Wasting no time getting to the Natatorium after school, the girls’ swim team on Dec. 7 got ready for their showdown with Clayton with warm-ups and stretches.

“Of course I am going to win,” said junior Ariel Neely. “I’m the best around; you won’t find a better swimmer.”

Before the meet, the head coach, Mary Lhotak pumped up the team, getting them ready for victory. The girls started out strong with their best event first, the 200 IM relay. That event involves four swimmers, each swimming a specific stroke for 50 yards. Junior Joi Williams started off strong, taking the lead. After three more swimmers, the Lions ended up in third place for the event.

After a five-minute breather for the competitors, the girls were right back in it. After swimming a 100-yard butterfly, Ariel Neely pulled ahead to grab second place for the Lions.

In the end, the Lions lost 30-123. Senior Alaina York swam a 200 yard IM and placed second in her race after a Clayton swimmer was disqualified.

“They tried their best today,” said junior Martha Kenyon. “It was a good meet and everybody dropped time. Swimming is an individual sport, so if you drop time you benefit the team and yourself.”

After a long afternoon battling it out in the pool, the girls just didn’t have enough to pull out a victory.