Sussex Academy swim squads clinch Henlopen South

For the 10th season in a row, the Sussex Academy girls’ swim team is the best squad in the Henlopen South following its 118-51 victory over Indian River Jan. 9.

The boys made it three division titles in a row with a 109-60 win, ensuring a return to the water was mutually successful for both teams.

“Super exciting!” said assistant coach Stephanie Hartsoe. “We had a couple state cuts as well. They're doing awesome; they're working hard.”

Only standing room was available and despite the small schools involved, each boasted an impressive number of swimmers. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Henlopen South rivals.

“We knew what we were getting into,” senior Angel Figueroa said. “All we needed was just to pump each other up, because that's what drives us to swim faster.”

“They are one,” Hartsoe said. “They really want everybody to do their best, and everybody is for everybody. It's wonderful.”

Senior Victoria Evans, sophomore Gretchen Maughan, and juniors Camila Figueroa and Samantha Petty teamed up to win the 200 medley with a 1:59.15 time. Caitlin Perchiniak’s 2:14.03 was good for first in the 200 freestyle, while Maughan’s 2:17.32 sealed the medley. Maughan’s 1:10 also won the breaststroke.

Evans’ 1:00.06 and 1:02.23 gave her the top prize in the 100 freestyle and backstroke, respectively. Freshman Kendall Rhodes took the 500 at 6:15.70. Eliza Evans swapped spots with Victoria to help the 200 freestyle relay team to victory. The Evanses teamed up with Rhodes and Perchiniak to win the 400 freestyle relay.

Petty won the 50 by a comfortable margin at 27.36.

“It’s really important to be locked in and to try your best, because no matter the ending or the result of how you do it, it’s OK,” Petty said. “What you do personally is what you really want to strive to do and get your best time.”

In the boys’ lane, they clinched their title with a few top finishes, showing quality and depth in performances.

Figueroa linked up with junior Michael Whitaker, freshman Reed Knowlton and senior Kieran Probert to win the medley relay. Senior Christian Wright captured the 200 freestyle at 1:55 and the 100 at 51.02. Figueroa won the individual medley and butterfly, the former at 2:13.12 and the latter at 56.19. Eighth-grader Cale Argo took the long race when he tapped with the timer at 5:43.42

Whitaker’s 59.10 won the backstroke, and Knowlton took the breaststroke at 1:08.99.

Wright, Whitaker, Figueroa and Eddie Hale teamed up to win the 400 relay with a time of 3:43.22.

Division titles in hand, the Seahawks are hoping to push their abilities to the max as the season enters its final leg.

“They're just checkpoints,” Figueroa said. “Checkpoints leading up to conferences, states … up to those big meets, and it's just really exciting.”

The senior noted it can also be nerve-racking, but Sussex Academy teammates trust their support systems.

“It's super exciting being able to be a part of a team that really loves to celebrate what the whole team does,” Petty said.