Girls Swimming & Diving (4–0) competed in its first large-school meet of the season this past weekend at the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championship (Easterns). Over four days, the team faced 28 other high school teams, many of whom Andover competed against last year when the team placed seventh. These races drew a large crowd, both in person and online. Andover placed ninth with 302 points, showcasing the incredible skill and hard work it put in this season.
Each swimmer competed in two individual events and two relays. Facing some of the most competitive swim and dive teams in the nation, Andover’s athletes were pushed to their limits, resulting in numerous personal records. Chloe Ru ’27, who placed ninth in the 50-Yard Freestyle and sixth in the 100-Yard Backstroke, highlighted standout performances from both herself and others.
“I [got a personal record] in everything… A lot of people PRed. Sophia Tolokh [’28] swam her first sub 2:02 [200-Yard Freestyle], which was really exciting. Hannah Song [’27] got really close to the school record. We also only brought one freshman this year, Maddie Yang [’29], and she did really well, and she was really supportive throughout the whole meet,” said Ru.
Following the preliminary heats, the top 24 swimmers advanced to the evening finals, held each evening of the week. Although the team was already close-knit, four days of constant competition and cheering deepened those connections and fostered stronger synergy in relay events. Maddie Yang ’29, the only Junior representing Girls Swimming and Diving at Easterns, reflected on her teammates’ kindness and support.
“At first I was a little nervous. Being the only freshman, it’s a bit nerve-racking, especially since there’s no one in your grade that you can hang out with. But honestly, in the first few minutes, all my worries disappeared. I love hanging out with the Uppers, Lowers, and even the Seniors, who I didn’t think I would be able to connect with at first. I connected with them really well, so they were all really supportive of me,” said Yang.
The duration of Easterns required high endurance and energy from every member of the team. That commitment manifested not only in the pool but also on the deck, where swimmers cheered relentlessly for their teammates. Camden Schopler ’27 described the atmosphere as one of high energy and unwavering support.
“Madelyn Esposito [’27] was cheering for everybody, and it was really nice to see her cheer for every single person on the team. The energy was definitely hype, everybody was cheering for everyone. I lost my voice from screaming, and it was definitely [even] more hype for finals. We’d make little tunnels for the finalists,” said Schopler.
Girls Swimming and Diving will face Exeter at home for their Andover/Exeter meet next Saturday.
