Varsity Coed Swimming Dives into League Season

NATE GARCIA
Assistant Sports Editor

Chlorine isn’t often known as the best hair product, but it is recognized as an essential ingredient by the AHS varsity swim team, which spends its after school hours lightening their hair and darkening their skin under the spring sun.
They currently have a league record of 1-1, having lost to Gabrielino on Feb. 26, and defeated Bell Gardens on April 4.. This year, one of the teams’ greatest strengths is that the team size has doubled the amount compared to last years’ team.
“Last year, we had [half of the swimmers] we have this year, [and now that number has doubled] which is very beneficial [to us as a team]. We work more on strength exercises rather than on technique,” co-captain Danielle Giberti said.
The team holds practice at the Granada Park Aquatic Center daily at 3:15 p.m., where they start off with a 450 meter kick-pull-swim, then move on to different sets assigned by either Head Coach Sarah Duran or Assistant Coach Nathan Duran. The Moors sometimes begin their school day with a 6 a.m. morning practice in the weight room. Since most of the team is comprised of newcomers, the coaches maintain intense practices in order for the team to reach its potential.
“I am really surprised, […] a lot of these guys don’t know that much about swimming, but they catch on quick. The way they’re going, it’s going to be a great run at league finals and CIF,” Duran said.
The Moors currently have their eyes fixed on their next meet which will be against Schurr on April 11 at Schurr High School.