b'Making WavesThe CHS boys swim team helps to net a strong seasonBY KRISTEN RYAN F or the Columbia High School swim team, time in the water iswere excited for the girls, but the boys werent having their own chance to be private, focused and alone, but each time they turn their heads tocelebrated until this year. take a breath, they hear the cheers of their teammates, coaches andThe 2019 boys team state tournament meet came down to the last relay. parents. Energy vibrates through the pool, and they can feel it.Keenan had done her research and knew that Columbia and Morristown were Swimming is a unique sport at Columbia in having no tryoutsseparated by hundredths of seconds, and that this meet would be extremely close. and no cuts. Some swimmers have been competing since theyGoing into the final relay event, they were down and Keenan knew they had were tiny, while others have no competitive swimming experi- to earn first and second place to win. She split the two, four-man relay teams and ence. Still, everyone is welcome and everyone can excel.distributed the four strongest swimmers across two teams. The strategy worked: You can jump in the pool and have a really good shot at scoring points. YouThe relay teams took first and second, and both the girls and the boys teams only have to beat one guy, Head Coach Maggie Keenan says. We covered everymoved into the second round of the state tournamentthe first time in more lane in every single meet. We had a lot of superstars, but we also had a lot ofthan a decade that the boys had made it to the second round. Many of the girls novice swimmers who were really able to contribute.attended the meet to support their teammates. The girls team outnumbers the boys three to one, and their undefeatedIn the boys next meet, round two of the state tournament, senior Declan seasons, appearances at the Meet of Champions and state championships areLynch broke the teams record in the 100-yard freestyle event. He beat the record numerous.set by Henry Scott in 2010 by a tenth of a second. The boys have been in the shadow of the girls team, Keenan says. TheyI was so happy to see my time up on the board, Lynch says. I had memo-Swimmers top L to R: Kamaria Graham, Evan Fagan, and Annabelle Jin-HendelSwimmers bottom L to R: Skyler Martinez, Nelson Paraison, and Addie Wiener. Photos by Jane Alexander.26/ matters magazine / school 2020'