The Hillsborough County Championship swim meet was a huge success for the Freedom swimmers that qualified. Two relay teams performed and four swimmers were able to advance in their individual events. Freshman Abbi Leisure participated in the 200 individual medley and 100 breast and received the 6th place in Hillsborough County in the individual medley and 4th place in the county in the 100 breast. Overall, Leisure placed as one of the highest of the Freedom swimmers at the meet in her 100 breaststroke.

Junior Genevieve Clark sprinted to a finish in 26.44 seconds to get 6th place in the county in the 50 free. Clark has been focusing on her sprint events for the last year; her best hopes for making the state meet this year are the 50 free and 100 free.

“I was really happy with the results of the meet,” said Clark. “I think that our relays have a really good chance of going to states this year.”

The girls 200 medley relay swam a 2:02.63 less than three seconds off of the school record for the event.

Senior Alex Espinosa swam his personal best in the 100 freestyle. The relays both did fairly well, almost all of them posting personal bests.

“This was one of the best meets of my life,” said Espinosa. Not to mention, he surpassed his older sister, Moira Espinosa, and her state time in the 100 freestyle almost a second. Espinosa is one of the few Freedom swimmers to go to states in the school’s history. In addition, he  swam in the 200 medley relay and anchored for the 200 free relay.

This was one of the last meets of the season for the swim team. After this event, swimmers swim at districts against several other local schools on October 21. Additionally, if the swimmers pass districts they can advance to regionals at the Florida Gulf Coast pool. From there, only a few elite swimmers can proceed to the state meet in Stuart, Florida. A few Patriots are looking to advance to states this year and are planning on wrapping up the swim season with a bang.