The George Mason High School varsity boys and girls swim teams competed in back-to-back meets last Friday and Saturday. The teams won against fellow single A opponents from Clarke County High School, but fell to Potomac Falls High School, an AA school the Mustangs faced in an out-of-district meet.
Last Friday, the boys team beat Clarke 102-58, and the girls team won 120-49.
Two Mason swimmers earned times in their events that qualified them for the state meet. Freshman Beth Cashin – who earlier this season qualified for states in the 50-yard freestyle event – qualified in the 100-yard breaststroke event (1:12:51) last Friday for the girls team. For the boys team, junior Lucas Cherry qualified for states in the 50-yard freestyle event (23:12).
Taking top spots in all but one of their single events for the boys team were seniors Reid Back and Sam Cashin, Cherry, and sophomores Austin Gogal and Nick Roberson. Boys relay team swimmers also placed first in their three relays.
For the girls team, seniors Eva Estrada and Gen Jordan and Cashin placed first in their single events, but split top finishes with Clarke County swimmers. Mustang swimmers on the girls team won all three relays.
Though facing the larger Potomac Falls High School the following day resulted in defeat, 187-99 for the girls team and 197-88 for the boys team, the meet yielded record-high times for Mason swimmers.
Cherry qualified for states in the 100-yard freestyle (48.92) and 100-yard backstroke (55.38) events, setting team records in both events, and Cashin trimmed her record-setting 100-yard breaststroke time (1:12:47). The boys 200-yard medley relay team (Cherry, Gogal, Cashin and Roberson) also qualified for the state meet (1:46:25).
The teams will face William Monroe High School Jan. 7 at the Mannassas Park Community Center.
