The Jesuit Swimming team won big this season, placing fifth at state, taking home a key win over Highland Park at district and celebrating Junior Brendan Feehery’s State Championship in the 200 individual medley.
At the UIL District 9-6A Meet in late January, Jesuit pulled off a close one-point victory over rival Highland Park, Jesuit’s first win at districts in many years. “I thought the team as a whole did an amazing job and performed outstandingly,” Aedan Quinn ’16 said, as the team displayed many of their “best swims across the board.”
Feehery ’16 started off the meet strong, setting a district record in the 200 yard individual medley, earning him first place. Jesuit also had four of the top eight swimmers in the event, with Michael Boyson ’16, Sharwin Yogeswaran ’16, and Jack Matthews ’17 making up part of the top. In the 50 yard freestyle, Nolan Daniels ’15 set another district record, earning him first place. Jack Ayres ’17 and Aedan Quinn ’16 came close behind, taking second and third place, sweeping the podium.
Feehery went on to be recognized as Swimmer of the Meet, a major achievement for the Jesuit junior. “It was good winning Swimmer of the Meet because I knew that I was progressing the way I was supposed to,” Feehery said, “and it was definitely a confidence booster swimming the way I did at that meet without any rest.”
The ultimate victory at districts, however, was a team effort, with the teams divers playing a significant part in winning. “Jesuit barely clinched the victory over Highland Park,” Quinn explained, “utilizing their newfound talent in our divers, Luke Thievagt and Lucas Rainey, to score the team 12 points, pushing us to victory.”
Following this strong win, Jesuit went on to shatter more team records at the UIL State Meet in late February, earning
fifth place overall. Getting fifth place overall at the state tournament was a major accomplishment for Jesuit, especially since the team only had a total of four swimmers while most schools had at least five—and sometimes more than six—at the meet. Yet despite the small numbers, Jesuit was able to pull off its best-ever finish in team history.
Feehery won the State Championship in the 200 individual medley, earning the seventh-fastest time in the history of the state meet. “Winning state was great,” he said, “because that was something I had in the back of my mind since the very beginning of the season. I was just working on the little things in workout and making every day count. I had a certain time in mind since the beginning of the season, and it was great because I hit that time right on at state.”
Feehery then placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke, breaking Jesuit records in place for twenty-three years. Daniels placed seventh in the 50 freestyle and was just .09 seconds short of the Jesuit record in the event.
The 200 freestyle relay, composed of juniors Feehery and Quinn, senior Daniels, and sophomore Ayres, earned third place. “We knew going in that we definitely had a shot at medalling in the 200 free relay, so it was great just to make it through into the A final so we could have the opportunity on day 2,” Feehery said. “We were just taking it one race at a time, so it was good to make it to day 2, because that’s when the real fun starts.”
The relay team became the second Jesuit relay team to earn a medal at state and now have the fourteenth fastest time in UIL State history. “Getting the bronze medal in the 200 free relay was probably the best part of the weekend, because it was something we all worked on together, so we all got a piece of the reward,” he said.
Overall, the team was thoroughly satisfied with the big win. As Feehery shared, “Everyone swam a perfect race, so that’s the best you can ask for.”
