With a pool record breaking performance in the 100 meter backstroke, Ariana Zhao ’25 helped propel Andover Girls Swim and Dive to a 96.5-81.5 victory against Loomis Chaffee. The team traveled to Windsor, Connecticut to claim victory in its final dual meet of the season this past Saturday.
According to Veronica Kisova ’23, the team showcased many different personal bests. One of such performances included Zhao’s, which broke Loomis’s pool record.
“Everyone swam really well. It’s amazing to see how much everyone has improved and how strong the team is looking heading into our last few weeks. A couple races stood out. One of our freshmen broke a record for the 100 [meter] backstroke at Loomis. Her name is Ariana Zhao. She is a really positive person on the team and it’s great to see her achieving her personal goals for the season,” said Kisova.
Elissa Kim ’24 noted the high intensity displayed by teammates at Loomis, which had an unfamiliar pool. She noted that the team overcame their nerves about the pool and kept a positive mentality.
“Everyone had a really good time there with lots of cheering, especially for tighter races. Loomis had a meter pool that people were hesitant about, but it didn’t affect our mentality going into it. There was great team spirit and it was fun seeing everyone go fast times,” said Kim.
Kisova described the team dynamic in a very individually focused sport like swimming. She added that Andover’s relay teams performed especially well.
“I think it just really depends on the people you have on the team and right now, everybody’s personality is so amazing and positive in the water. We all get along so well. We are so close with one another and we trust one another to race as fast as they can, so as a team, we can be as fast as possible and place as high as possible. Our relays were doing really well at this meet. As a team, it was great to see us swim as fast as we could and the team aspect of the relays was working really well,” Kisova said.
The team will now focus on preparing for the final meets of the season. Kisova noted the team’s excitement for their upcoming meet against Phillips Exeter Academy.
“We have about three weeks left in our season and each weekend we have a championship meet. This weekend we have an upcoming meet against Exeter which is going to be a very exciting meet especially because over half the team is lowerclassmen who have never gotten to experience that Andover versus Exeter environment. I think that is going to be an amazing meet for them to get to experience that and to get to race. After that, we have a few of our championships which will be great experiences to have that team environment ang get to achieve the goals of possibly placing as a team highly at these meets,” said Kisova.
Andover Girls Swimming & Diving will face Exeter away on Saturday.
