Shaved legs, skin-tight racing suits, and the sheer determination of the Dubs to beat the team in red and silver propelled the NAHS water warriors to their third straight APS swim and dive championship trophy. It came down to the final event, but the Warriors prevailed against their stiffest competition and arch rival, the Midtown Knights, to be crowned champions of the Atlanta Public Schools meet last Wednesday. 

After a season constantly challenged and altered by the ongoing pandemic, victory was just that much sweeter for the Dubs, who capped off a successful final stretch of the season. Just coming off of a victory at the Pace Invitational meet, in which several swimmers qualified for the Georgia High School State Meet, the APS championship meet brought more state qualifying times and a sense of triumph and accomplishment to the team. “It was the perfect way to conclude my senior season,” said senior state-qualifying swimmer Douglas Dumont. “It’s funny that I seem to wait until the last minute to qualify for state, but doing it at this meet was definitely something I won’t forget. I’m really excited for state.” 

Though it featured high schools from across the city like Maynard Jackson and KIPP, the championship meet quickly became an intense battle between Midtown and North Atlanta. Every point mattered, and with the structure of the meet allowing the top 20 swimmers in each individual race to score points, everyone’s swim truly mattered. “Sometimes it can be a little discouraging in meets when only the fastest swimmers are able to score points, so being able to contribute heavily to the victory on Wednesday was an amazing feeling,” said senior Davis Maxey. 

The 400 yard freestyle relay ultimately secured the meet victory for the Dubs. Junior Eric Sharabura raced into the finish, slamming the touchpad at the pool wall to finish two tenths of a second ahead of the second-place Midtown relay. “Eric’s swim – well really the entire relay’s swim – was awesome. Those guys were moving,” said senior Libby Zufi. “After that swim by the boys, and then another great swim by the girls, everyone was ready to be presented with the trophy.” 

A euphoric Water Warrior team was handed the trophy, and an extensive photo-shoot with the trophy immediately followed. Team photos and hilarious individual shots of Dubs swimmers holding the trophy were taken, and the team left Washington Park Natatorium in Midtown in the highest of spirits. Dub Domination of the pools of Atlanta continues, and the fastest Water Warriors dive into preparation for the state meet at Georgia Tech next Thursday February 4th. Go Dubs!