With the scent of chlorine in the air, Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Co-Ed Junior Varsity Swim team dives into 2022 with a new and exciting team, welcoming both returning swimmers and newcomers. Without wasting any time, the swimmers are all up and in the pool, hard at work in preparation for their upcoming meets.

Due to swim season overlapping with Girls Water Polo, the swim team had limited practice time in January, but that didn’t stop them from working hard to improve and become stronger before the competitions begin. The swimmers have morning practices before school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but the JV swimmers are only required to attend 2 of the 3 morning practices. The team is also in the weight room on Tuesday and Thursday mornings working on their muscles.

Freshman Emelia Asadoorian said, “I started taking swimming classes when I was about 3-years-old, and when I was 10, I joined a competitive swim team. I competed with that team for almost two years, but COVID-19 messed with my normal swim schedule. I am passionate about swim and work hard to improve my time. My teammates’ and my love for swimming constantly inspire me to keep going.”

The swimmers are already preparing for their upcoming meets with the Red/Gold practice meet, a practice meet which allows the swimmers to have a feel for the swim meet style and get a sense of what to expect. The swimmers gained experience at the practice meet as well as mentally prepared themselves. All of this was in anticipation for their first official meet on Feb. 22, which was held at Walnut High School. AHS’ swim team will also be hosting the Pacific League swim relays on Feb. 25th.

Coach Clark, AHS’ swim coach, said, “Our other non-league meets are Monrovia and the La Quinta Coed Relay Invitational. We swim against each of the other Pacific League schools (Burbank, Burroughs, CV, Glendale, Hoover, Muir, and Pasadena) before all the schools come together for the league championship meet at the end of the season.”

The JV events at a high school swim meet are:
200 yd. Medley Relay, 200 yd. Freestyle
100 yd. Individual Medley(IM)
50 yd. Freestyle
50 yd. Butterfly
100 yd. Freestyle
200 yd. Freestyle Relay
50 yd. Backstroke
50 yd. Breaststroke
400 yd. Freestyle Relay

Freshman Cana Ufodike said, “Before I did competitive swimming I did synchronized swimming. I stopped doing it for about 4 years but now that I attend AHS I knew I wanted to swim competitively.”

Apart from working hard to improve, the swimmers have formed numerous friendships with their teammates as they bond through their shared love of swimming and are exposed to the competitive swimming world together.

These talented swimmers will continue to work hard in preparation for their upcoming meets, working as a team to encourage one another, and we AHS students will be there to cheer them on.

Photo courtesy of DCI