At the heart of North Atlanta’s winter sports, the swim team is making waves in the world of competitive relays. These individuals: seniors Thomas Maillero, Johnny Benson, Eli Maclane, Teddy Meredith, have navigated the waters of a competitive season with undying determination. Their tireless teamwork bore fruit last semester, each member working treacherously hard to collectively acquire the state qualification. Join them as they dive deep into the end of the season and prepare to snatch the state title in February.
The 200m Sprint Medley Relay emerges as a showcase of skill and synchronicity. The relay features each team-member’s individual swimming style in successive order: beginning with backstroke (Hill/Maillero), breaststroke (Meredith), butterfly (Benson), and concluded with the freestyle (Maclane). As these talented athletes unite their strengths, the relay becomes a captivating spectacle of individual excellence converging into a collective pursuit of victory at each meet.
With the guidance of captains Meredith and Benson, the squad has excelled, impressively surpassing the state qualifying time in seven out of ten meets this season–often narrowing down the times at each competition. The leadership provided by Teddy Meredith and Johnny Benson has been instrumental in fostering the culture of excellence and resilience between the members. Head coach Tim Storsteen, the driving force behind the team’s success, commends the swimmers’ excellent dedication and resilience this season. “I’m excited to watch how the relay plays out at state this year,” Storsteen said, “we’re looking forward to seeing their hard work pay off and hopefully have them score within the top ten schools for the region.”
Amidst the winter sports spirit within the eleven stories, the medley operates as a tight-knit family, each member leaving a mark on the team’s overall performance. Senior Thomas Maillero, occasionally with the help of junior Darvin Hill as an alternate, exemplifies the resilience that characterizes this group. Maillero shares, “For me, being a part of this team means being a part of something bigger than myself. We’ve faced challenges, but it’s our teamwork that moves us forward.”
As these particular swimmers approach the end of their final season, anticipation for earning the state title in February looms large. So far, it’s been a season like no other; weekly competitions coupled with the demanding cadence of application deadlines, college essays, and the general obstacles of the American senior year. The pool, their sanctuary of discipline and achievement, has become a space where the complexities of senior year temporarily dissolve into rhythmic strokes and the unified pursuit of excellence. The team has paved their way in the pool while tackling academics. Anchor Eli, expresses the team’s collective sentiment, “We’ve all set our sights on competing at state. For us It’s less about winning and more about the journey and brotherhood we’ve created over four years,” Maclane said.
In the whirlwind of the pool, academic challenges, and the profound camaraderie forged over years, the Water Warriors prepare for their moment in February as a testament to resilience, teamwork, and the enduring spirit that shines brightly over their extraordinary journey
