ILS Swim Wins 3 District Titles, Qualifies for States
November 10, 2020
On October 31st and November 5th, the ILS Swim Team competed at Districts and Regionals at Gulliver Prep and Stuart in order to qualify for States. The District meets on Halloween saw three ILS swimmers take home district championships in their races.
In the girls’ relays, they qualified for Regionals in the 200 individual medley, 200 free and 400 free. The girls improved their times compared to Districts at Regionals.
“The girls team was united and pushed each other to swim their best,” said ILS swim head coach Mrs. Aimee Cerdeiras.
The team consisted of senior Ava Chandler, juniors Samantha Getchell, Catalina Lujan-Rodriguez and Sophia Mena; sophomores Eliza Chandler, Juliana Lujan-Rodriguez, Madison Walsh; and freshmen Mariam Osman and Valentina Gonzalez.
“It was fun and refreshing to be back in the pool and getting to see old teammates,” said senior Ava Chandler.
The boys, meanwhile, had three District champions!
Senior Yohance Forde won in the 50 free. Senior Pedro Beron Vera won in the 100 fly. Sophomore Pedro Lopez won in both the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. Ford also finished 2nd in the 100 fly abc Vera finished 3rd in the 500 free.
“To become a district champion as a senior feels amazing. It’s something for years that’s been out of reach and finally you reached the top,” said senior Yohance Ford.
At Regionals last Thursday, Lopez finished in second the 100 back and 3rd in the 200 IM. Vera finished 5th in the 500 free and 9th in the 100 fly. Forde finish sixth in the 100 fly and 50 free along with setting a new school record with his 50 free time of 23:36.
“It’s quite remarkable what the swim teams achieved. Without any real practice, meets or any real season at all the team fought through adversity and made it too regionals,” said ILS Athletic Director Nick Fernandez.
All three boys qualified again for the FHSAA State meet. Lopez qualified in both the 200 IM and the 100 Back. Beron Vera qualified in both the 100 fly and the 500 Free and Forde in the 100 fly. The state meet will be at Sailfish Splash Waterpark Aquatics center in Stuart, FL on Saturday, November 14th.
