On Sunday, Nov. 15th, the Maclay swim team had six swimmers participate in the state swim meet. Swimming was sophomore Meg Howell, junior Stuart Higdon, senior Dimitri Nakis, junior Duel Yearty, freshman Hanson Higdon and junior Evan Mascagni. The meet was held in Stuart, Florida, with a preliminaries session in the morning and a finals session later in the afternoon. All swimmers swam at least once in the prelims and finals. 

“I expected a great meet from the team,” Head Coach Pavel Sankovich said. “I was not disappointed as everyone swam very well.”

In individual events at prelims, S. Higdon and Yearty both swam the 200 freestyle, placing 6th and 21st respectively, with Higdon the only one getting the second swim. Shortly thereafter, Dimitri Nakis swam the 50 and 100 free making it back to finals in each event. Hanson Higdon swam the 100 fly and did not make it back for finals placing 17th overall. Yearty also swam the 100 free, tieing for 18th and initiating a swim off; he won the swim off, taking the 18th place stop but did not get a second swim. Howell, the only girl to make state, swam the 200 free and the 100 back at prelims, getting a second swim in the 200 but not the 100. 

“Although I was disappointed I didn’t make it back in the 100, I was happy with my swims,” Howell said. “I will just have to try my best in the 200 this afternoon!” 

In the relays at prelims, the boys swam the 200 medley and the 200 freestyle relays, where each swimmer swims a 50. The 200 medley consisted of S. Higdon doing backstroke, Macagni doing breaststroke, Nakis doing Butterfly and Yearty doing freestyle, The boys were seated 5th going into finals. The 200 free relay consisted of Nakis, Yearty, H. Higdon and S. Higdon. This relay went into finals seated 5th as well. 

At finals, S. Higdon medaled in all four of his events, 5th in the 200 free, 4th in the 500 free and 5th in both the relays. Both the relays medaled in fifth place, with Nakis and Yearty earning two medals. Mascagni and H. Higdon, however, earning one each. Howell placed 11th in the 200 free but did not get a medal. 

“It was a great way to finish off my senior season,” Nakis said. “I love this team, and I will never forget the memories we made this season.” 

The team was very happy with the way they swam and are all looking forward to competing in next year’s state.