by Yanichka Ariunbold, assistant editor

The UIL 5A Swimming & Diving State Championship finals on Saturday marked Tiger Swimming’s strongest showing in team history.

With an overall girls team finish of 3rd place and a boys team finish of 7th, Consol was represented on the podium five times, along with six other top 8 finishes. Sophomore Peter Simmons placed second in the 100 fly and first in the 100 back, making him Tiger Swimming’s first individual state gold medalist under Coach Goodwyn (almost twenty years). Previous gold medalists include art teacher Bob Leland, Brian Jones (’95 & ’96) and Justin Schultz (’99).

Senior Maria deFigueiredo, junior Yanichka Ariunbold, senior Danielle Scott and freshman Jessica Peng won the 200 freestyle relay, trumping both Magnolia and Magnolia West teams for gold. The same girls relay took the bronze in the 400 freestyle relay. The boys 400 freestyle relay of Simmons, freshman Ludy Lu, junior Hunter Scott and freshman James Rude placed 3rd as well.

At the conclusion of the meet, and consequently the 2015-2016 high school swimming season, Tiger Swimming was left with seven team records, two gold medals, a 3rd place team banner and many swims to celebrate.