Varsity swimming is no longer going to be a team sport as FHS; the final team of seven swam their last team meet together on Feb. 12. The swimmers competed against Quaker Valley High School’s team at their pool; the girls lost 14-47 and the boys lost 43-56, leading to an overall team loss.
The Quaker Valley meet also served as senior night for the Freedom swimmers and was the last time Seniors Jon Bittner, Tristan Cumberledge, Lauren Dubovi, Casum Matlick, and Sam Schweinsberg, competed as a team.
“Our last two swim meets were full of energy and intensity. We all knew how hard we worked to get to the point we got to,” Cumberledge said. “We will all miss it very dearly.”
According to Head Coach Bill Layton, this was also his last official swim meet as head coach because the program is being eliminated.
“This [was] a very difficult evening for me and an emotional one, too! You see, I’ve been with some of these swimmers their whole high school career… since their freshman year,” Layton said. “These kids are like my own family. I am so very proud of all of them, and I hope I have made a difference in their lives.”
The team’s last meet ended with most of the swimmers making their best times yet and Layton being thrown into the pool, as per tradition.
After the season ended, MACs took place on Feb. 15 at Moon High School, and these seniors attended because of this. All of the swimmers participated and ended their swimming careers on a high note.
“Personally, joining the swim team will be one decision I will never regret,” Cumberledge said. “I have my friends and coach to thank for that.”
Even after MACs, the journey is not over for Matlick. He will attend the WPIAL Championships at the University of Pittsburgh on Feb. 28 for his final swim with Freedom. At this event, he will compete with swimmers from 68 other schools in the area.
Layton would also like to send out a “thank you” to Mr. Tim Dadich, Mr. Frank Hernandez, Dr. Jeffrey Fuller, all coaches from Freedom sports, Mr. John Rosa, and Athletic Trainer Vince Sinovic for all of the support and help offered to him the past four years.
“[The swimmers] have made me a better coach, but most of all, they have made me a better person! For that, I will be forever grateful to all of my swimmers and their families,” Layton said. “Farewell to Freedom, [and] farewell to my swimming bulldogs. I will never forget you.”