Sussex Academy swimming sweeps CR, IR in tri-meet
![Christian Wright, a Sussex Academy swim team sophomore, is now the school’s record holder in the 50 freestyle after finishing in 22.82 seconds. Celebrating the accomplishment are supportive family members (l-r) mom Kimberly Wright, Christian, and grandparents John Wright and Mina Wright. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/PXL_20240123_223505719.RAW-01.COVER__0.jpg)
Three top swimming programs in the Henlopen Conference – Sussex Academy, Caesar Rodney and Indian River – raged nautical warfare against one another Jan. 23 at the Sussex Academy Aquatics Center, and the Seahawks squads came away unscathed.
“It’s always awesome to win! We have a good group of girls that keep the energy up. We’ve been undefeated for a long time, so keeping up the energy is exciting, especially during a tri-meet when you have people in different lanes and only swim two per event versus good competition,” Sussex Academy junior Addi McKay said.
McKay grabbed three points for her squad in the 100 breaststroke and was a member of the 200 medley and freestyle teams that took home first place to secure duplicate 62-32 victories over their conference rivals.
“We know each one of us has to put in our own effort, and that if we believe in each other, then we can compete the way we want to compete,” McKay said.
The girls not only placed in each event but also finished 1-2 in the 400 freestyle relay and 200 individual medley.
On the boys' side, the Seahawks edged out Caesar Rodney 52-42 and defeated Indian River 59-35 as one of their younger swimmers secured his spot in history.
Christian Wright became the owner of Sussex Academy’s school record in the 50 freestyle. The sophomore said it was a shock to break the record, but something he knew he could do if he worked hard.
“I established this goal when I first started swimming in eighth grade. I’ve always been a free sprinter; I’ve always loved swimming and feel obligated to the sport.” Wright said
Breaking the record did not come easy, and neither did the top spot during the tri-meet itself. Indian River senior Alexander Arnold went swim cap to swim cap with Wright in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Wright’s record-breaking 22.82 edged out Arnold’s 23.08 in the 50 and while Wright’s 50.02 was close to a school record, it was enough to beat Arnold’s 51.54.
“We finally got those record boards up there, and to see them being broken is just fantastic! He was so pumped up,” assistant coach Stephanie Hartsoe said.
Both Sussex Academy teams improved to 5-0 on the year and will look to continue their winning ways when they welcome Polytech at 3:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26.
“It’s going to be the first [dual-meet] match to get us back into the swing of things, which is good, because it’s going to be a grind for the next couple of weeks so our kids need this meet,” assistant coach Nico Caceres said.
![Sussex Academy senior Gracie Maughan dives in to win the 100 butterfly during a tri-meet against Caesar Rodney and Indian River Jan. 23. Both teams swept their Henlopen Conference opponents.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9476.jpg)
![Seahawks junior Jaxon Laux swims the breaststroke to help his 200 medley team secure first place, touching at 1:48.81.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9216.jpg)
![Sussex Academy senior Gracie Maughan slices through the water during the 200 medley relay her team won after finishing at 1:57.85.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9334.jpg)
![Seahawks eighth-grader John Bain shows the girls' team isn’t the only one boasting impressive youth, as he takes first in the 200 free with a time of 1:59.10.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9461.jpg)
![Battling her teammate in the 200 individual medley, Seahawks sophomore Victoria Evans grabs a valuable three points by finishing second.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9637.jpg)
![Sussex Academy eighth-grader Gretchen Maughan swims the breaststroke on the way to her 2:23.58 victory in the 200 individual medley.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9644.jpg)
![Seahawks senior Brayden Trout’s 56.92 in the butterfly is proof there is a type of trout capable of a little flight.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9713.jpg)
![Although it was all whitewater during his school record 22.82 in the 50 freestyle, Christian Wright pops up during his 50.02 100 freestyle, which was nearly another record.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_9841.jpg)
![Sussex Academy eighth-grader Gretchen Maughan takes one last stroke before her turnaround during her winning 5:49.54 in the 500 freestyle.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_0141.jpg)
![Seahawks senior Itzel Gomez Sanchez helps her 200 freestyle relay team finish first with a time of 1:51.02.](/sites/capegazette/files/2024/01/field/image/DSC_0260.jpg)