engraved on you this season because you have committed to being a part of this fledgling swim team?” Led by Captains Erin Vlahos, Matt Hess, and Karen Harris, the team members responded by always trying to leave the pleasant aroma of Christ behind. Some girls made cookies for other coaches who had struggled through a bad day. Some went out of their way to befriend and encourage another new team. Any time the Royals competed, they encouraged and congratulated others. As a result, the team received positive feedback about the sportsmanship, kindness, and good behavior of the swimmers. So while the team showed Christ through attitude, character, and hard work, individual competitors swam their way to big drops in time and enough points to finish the team’s second season with a winning record.
Graduating only one senior, the swimming Royals anticipate much success for the years to come. Senior Sarah Field finished her high school career and second year as a swimmer with best times in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle, dropping a total of 11 seconds off her time in the 100.
One of the exciting highlights of the season occurred at the last dual meet of the season. The Royals entered the final race tied with the other team. To win the meet, the team needed to win the relay. The girls persevered and won the race, thereby winning the meet by two points. Even the officials complimented the girls on their toughness and determination.
Throughout the season, the Royals adhered to the team’s core values, ultimately striving to glorify God. As the team members can attest, “We swam hard. We swam true. We swam smart. We swam together. God worked through us, and for that we are thankful.”
Coach Heather Rios
