After many years of the Rockville High School Boys’ swim team having success at states, the Rockville Girls’ swim team shone bright and made history of their own at states. The girls placed 2nd at the 3A/2A state swimming meet, marking the highest finish in program history and a major milestone for the school
Heading into the meet, expectations were high. With the team scores projections being extremely close, every point and every race mattered.
“Swimming, you have the points, you can kind of tell how close the meet is going to be,” said senior captain Paige Henry. “We were seeded second, but everything was within 20 points, so it could have changed very quickly.”
That left little room for mistakes. In previous years, the team struggled with small errors, including relay disqualifications, that cost the team many points and affected its final standings. However, this year the team entered the meet with a different mindset and confidence.
“We were expecting to get 2nd, and we’re glad that we did,” said Henry.
Henry played a key role in the team’s 2nd place finish. She competed in the 500 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay, and 200 freestyle relay. Contributing both individually and as a team. Her times meant way more than just her placement, but they also meant a lot to her.
“I dropped a lot of time and went best times that I’ve ever, like, in my life,” Henry said.
While individual performances were crucial, the team’s mentality proved to be the factor that boosted their confidence at states. Senior captain Cheyanne Feldman emphasized how the team’s ability to lock in and remain calm under pressure set them apart from the competition.
“I think the fact that my team could lock in when we were under pressure, especially with the pressure of being at States and competing against all the best teams in the county and region,” said Cheyanne Feldman. “It’s really hard to do well under pressure and continue locking in after a huge season.”
Throughout Feldman’s four years at Rockville, she has seen the boys succeed at states and bring home trophies. However, this season changed.
“Throughout, like, my career at Rockville, it was really the boys who did well,” said Feldman. “We were really, really happy that the girls finally got some trophies for the school.”
For these seniors, the accomplishment is more than just a 2nd place finish. It reflects the four years of hard work and dedication they put into the Rockville High School swim program. From only a few people earning medals a couple of years ago to the entire team placing 2nd at this year’s States, hard work does really pay off.
“States is something that really shows that if you put in your hard work and effort, you can get medals and ribbons and trophies for it,” Feldman said.
The team hopes to continue this momentum into next season and possibly win it all.
“I hope that next year the girls’ team stays strong. I will certainly miss them, but I know they will do just as well,” said senior captain Caroline Cooke.
