The swim team built on last year’s success with another impressive performance in the pool. With a mix of returning swimmers and new talent, both the boys and girls teams established themselves as the top programs in the city.
On the weekend of May 9 to 10, the team competed at the CIF Los Angeles City Championships, where both the boys and girls teams captured city titles. The boys team earned its third consecutive city championship, while the girls team secured its fourth straight title, continuing a successful run for the program and several swimmers moving on to the state championship. These wins illustrate the consistency and dedication the team has shown throughout the season.
Several swimmers delivered standout performances at the City Championships. Junior Isabella San Jose repeated as champion in both the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, remaining undefeated in the breaststroke event throughout her high school career. Sophomore Meygen Flores defended her title in the 100 butterfly while the girls team swept all three relay events. On the boys side, senior Ryan Zheng won both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle for the third consecutive year, and sophomore Kenneth Brier captured city titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle with personal-best times.
Senior Ethan Gonzalez described the team as “very confident,” but also noted that success brings added pressure. He explained that there is “a lot of responsibility, both for swimmers and parents,” especially as expectations rise compared to last season. Despite that pressure, the team has continued to push forward and improve.
After dominating the City Championships, several GHC swimmers advanced to the CIF State Championships in Clovis last weekend. They competed against some of the top swimmers in the state. The girls 200 medley relay team and multiple individual swimmers represented the program at the prestigious statewide competition.
Much of their success comes from the demanding routine behind the scenes. The team holds daily morning practices from 5:00 to 6:00 a.m., focusing on endurance and technique. Outside the pool, they also build strong connections through team bonding activities and fundraisers, which help strengthen their unity.
Leadership has also played a key role this season. The team captain helps keep everyone focused and motivated, while other teammates contribute by supporting each other during practices and meets. This sense of unity has helped the team stay strong even during challenging competitions.
“As a team, we’re doing a lot better,” Gonzalez said, adding that swimmers now have more opportunities to improve their times.
Handling pressure remains one of the biggest challenges for swimmers. Whether it’s competing in close races or trying to improve personal records, athletes say they’ve learned to stay focused and trust their training. However, the sport is not without its challenges. Gonzalez described swimming as both physically demanding and mentally exhausting, especially as a team and club swimmer. The pressure to perform can be intense, but he emphasized the importance of staying positive: not letting bad times make you feel like you can’t achieve better results.
Compared to last season, the biggest difference is their confidence and experience. Although the hard work and commitment remain the same, this year’s team feels more prepared and connected. As the season continues, they are determined to keep pushing forward and succeed at every level.