By Ezra Caber & Patricia Fontejon 

The Granada Hills Charter (GHC) swim team competed in the CIF State Championship hosted by Clovis High School on May 16-17. Sophomore Isabella San Jose was the first ever GHC State finalist in the 100 meter breaststroke. She ended the competition 18th in the State. San Jose competed along with 13 other GHC swimmers in the State Championships.

The GHC swim team has had an exceptional year, marked by consistent growth with a record of impressive performances and personal bests. The team has demonstrated consistent skill and talent for the last several years.

The girls swim team won the CIF LA City Finals for the third year in a row. All relay swimmers on the girls team qualified for the state competition including: freshman Meygen Flores; sophomores Isabella Bautista, Sahasi Mahat and Isabella San Jose;  junior Elaina Brier; and seniors Arielle Kalwak and Ava San Jose .

Flores was in first place for the 100 meter fly. Isabella San Jose won first in 200 IM and in 100 meter breaststroke. Freshman Abigail Sirichalermchai placed second in the 100 meter breaststroke. Brier placed second in the 50 meter freestyle. All four qualified for state in their competitions.

The boys won the title of City Champs for the second year in a row. Freshman Kenny Brier and Ethan Lin, sophomore Ryan Cha, and junior Ryan Zheng Lin qualified for state by winning first place in 200 meter freestyle. Cha, Zheng joined by freshman Kyle Lee and senior Kennith Devis also won first with their 400 meter free relay. Devis took first in the 100 meter fly and 100 meter breaststroke. Zheng took first in the 200 meter and 500 meter free races. Junior Ethan Gonzalez qualified for state by scoring second in the 200 IM. Lee took second in the 200 Free, sending him to state with the team.

 Competing against top athletes and schools in the region, the swim and dive team  has worked tirelessly to showcase their skills to break records and achieve personal bests, building momentum from both this season and last.

As they prepare for their upcoming competition, the players and coaches remain committed to honing their skills and strategies, striving for an even better season next year. 

“The lead-up is definitely the most challenging part,” junior Ryan Zheng said. “It’s hard to balance everything. When you’re leading up to a super big competition, you want to be well-rested and treat your body like a temple, but it’s been kind of difficult because of other extracurriculars and external factors.”  

Despite many key team members graduating last year, the large influx of freshmen has kept spirits high, adding to the mix of those who brought great energy. The team’s unwavering strength remains although many have graduated. Despite these challenges, they’ve managed to stay positive and motivated on their goals. 

“I hope to bring more points for the team and keep the good vibes going,” Zheng said . “Last year, I scored a gold medal, and I want to continue contributing to our success. I also want to help boost team spirit and morale, so everyone is motivated to perform their best.”  

The team’s captains have played vital roles in guiding the team and motivating the rest of the team during practices and competitions, cultivating an environment to support one another. 

“Going to meets has probably been one of my favorite memories from this past year,” senior and Captain Ava San-Jose said. “Spending time with both my coaches and my teammates and getting to know them better has been a highlight.”

Although swimming is largely known  as an individual sport, the team continues to show each other unwavering support in and out of the pool. Bonding together and supporting each other has helped the team efficiently win the 2025 Bulldog Invitational on March 14th, scoring first place for both the girls’ and boys’ varsity teams. With focus and moral support, the swim and dive team continues to grow stronger and strive for the best, setting the stage for the seasons ahead.