The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Churchill’s senior stars secure a Metros swimming three-peat

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February 10, 2024 at 10:26 p.m. EST
Senior Kyle Wang was key in Churchill dominating the competition Saturday night in Germantown. (Marcus Chen)
3 min

More than 25 school banners were draped on the glass walls of the upper viewing section of the Germantown Indoor Swim Center on Saturday, a mosh of colors and mascots.

The least flashy flag was a small, white Winston Churchill banner that was subtle compared with the rest. Yet that banner was the only understated aspect of the Bulldogs’ performance at the Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships. Three of their seniors paved the way to a third straight Metros title.

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“They could be my college team,” Coach Dennis Witol said.

Seniors Kyle Wang (1 minute 38.14 seconds) and Brady Begin (1:38.58) got Churchill rolling by claiming the top two spots in the 200-yard freestyle. Wang, a Northwestern commit, and Begin, who is bound for North Carolina, have made this an annual tradition. They were the top finishers in last year’s 200 free as well; Wang finished in 1:39.63 to beat Begin that time.

The Bulldogs have a third star, too. Nasim Elkassem, a Southern California commit, controlled the 50 freestyle in 20.39. Elkassem dyed stars into his bleached hair Wednesday, and he fit the part Saturday.

“I came to practice, and [Witol] said, ‘Now that you look like this, you have to go win,’ ” Elkassem said.

Elkassem edged Wang in the 100 free, finishing in 44.73. Begin then won the 500 free in a dominant 4:25.95, five seconds faster than the runner-up. Churchill’s night culminated with a victory in the final race, when it set a Metros record in the 400 freestyle relay (3:01.57).

Georgetown Day’s Adriano Arioti (1:43.58) broke the Metros record in the 200 individual medley. He also holds the record for the 100 butterfly.

The favorites took care of business on the boys’ side, but the girls’ competition was much closer. Nearly every individual event winner was from a different school. Richard Montgomery ultimately claimed the team title, edging past Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson for its first Metros title. The Rockets won the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays.

“I literally had those relay [teams] set since September,” said Coach Akshay Gandhi, who jumped into the pool with his team to celebrate. “I looked at a lot of options, but I came back to this as our best chance.”

Richard Montgomery senior Sarah Eliason, a BYU commit, won a tight 200 IM in 2:02.09. She also won the 100 butterfly (54.49).

Blake junior Andrea Dworak, a Wisconsin commit, won the 200 free (1:47.14) and the 500 free (4:50.99). BCC sophomore Virginia Hinds won the 100 backstroke (53.36) and the 100 free (49.78).

Whitman’s Tynan O’Donoghue and James Skipper were the top two boys’ divers. Flint Hill’s Michayla Eisenberg prevailed on the girls’ side.