Boys Swimming Races to Second in Division

Midwood swimmers coil on the block, ready to dive in. *Photo: Zachary Kiselev*

By NING ZHENG

The Boys Swim Team capped things off with an impressive 8-2 record this season, which came to an end with a third place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay in their January 14 meet against James Madison High School. Despite the 56–35 loss to their undefeated opponent, the team’s determination was clear, with cheers of encouragement echoing through the pool louder than the splashes themselves.

The final meet was filled with close finishes. In the 500-yard freestyle, sophomore Lasha Rainauli finished second (5:25.87), and in the 50-yard freestyle, Arthur Arapaki ‘28 rocketed to the finish in 24.67 seconds, missing first place by just 1.46 seconds.

Mentorship played a key role. “This year I was able to make friends with some incoming freshmen and help them in the way that my friends helped me when I was a freshman,” Arapaki said.

“You’ve got to manage the entire team,” said Captain Anton Bereznitski ‘26. “For every meet, I make sure everyone knows what events they’re swimming, their lineups, and their order. I also make sure everyone gets there on time.”

“It was a new experience and a new sport for me,” said Aleksandr Smykov ‘27, a first year swimmer. “The sense of community is my favorite part; it’s very welcoming and friendly. Everyone works well together.”

Arapaki set clear goals for himself, aiming “to go sub-55 for 100 free, sub-24 for 50 free, and sub-one minute for 100 fly.” Swimming competitively is one of the best workouts a student can get. “I've personally gotten faster and improved overall cardiovascularly and in my muscular strength,” he added.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team of Nazar Palamarchuk ‘28, Leo Budovich ‘27, Bereznitski, and Austin Mei ‘29 placed third with a time of 1:42.06, while the 200-yard medley relay also earned a third-place finish, with key contributions from seniors Josiah Jones and Jamol Amanullaev.

For Jones, the season marked the culmination of his journey. “It's definitely the end of an era,” he said. “I would say it's a little bittersweet, but I enjoyed it. It was fun.” His role in a comeback victory against Prospect Heights registers as one of his personal favorite memories.

“Making finals this year was huge for me,” Bereznitski said. “Last year I couldn’t make it, but this year I did. It was a really good feeling.”

Amanullaev reflected on what his experience on the team has meant to him. “Honestly, I felt amazing,” he said. “The guys were amazing, and the whole team was incredible throughout my three years. It’s the best time I’ve had at Midwood.” His proudest moment was when the team beat Goldstein head-to-head on December 5. Looking ahead, Amanullaev plans to pursue the pre-dental field while continuing to swim in his daily life.

Finishing second in the division behind only Madison meant the team had to keep pushing despite its challenges. “After a loss or as the season wore on, everyone was getting tired, but we kept giving our all in practices and meets,” Zachary Kiselev ‘28 said.

“This year, the team’s a lot more connected,” said Kiselev. “There’s more of a spirit, especially with the freshmen and sophomores. We’re all one team, not just split into upperclassmen and underclassmen.”

“We support each other and talk things through,” Smykov said. “Sometimes teammates will teach you how to improve your technique. If they see you doing something wrong, they’ll show you how to fix your strokes.”

Team manager Addisyn Zhang ‘29 played an important role behind the scenes. “People might be surprised to learn that being a manager is actually a lot of fun,” she said. “My main job is managing responsibilities at meets, recording times, keeping score, bringing motivation, and taking pictures and videos. The best part of the season has definitely been being right at the edge of the pool for the relays. There's nothing like the energy of recording those close finishes.”

Through demanding practices, close races, and supportive teamwork, the boys demonstrated grit and camaraderie, ensuring that each meet meant more to them than just the final score.