The Palo Alto High School boys’ and girls’ swimming teams are celebrating their successes this season after competing at the California Interscholastic Federation State Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend.

According to senior captain Ryan Drover, this year was the first time California has held a state championship for swimming.

“With California being the biggest and fast swimming state, everyone had always asked to see a state championship,” Drover said. “It was one of the fastest high school meets in the country.”

Many major colleges sent swim coaches to the meet to keep an eye on possible future recruits, according to Drover.

“For many sophomores and juniors, there could not be a more valuable meet for college recruiting purposes,” Drover said. “As a meet that will only grow, it will only be more valuable, since coaches can see top swimmers racing in [the] short course yards pool … and not be overshadowed by elite level swimmers as they will be at the U.S. Olympic Trials next summer.”

According to Drover, the girls’ team came away with a sixth place overall finish, highlighted by a winning state championship relay in the 200 Freestyle Relay (freshmen Zoe Lusk, Claire Lin, sophomore Grace Zhao, and junior Kayleigh Svensson). The boys’ team finished in eighth overall.

“Overall, we had a great season,” Drover said. “It’s been a great four years, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way or a better group of people to end it with.”