After a winning season, Jefferson’s swim and dive team (TJSD) competed in the Capitol Conference Championship at Wakefield High School in Arlington, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.  Both the girls and boys teams successfully took and maintained leads, becoming the conference champions.

“After they announced that both the girls and guys won, they started playing ‘We Are the Champions.’  We pushed our coach in the pool and then all jumped in and started cheering, splashing and singing,” sophomore Sophia Moses said.

Both individual swimmers and relays contributed to TJSD’s first conference championship victory in over 10 years.  Both teams won the competition by over 200 points.  The scores from the swim and dive competitions were combined.

“Every meet there’s a handful of best times,” coach Ian Handerhan said.  “It’s really been throughout the entire season.  I think as a team everybody’s really come together and culminated with finally pulling down a banner.”

This season was TJSD’s first in the newly formed Capitol Conference.  Previously, the team competed in the Liberty District.  With the redistricting, TJSD joins Jefferson’s field hockey, volleyball, co-ed golf and both boys’ and girls’ cross country teams as conference champions.

“TJSD is a family, and every second of our season is precious,” captain senior Kyle Alexander said.  “Winning the Capitol Conference has been a highlight, and we are looking forward to Regionals and States.”

The top five swimmers and relays in each event will advance to Regionals.  Many of TJSD swimmers will be competing in Regionals, some in multiple events. The regional competition will be held this weekend, with States coming later.

“Really at this point, post-season swimming is about racing and beating the person next to you.  We’ll have two more meets, one at Regionals and one at States, where we’ll have a chance to do that,” Handerhan said.