As their season comes to a close, the HHS girl’s swim team shows no sign of slowing their success. In the past three weeks, they defeated Montgomery, Pingry, and Hunterdon Central, bringing their record to 7-1. Their ranking in the Skyland Conference currently sits at third, second only to the undefeated Bernards and Bridgewater-Raritan.

Against Montgomery, the team came in first in six of the eleven events, including two relays and four individual events. Senior Skylar Ward added a victory in the 50 freestyle to her long list of wins this season. Meanwhile,  Junior Danielle D’Ambrosio, who took part in the three events–200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, and 100 freestyle– helped lead her team to victory in each race. The team had similar results at Pingry, easily defeating their opponents with a final score of 111-59. Sophomore Ciara Dixon, juniors Shivali Patel and Anisha Desai, and senior Emma McLaughlin, each got action for the first time this season in the 200 medley relay which they won with a time of 2:26. D’Ambrosio took home two more individual victories, and junior Paige Griggs, who won the 500 freestyle, is now two for two for wins in her individual races. All in all, the team clinched first place in seven events.

The Raider’s meet against 5-3 Hunterdon Central seemed to be more competitive, ending in a relatively close score of 97-71. However, don’t let the score fool you; once again, individual success abounded for the team. Senior Katelyn Battagliese won both the 200 and 500 freestyle. Junior Chloe Colipano, in her first race of the year, clinched first in the 100 breast stroke. Meanwhile, Meghan Sharma was the only freshman to take home an individual victory in the meet, winning the 200 individual medley. After the meet, senior Skylar Ward has nine individual victories under her belt, while Danielle D’Ambrosio has seven.

With only one meet remaining in the regular season– they verse Ridge on January 28– the team is looking forweard to sectionals, where they have a shot at winning the championship for the fifth year in a row. However, winning isn’t all that matters to the girls, many of whom have formed close bonds over the course of the season. As junior Paige Griggs puts it, “Everyone is always cheering the entire meet. I really like how everyone on the team is so supportive.” Hopefully, this combination of skill and sportsmanship will take them far in the postseason.