mason Boys’ Swim Team takes on Lakota East and West

Abby Waechter | Staff Writer

Junior Diego Fortson swims the 200 IM (individual medley)

The Mason Boys’ Swim team triumphed over Lakota East and West Friday night at the Mason High School Natatorium. 

The team earned 301 points beating Lakota West by 125 points, and Lakota East by 195 points. Sophomore Max Plumley and senior Kevin Wu helped pave the way for the Comets with powerful contributing performances in both their individual events and relays. Plumley won the 50 free and led off the 400 free relay with times of 22.44 and 48.43, while Wu finished second runner-up in the 100 free and swam breaststroke on the winning medley relay with times of 50.18 and 27.12.

The team’s relays were first in all three events: 200 yard medley, 200 yard freestyle and 400 freestyle with the help of seniors Jojo Minezawa, Alex Zhang and Braden Osborn, juniors Elijah Devyak, Sean Huggins and Carl Bloebaum, and sophomore Drew Fox. The Comets also took first, second and third in the 200 yard medley relay with the first place relay defeating Lakota West by over 12 seconds. 

As the Greater Miami Conference championship and post season gets closer, senior Kevin Wu feels the team came together and did what they needed to do to outpace their competitors from East and West. 

“There was some pressure on us tonight since it was against Lakota, but I think that the team as a whole did really well tonight,” Wu said. “Everyone put their heads down and did what they needed to do to secure the win, and to see that was just amazing.”

The underlying friendships between swimmers from Mason and Lakota made Friday’s win all the more meaningful. Head Coach Mark Sullivan said that the relationship between the opposing teams – one formed by training together- encourages the boys to step up as a team and race at a higher level. 

 “I think we have such a strong friendship with those guys, yet at the same time once those races start they definitely seem like they want to compete very well,” Sullivan said. “They definitely don’t hold back even though they know each other and train with each other on an everyday basis, and manage to stay consistent [in their events].”

Winning all but two meets this season, Mason boys’ swimming is looking forward to the upcoming weeks as GMC championship, Sectionals, and Districts quickly approach. Sullivan said that the boys have been displaying excellent performances this season and hopes to again capture the GMC title for the 4th year in a row. 

“We have a solid shot at repeating as GMC champions, which I know is always a big feather in our cap,” Sullivan said. “[After sectionals and districts] we should be in really shape for the state meet, and my goal for the team is to try and finish in the top three.” 

Photo by Abby Waechter

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