After weeks of training, 11 Blue Waves swimmers earned outstanding scores in their respective events and ranked fifth out of eleven teams at their first meet in Tupelo on Sept. 5. Led by coach Chris Chain and senior captains Rushyendranath Nalamalapu and Lisa Seid, the entire swim team qualified for North Half on Oct. 14.
Nalamalapu, who achieved times of 24.27 in the 50-meter freestyle and 1:12.26 in the 100-meter breaststroke, said he achieved faster times compared to last year.
“I started last season with around a 25-second, 50-meter freestyle. I came with a near sub-24 second [time] in the same event [at this year’s meet],” Nalamalapu said.
With the season’s opening, the addition of seven juniors brings diverse backgrounds and an optimistic future to the team.
This is junior Harrison Shao’s ninth year swimming competitively. He said he hopes to improve his form and time as the season progresses.
“I want to be able to make [the] state [meet] and hopefully win a medal, as well,” Shao said.
Returning seniors Dylan Wiley and Maddie Brain obtained 25:16 and 29:42 times in the 50-meter freestyle, respectively, ranking them in the top 10 of their events out of nearly 80 other swimmers.
With North Half in mind, each swimmer continues to train and prepare for the next meet on Wednesday in Tupelo.
