On Friday, January 6th, the Colonia Swimming Patriots faced up against Union High School’s Swim Team. With a final score of 86 to 84, the Swimming Patriots proved their dedication.
After this meet, the Swimming Patriots had a season record of four wins and two losses. The Swimming Patriots have been toughing out this season with great focus. They have been showcasing their strength throughout this entire season, and this match truly exemplifies this. The drive, passion, and unrelenting force of the Swimming Patriots has pushed the team forward throughout this season.
In the meet against Union, the Swimming Patriots pushed their stamina to the limits. The Swimming Patriots and Union High were neck and neck throughout the entire swim meet. Tensions were high and stayed high throughout the entire meet. The Swimming Patriot’s win was not one that was easily won.
Coach DeGraw said, “This team is dedicated to prove themselves and pushed hard to execute their fourth fourth victory on the season.”
The 200 Medley Relay was swam by John Piccinic, Charlie Monzo, Adrian Hernandez, and Christopher Pear. They finished in second place, with a finishing time of two minutes and 4.9 seconds. Following up was the 200 Freestyle swam Mikolaj Jucha, who fought to earn second place, with a finishing time of two minutes and 16.01 seconds.
Three swimmers swam the 50 Freestyle. John Piccinic, Christopher Pear, and Alim Memon. Piccinic brought in first place for the Swimming Patriots, having completed the race in 24.08 seconds. Pear followed up right behind Piccinic, garnering a second place victory for the team, with a final time of 26.19 seconds. Memon exemplified Patriot Pride in this match, as he acquired his personal best score of the season. He pushed and got a final score of one minute and 15.76 seconds. Congratulations to all three of these swimmers for pushing themselves to their limits.
The 100 Butterfly was swam by Adrian Hernandez. Hernandez took a second place for the Colonia Patriots, with a time of one minute 15.96 seconds.
These events continued for quite a while. The Patriots were continuously taking second and third place, however. They didn’t take a first place again until the 100 Backstroke. The swimmers did not give up, and it goes to show.
Sylvia Rozalski took a first place finish during the 100 Backstroke, with her time of one minute 14.21 seconds. However, it’s not just Rozalski’s first place that gave the Patriots and edge during the 100 Backstroke. Julia Irizarry and Adriana Daniel followed up behind Rozalski in second and third place. They left Union in the dust during this event, and it put Colonia in a considerable lead.
“I felt that we really turned the match around and did really good,” Daniel said.
The match continued, until it came to the deciding event of the meet. The 400 Frestyle Relay. This relay decided whether or not the Swimming Patriots would come back with a win or not. Swam by Mikolaj Jucha, Mikayla Calitis, Christopher Pear, and John Piccinic, this match was filled with tension. Would the Patriots come back with a win for Colonia, or would they come back with their heads hung?
The Swimming Patriots won this part of the meet. With a time of four minutes 15.18 seconds, the four decided the win of the Swimming Patriots.
The Swimming Patriots showed extreme dedication and passion for their sport in this meet. It was obvious throughout the entire match that all of them pushed themselves to the limit. Congratulations, Swimming Patriots. Not only is the team the literal winner, they’re the winner in spirit, as well.
They are one team, they are one family, they are the Swimming Patriots.
