On Thursday March 22, the Albany High School Swim Team hosted its first regulation home meet in its history at AHS. In the last three years, while the Albany Aquatic Center was under construction, the team held practices and hosted meets at the El Cerrito Swim Center.
Before 2008, the team swam in the old Albany Pool, and while it was fine for practices, the pool was 33.3 yards long, rather than 25 yards, and did not meet competition standards. However, the team did host unofficial meets at this time.
For its first regulation meet, ever, the AHS swim team hosted Piedmont. Spectators including Albany students, parents, and teachers came out to support the team. The swimmers were greatly excited to have so many fans at the meet.
AHS coach Stephen Dunkle remarked, “In my history as coach, I’ve never heard so much cheering from Albany. It was wonderful to have so much support from the community.”
Inspired by the extra support, the boys varsity team defeated Piedmont by nearly 50 points. The girls varsity team lost by only 3 points, Top performers from the boys and girls varsity teams included standout freshmen Jacob Crowley and Ariana Saghafi.
The boys and girls junior varsity teams narrowly lost to Piedmont.
On Thursday March 29, the AHS swim team competed against Encinal and St. Joe’s in Alameda. Albany swept both teams in the boys and girls JV and varsity.
Albany’s next home meet is on Friday April 6 at 2:00 p.m. against El Cerrito.
