As we dive into the winter sports season, the swim team is prepared to take on the rest of the Patriot District. Last year, the team’s goal was to advance to the postseason and to Virginia’s Class 6 state championship — one of the fastest meets in the country. 

Since Head Coach John Gulickson arrived at ACHS in 2018 to take helm of the swim team, the Titans have developed three new standards to remain competitive: win the city title, make states every year and produce city athletes of the month/year honorees (recognitions from the prestigious Alexandria Sportsman Club).

To get there this year, Gulickson said the team has some new strategies.

“We’re going to maximize our training opportunities and utilize our brand new state-of-the-art pool at the new Minnie Howard campus,” he said.

[Read Theogony’s preview of the dive team’s season here.]

Gulickson also emphasized how leadership can play a role in success.

“We have team captains to help collaborate, inspire and balance our student athletes in and out of the water for both development and team building,” he said. “We’re led by Mila Aida, Rachel Cotton, Maya Fitzgerald, Mac Coulby, Jonathan Ramsdell, and Jack Sutherland.” 

Last season, the team was successful and broke two team records: the girl’s 200 meter medley relay and the 100 m girl’s backstroke. (Junior Rachel Cotton broke the latter record.) The team also won the all-city meet, which began in 1999. 

Gullickson said of the meet: “We set out to bring the Titans their first team title and not look back and continue to deliver on this competitive ambition.”

Senior Jack Sutherland hopes to leave his mark at ACHS by earning a pool record, a feat he aims to achieve through steady preparation.

“The cold and early sunsets can definitely impact my thoughts going into competition,” he said. “I try to stay off my phone and listen to my favorite playlists while I visualize my plan going into practices and races.”