Wildcats keep it classy despite loss

The Varsity Girls Swim Team took on the rival Lafayette at Eureka and lost 142-44, Jan. 23.

The first heat of the day was the 200 Medley Relay consisting of four different swimmers, swimming four different strokes.

Katherine Shelton, backstroke; Emily Muggleton, breaststroke; Gabby James, butterfly and Emma Salter, free style took third in the race, besting the other two Wildcat groups and a Lancer group.

“We changed up our relay because our fastest swimmer LeiLani Mansy is hurt,” Muggleton said. “We did what we practiced and tried our best.”

After three more heats it was time for the diving part of the meet.

Sarah Mink (10) and Tessa DeCanti (9) dove for the Wildcats.

“Our diving was a highlight tonight,” Ms. Sharon Wasson, head coach, said. “They did great.”

Only one dive fetched a score under five from one of the three judges. Mink’s fourth dive got two sevens and a six-and-a-half, the only dive to receive seven or higher for this meet.

“I just did what Coach Wasson told me to do,” Mink said. “I just had to fix problems in practice and enable myself to do well in meets.”

The next win for the Wildcats came during the 100m Breaststroke, when Muggleton defeated the other five swimmers and took first.

“She’s a champion,” Coach Wasson said. “She puts her heart and soul into every swim she does. She’s a champion on every level.”

Despite the tough loss energy and pride were evident throughout the meet encouragement from teammates and cheering from the, larger than one would expect, crowd.

“We have a bunch of classy girls,” Coach Wasson said. “They’re well-behaved, they try they’re hardest and I’m really proud of them.”

The Wildcats next dual meet will be against Lindbergh, Feb. 3.