Thomas Jefferson High School boys swim team came out victorious after a fierce battle of North Puget Sound League division champions on Dec. 17.
The Thomas Jefferson Raiders, who were the 2018-2019 Olympic Division champions, went head-to-head against the Kentridge Chargers, the 2018-2019 Cascade Division champions, in a close meet that came down to an eight point difference.
The Raiders took home the win with a score of 92-84. The Raiders are leading the NPSL 4A Olympic Division with a league record of 2-0, 3-0 overall.
“This was a team effort for sure,” said TJHS boys head swim coach Tori Head.
Head received the score from the other team at the end of the meet and waited to share the final score with everyone on the bus because the event was such a close competition.
Many of the swimmers kept asking Head what the score was as they filed onto the bus, but she kept it quiet until they were driving back. As she told the boys the meet had came down to a mere eight points, the athletes sighed and muttered a few words of defeat, she said.
“Then when I said the final score was 92 to 84, and we won, the bus erupted,” Head said. “I knew the boys could [win], but they really had to come together as a team and they did.”
For the Raiders, it wasn’t just about placing first or second — it was about everyone athlete competing to the best of their ability and thinking about every single teammate, challenging themselves to be the best they can be, Head said.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching this team for two years now and I can’t wait to see what this team has to bring next,” she added. “Go Raiders!”
Highlights from the meet are:
• First place and district-qualifying time in the 200 medley relay from senior Sean Park, junior Se Chae Park, sophomore Alex Nguyen and senior Aaron Nguyen.
• Second place and district-qualifying time in the 200 freestyle from senior Brandon Truong.
• First place and district-qualifying time in the 200 individual medley from sophomore Alex Nguyen.
• First place and district-qualifying time in the 50 freestyle from senior Aaron Nguyen.
• First place and district-qualifying time in the 100 butterfly from senior Brandon Truong.
• Sweeping first, second and third places in the 100 freestyle are seniors Sean Park and Aaron Nguyen with district-qualifying times, and sophomore Aaron Oh with a league-qualifying time.
• Second place and district-qualifying time in the 500 freestyle from senior Marcus Condotta.
• Second place and district-qualifying time in the 200 freestyle relay is junior Se Chae Park, sophomore Aaron Oh, seniors Brandon Truong and Marcus Condotta.
• First place and district-qualifying time in the 100 backstroke from senior Sean Park.
• First and second place with league-qualifying times in the 100 breastroke from junior Se Chae Park and sophomore Alex Nguyen.
• First place and district-qualifying time in the 400 freestyle relay from senior Sean Park, senior Brandon Truong, sophomore Alex Nguyen and senior Aaron Nguyen.
