On Saturday, January 4, the EHS boys and girls swim team hosted their annual meet, the “Sprint Spectacular”, at the Edwardsville YMCA Esic center.

Edwardsville swimmers, the Breakers, did a stunning performance beating other teams that came to town such as the Yosi Seals Swim Team and Rend Lake Aquatics, both from southern Illinois.

The girls team kicked off their meet excellently with the Women 15-21 Yard Freestyle, where senior Katie Kuhl broke the meet record with a time of 24.31 seconds. Previous meet records for this race were 24.79 seconds and 28.23 seconds.

In the Women 15-21 Yard Backstroke, Kuhl and sophomore Kate May also broke another meet record finishing the race at the same time of 27.44 seconds.

The girls team also showed their strengths when they placed second with a time of 1:56:05 during the Women 13-21 200 Yard Medley Relay. The team consisted of Edwardsville High School’s Kuhl, May and sophomore Jane Russo, and Alton High School’s senior Ellen Higdon.

The Boys team did similarly well.

A key race for the boys team was the Men 13-21 200 Yard Medley Relay. The team consisting Edwardsville High School’s junior Peter Byers, junior Jake Gremaud and senior Patrick Hesse, and Alton High School’s senior Rick Roberts placed first with a final time of 1:48:00.

The boys relay team’s motivation proved to prepare them well enough for the meet.

“We all individually warmed up and talked to our coaches as a relay team,” Gremaud said. “It really helps before a meet when you get support from your teammates and coaches.”

The team prepares physically as well.

“We work hard every day in and out of the pool,” Buyers said. “Our new dry land program has taken us to the next level.”