Swimming Looks to ACCAL Championships

As the month of April comes to an end, May springs upon us. This means the culmination of most spring sports, such as baseball, lacrosse, and of course, swimming. Swimming is usually a sport that has been dominated by high schools in Orinda and Lafayette in the past. Berkeley High School often debunks that misconception and surprises their competition with their incredible mix of talent and determination year after year. Both the BHS men’s and women’s swim teams have continued their tradition of excellence and are looking to defeat their fierce competition in the upcoming North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs.

Senior captains, Aly Levine, Phoebe Morgan, Simone Cobb, and Delia Salomon, lead the BHS women’s team. Currently, the BHS women’s swim team is doing very well and has a strong chance of capturing the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League (ACCAL) title, especially after a big win over league rival Alameda High School on April 27.

The men, led by seniors Alex Niemeyer, Elton Steinberg, and sophomore Ko Costarella, although a smaller team, have also been very strong. It will be unknown how many swimmers from the men’s and women’s team will qualify for NCS until May 16 when the final swimmers are announced, but you better believe that BHS will be well represented.
So far, the women’s team has done fantastic. Their strong dedication and hard work is paying off. Their success has even come as a surprise to Morgan. “I wasn’t sure how we would do and I was a little concerned because we [the captains] would have liked a bit more dedication this season from some swimmers, but I’m really proud and I think we’re doing great.”

The victory over Alameda was huge for the Yellow Jackets, considering it’s the senior’s first victory over Alameda during their tenure at BHS, but it also propels them into first place in the ACCAL. “We get second to them every year at league championships,” said senior Rachel Harrington about the win. “We are so excited.”

According to Salomon, the preparation for NCS and the tough late season league meets are no different than any other. “The routine is the same for every meet in the season.” However, at the end of the regular season, Salomon admits that training becomes easier, but does not taper, as the swimmers rest to prepare their bodies for NCS. The only difference between the beginning of the season and now is that the swimmers are given faster suits, and they begin to shave down, as they look to get any kind of competitive edge on their opponents. Berkeley will need every edge they can get as Northern California hosts some of the best swimmers in the country. Nevertheless, if BHS can continue to put in the hard work and dedicate themselves to this last month of the season, an NCS title is very attainable.

Photos:

• Swimming (Taelor Viet)