Schools

Madison Swim Looks For Another Title

Returning Liberty District champions look to improve standing in the state.

The Madison swim team won its third straight Liberty District championship last season. Now they're focusing on claiming second or better in the Northern Region Championship and improving their standing in the state.

They don't have that far to go. Last year the Vienna swimmers placed third in the Northern Region and ninth in Virginia. The overall swim program also saw a number of personal successes. Vienna men and women swimmers set eight team records.

This year's anticipated match-up pits Vienna against Langley. The Saxons won the Liberty District Championship a year before the Warhawks. Coach Andrew Foos expects Langley to try to upend Vienna's hold on the district title.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It is always a spirited and exciting meet especially since the kids all know each other from summer league and club swimming," Foos said. "We have a great relationship with their coaching staff so it's a really enjoyable, and yet highly competitive, environment."

The Warhawks are also looking forward to besting Thomas Jefferson High School and showing their strength at the Dec. 14 quad meet against state title winners Langley, Oakton and Robinson.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year's team features senior captain and All-American Consideration swimmer Evan Owens. The Warhawk made Northern Region champion in the 50-meter freestyle event and earned his consideration in 100-meter breaststroke. Foos expects Owens to continue to provide leadership in and out of the pool. 

Senior Howe Wang is the team's jack of all trades, performing strongly in the individual medley, distance freestyle and breaststroke events at district, regional and state levels. 

Grayson Campbell is one to watch out for on the diving side. Campbell ranked internationally for his age group -- and within a week he set the team record in diving.

Last year, the girls team entered the season having just graduated 13 swimmers and struggled to grow a young team. This year they plan on improving on an already strong season.

"The ladies are looking to improve our results in the district," Foos said. "With such a young team we have a lot of growing to do. Our meet sheets are, in many respects, an experiment in trial and error as we see what the girls are capable of and what our best lineup is."

Foos expects senior captain Laura Kellan to help bolster the team's results.

Kellan set a team record in the 500 last season and finished sixth in the state. 

Sophomores Sidney Owens and Laura Sullivan qualified for states and were part of three school record-breaking relays last year. They are part of a number of young, strong swimmers who will help the team along for years to come.


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