Jacob Eismann swimming free in the boys A relay. (Andrew Barren’22/Media)

The CA AquaVikes had their last regular season meet on Tuesday, January 22. Academy hosted DeSales, Madison Christian, and Village Academy and placed first among all competitors. The boys started off with a bang as the Vikes’ 200 medley relay placed first, followed by James Cao’20 winning the 200 IM. Senior Eric DeVore then clenched the 50 free and 100 free titles before Ezra Johnson’20 took the gold in the 100 fly. Cao surged to a first-place finish in the 500 free, and Jack Campbell’19 won the 100 back shortly after. Senior David Barren rounded out individual victories with his 100 breast performance, and CA finished off the meet with a win in the 400 free relay. The Vikes gained 107 points, beating DeSales, the second place team, by 50.

Academy entered the postseason as they conquered the MSL meet on Saturday, January 26. The Vikes faced off against 12 schools, winning the meet with 313 points. Bexley, the second place contender, had only 189. The Vikes’ 200 medley relay, swum by Mike DeAscentis’20, Jacob Eismann’19, Campbell, and DeVore, placed first to start off the meet. Eismann then took first in the 200 freestyle, in which Cao placed third, with DeAscentis taking the bronze in the 200 IM. DeVore took the 50 free title again, and Campbell narrowly won the 100 fly. Academy swept the 100 free, with Eismann, DeVore, and Jacob Beck’19 getting first, second, and third, respectively. Cao again proved his prowess in the 500 free, netting a silver for the Vikes. The 200 free relay, swum by DeVore, Campbell, DeAscentis, and Eismann, placed first and set an MSL record. Campbell quickly returned to the pool to snag a first-place finish in the 100 back. DeAscentis took the gold in the 100 breast, before a 400 free relay swum by Drake Bellisari’22, Ethan Nankervis’19, Beck, and Cao placed first to end the meet.

The Vikes will host sectionals on the next leg of their postseason journey on February 9.