Senior Caitlin Cross, with chlorine seeping into her goggles, saw her North Harford opponent out of the corner of her eye. Swimming the 500m free for second place, she had caught up to the opponent in the last two laps. Cross was surrounded by her screaming teammates, all of whom lined the sides of the pool, as she reached her fingertips for the wall.

However, in a controversial call, Cross placed in third, while junior Elaina Kohles took first place. 

Cross said, “I saw [that she and I were] neck and neck and heard everyone yelling for me, so I decided to try and pull myself ahead. It was really nerve-wracking. I was really happy with how I finished because I was really nervous about it before I went up to swim it.”

The Patriots varsity swim team lost to the Hawks 187-153 at North Harford Middle School on January 7. The women’s team won 93-77, but the men lost 110-60.

Cross added, “[The Hawks] are a really good team. They beat us badly at the Magnolia Relay Carnival.”

However, as a team, “I think we performed really well today. The girls won big. The boys swam against the best boys’ team in the county and held their own,” said coach Larry Dukes.

About individuals’ performances, Dukes said, “Elaina [Kohles] had a great meet [and] so did [freshman] Carrie [Dukes] and [senior] Kristen [Dukes], who both won events. Even the team members who were getting 2nd and 3rd helped a great deal.”

Because both schools are in different conferences, the meet gave members the opportunity to swim a variety of events. Dukes said, “It gave them a good chance to try out those other strokes that they wouldn’t normally get to practice at a meet.”

On the men’s side, a major problem is having so few swimmers, with only eight boys.  

Senior Molly McComiskey said, “Numbers count in swimming, so we don’t have a big enough boys’ team to win overall.”

According to junior Jeff Hoch, “not having that many guys on the team” is a key weakness.

By contrast, the women have 22 on their roster.

Even with that obstacle, the Patriots maintain a positive attitude, according to McComiskey, who said, “We cheer for each other a lot.”

 Other areas of strength include “relays,” said junior Jeff Hoch.

In addition, “The new swimmers contribute a lot to the team this year. There are a lot of [freshmen], and beginners to swimming in general,” said junior Jenna Glassman.

Following this victory, North Harford’s men’s team remains undefeated. Senior Turner Williams said about the team’s prospects for the remainder of the season, “We’re going undefeated. North Harford does work.”

Because of their record thus far, Williams said “it was a good meet” but he “wasn’t surprised [by the outcome], because we dominate.”

Junior Chad Short added, “We’re unstoppable, undefeatable, and amazing. [Our motto is] go in hard, come out wet.”

Similarly, the women Patriots maintain high hopes for their own season. Kohles said that she is “looking forward to championships. We’re going to win.”

As for the men, said Hoch, “[Our goal] is to go to championships but I’m not too sure how we’re going to do.”

In addition, team members have established individual aspirations. Hoch hopes to get “the best time in the 100 back[stroke].”

Cross wants to “go a little better in the 100m backstroke and 100m [butter]fly.”

For the senior Patriots this year, as the season draws closer to a conclusion, with championships the first weekend in February, the final meets hold special meaning. Cross said, “It doesn’t feel like I’m done and next year I won’t be swimming with the same people. We’re like a family, so it’ll be hard.”

McComiskey, who suffered from a shoulder injury in the previous season, added “It means a lot because I’ve been swimming for 15 years and it’s the closing season. I’m glad I’m not injured anymore so I can swim.”

Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected].

Additional reporting by Katie Clarke, Features Editor.