The Piedmont High School swim team made a splash in their season opener, securing victories against both Hayward and Bishop O’Dowd in a tri-meet.
New head coach Adrien Downey was pleased with the team’s performance, not just in terms of results but also in their camaraderie and focus. “The highlights for me were all about chemistry,” Downey said. “The team did a good job switching it on during warm-ups and psyching each other up. The meet flew by, but our relays and individual racers stayed composed and moved as a team rather than as scattered individuals.”
Among the standout performances, Sydney Olson showcased remarkable resilience by competing in back-to-back sprints in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly with little rest. “The toughness she showed in keeping up with the fast meet flow stands in for our entire team effort in my eyes,” Downey noted. Tai March-Cunningham and Inaya Majid also stepped up by tackling events outside their comfort zones, demonstrating leadership and team-first attitudes.
On the boys’ side, Owen Blanford held on for a thrilling victory in the 100 freestyle, with Nik Costello making a late charge from the outside to secure second place. The junior varsity boys, though a small group, made a big impact with their energy and determination, particularly in relay events.
Looking ahead, Coach Downey emphasized the importance of adaptability and confidence as the team prepares for tougher competition. “We’ll have a chance to try different events and learn our strengths before heading back into stiffer dual meets. Open-mindedness and belief in ourselves will be key.”
Despite the graduation of key swimmers from last season, Downey is confident in the team’s growth. “No one can immediately replace their impact, but our new team members are exactly who we need to keep improving,” he said. Cynthia Wu and Zafar Majid delivered strong individual performances, while Isla McCardell pushed through illness to contribute to key relay races. Additionally, several freshmen made an immediate impact across both varsity and JV, showing versatility and willingness to step up.
