Winter has officially arrived and the swim season has begun. As of now, the Steinert girls swimming team has beaten both Nottingham and West.

On December 14, Steinert won a swim meet against Nottingham with a score of 66-83. Anna Smithson finished the 200-yard freestyle in 2 minutes and 20 seconds, earning her a first place spot. Lilyana VanDero and Ovgu Yilmaz followed suit, earning second and third place. In the 200-yard IM, Kira Casler won against Vanessa Bryk with a slim margin of only 1.48 seconds. Ovgu Yilmaz and Gina Mazza held the two best records for the 50-yard freestyle, securing them first and second place. Steinert held most of the podium for all but 3 events. 

On January 17, the girls also won again against West with a score of 86-76. Anna Smithson earned first place in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing the lap in 2 minutes and 26 seconds. Kira Casler finished the 200-yard IM in under 3 minutes. Gina Mazza and Sarah Torres finished the 50-yard freestyle in 32 seconds and 38 seconds to earn first and third place spots. Overall, Steinert held most of the podium for all but 4 events. 

As great as it is to win, a sport and a team are never just about the wins or the losses. Ultimately, a successful team prioritizes their relationships with one another. When asked what she liked most about the team, Kira Casler said, “I love being a part of the swim team because it feels like a family. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging. Although most people consider swimming to be an individual sport, I couldn’t succeed without the love of my teammates.” The team, whether they win or lose, will keep supporting each other and swimming together in their final dual meet against Princeton on the 23rd.