Led by swimmers like three-time All-Met Emily Verdin, the Jefferson girls won state titles from 2002-2004. This year's girls are undefeated. (Photo by Larry Kobelka for the Washington Post)
From 2002 to 2004, the Jefferson’s girls swim program was the best in the state, winning three consecutive Virginia AAA titles in dominant fashion –- never allowing a second-place team closer than 41 points.
But the Colonials last championship win since those titles was a boys’ district title in 2006-07, and the Colonials have spent much of the past three years rebuilding their program in search of another championship.
This season, Jefferson looks as though it is ready to challenge in the Virginia AAA Liberty District.
The Colonials girls are a perfect 6-0, using a deep team to pick up points without a clear-cut star swimmer, while the boys are 4-2 – including a narrow three-point loss to Fairfax last week.
Tonight in the district finale, the girls’ have an opportunity to finish undefeated with a win over Langley, whose only loss this season was to Madison.
“We feel really good,” said senior captain Anna Lan. “We defeated Madison, which is the only other undefeated district team [and] we feel really strong. … Langley also has some great swimmers, but we have really strong depth, we can pick up the fourth through seventh places and that’s our strongest point.”
On the boys’ side, several swimmers have turned in regional cuts — including Matt Callahan, Stephen Seliskar and Alex Dona — and the Colonials three relays have also already qualified for states. Those early qualifiers have Jefferson excited about the chance to finish well in the championship meets that start next week.
“We’re hoping to score some points especially in relays, which are looking strong right now,” said senior Joey Bouchard.
“T.J. has a reputation for excellence not only in athletics but in swimming,” Lan added. “We feel we’re going back to that.”
Tags: Jefferson, Langley, Liberty District, Madison
stats corner
The TJ/Langley girls meet was not even as close as the one-sided score (174-141) would indicate. I have to say that the TJ girls are badly overrated.