Junior Inji Kang rebounds off wall. Chris Heermann’18/Media editor

The CA girls swim team hurdled its final obstacle before states with a phenomenal performance at the district meet in Athens, Ohio, on Friday, February 16. The Aqua Vikes made a powerful statement with their overall third place finish and numerous state qualifiers.

Senior Jane Li, junior Samantha Kass, and sophomores Abby Yakam and Whitney Hannallah started the girls off strong with a third place finish in the 200 medley relay and earned themselves a spot at the state meet. Although a first or second place finish is required to automatically qualify for states, it is still possible to advance if one’s time holds fast enough compared to swimmers in other districts.

Junior Sarah Cabre made her presence felt with two individual state meet qualifying swims in the 200 free and 100 butterfly, in which she earned third and fourth, respectively. Kass then dazzled with two qualifying swims of her own, including third place in the 50 free and second in the 100 free.

Yakam advanced individually as well, taking second place out of thirty in the 100 breaststroke.

The Vikes finished the meet even stronger than how they started it. Li, Cabre, Kass, and sophomore Annalise Grammel snatched second place and a spot at states in the 400 free relay.

The accolades didn’t end with the swimmers. Senior Esther Lawrence and junior Jordan Skilken triumphed in their competition on Tuesday, February 13, at the district dive meet and placed first and second, respectively. Lawrence holds the meet record, which is also the state record that she set in 2017, with a score of 579.95. Both divers automatically advanced to the state meet after their incredible showings.

The Aqua Vikes reach the culmination of their season in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday, February 22, and Friday, February 23, where they will compete at states.