By Tim DeLouchrey
Sports Editor

WA Boys’ Swim and Dive traveled to UMass Lowell on Thursday, December 18th to face off against rival Acton-Boxboro. They swept the meet, placing first in every event.

The meet opened up with a high profile race: the 50 meter. Junior Jack Koravos swam against the previous state champion, AB’s very own Miles Corbin. Koravos came through for WA and won by a fraction of a second to get the Ghosts started on the right note.

The team was energetically cheering for their teammates in the pool, making sure they kept the momentum.

“Considering we lost my freshman and sophomore years, it was awesome feeling to get the win now,” said senior captain Akhi Samant. “The team got it done today and I couldn’t be more proud.”

After that, senior Brian Poon, who recently committed to Division I swimming at the University of Minnesota, handily won the 200 medley relay, with junior Jeffery Yao taking second.

The next race was the 200 meter freestyle, which was won by junior Jason Jung. He beat out AB’s Eric Feriouz, a University of Rochester commit.

WA dominated the next race, which was the 100 fly. Koravos and senior captain Justin Yao took first and second respectively.

“The win is a reaffirmation of the strength of our team,” said Yao. “… We were undefeated last year as well and the team hasn’t really lost too many fast swimmers so I guess we’re expecting to go undefeated again… The freshmen this year are really talented, and the team may actually be stronger than it was last year.”

Up next was the 100 free. Jung placed first once again in this race while junior Kyle Pilachowski finished third.

After the 100 free was the 500 free, the longest race at the meet, consisting of ten laps. Senior Brian Poon easily won this race as well; he lapped multiple people before the race ended without looking like he was even trying.

WA proceeded to place first in the 200 free relay, followed by the 100 breast, which Justin Yao won as well. Junior Connor Huang placed third.

During the final race, the 400 relay, WA placed first and third, with their  first place team cruising in to a smooth ending significantly faster than the rest of the competition; AB knew WA would place first, so they divided their best swimmers in an attempt to win second and third, which failed, as WA’s other relay team took third.

“It means a lot to beat AB, especially this early in the season,” said Samant. “They have a great team and were one of our biggest tests this season, so to win this early was huge. Big testament to how hard the boys have worked so far… We’ll see [AB] at DCLs, sectionals and states and can’t wait to go up against them again.”

The Swim and Dive team will face Bedford next Monday on the road.

According to senior Vadim Beliak, “Some would say we are pretty good.”