19 Samo swimmers qualify for the CIF playoffs
The Samo swim team wrapped up a competitive 2025 regular season following their last regular meet on April 24. Highlighted by strong performances across both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams, 19 swimmers qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs in both individual and relay events.
Following a momentous victory on Feb. 26 against Venice High School and Cleveland High School, the girls’ team also beat Palos Verdes High School and Peninsula High School on March 12, and West Torrance High School on March 20. The boys’ team however suffered narrow losses of 87-83 on both days. Both teams beat El Segundo High School on March 27, but lost to Mira Costa High School on April 3. They rebounded to beat Redondo Union High School on April 24.
Jackson Colby (’25), captain of the boys’ team, reflected on the season so far. “I would say the season has been pretty good, with a lot of people improving their times,” Colby said. “Everyone’s gotten faster and we hope to get as many people through to CIF as possible.”
At the Bay League Championships held on April 30 and May 1, girls’ varsity finished third, while boys’ varsity finished fifth overall. Numerous swimmers finished top in their races, including Gabriella Brito (‘28), who broke the school and league records for the girls 200 IM and 50 Free. Daniela Petran (’25) also finished first in the girls 100 Breaststroke and second in girls 200 Free, while other swimmers did well including the likes of Paloma Kimura (‘28), Zephyr Fehmers (‘26), Franklin Thomas (‘27), Lexi Burrell (‘27) and Sloane Bryant (‘26).
Eugene Naruse / The Samohi
Samo swimmers dive into the water at a meet against El Segundo High School on March 27.
Head Coach Matthew Flanders reflected on the Bay League championships.
“We did well today, and it was a pret- ty good meet for us,” Flanders said. “Gabi Brito, Daniela Petran and Zephyr Fehmers really did well for us. Gabi and Daniela set records too.”
The swim season was marked with many other school records, with Petran breaking the 200 Free, 100 Free and 100 Breastroke school records. The girls’ team also set new records for the 200 free, 400 free and the 200 medley relay.
“We had a pretty good season, beating a few teams like Redondo that we have never beaten before,” Flanders said. “ The girls have a great chance to place high this year [in CIF]. We are full of talent.”
19 swimmers qualified for the CIF playoffs in events including the girls’ 200 Medley Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay and boys 400 Freestyle Relay advancing to CIF. The CIF-SS Division II preliminaries will be held on May 5, with the CIF-SS Division II finals on May 9. If swimmers advance past these stages, CIF State Preliminaries and finals will be held on May 16 and May 17 in Fresno, California.
As the team turns its focus to postseason competition, the success of this year’s regular season lays a strong foundation for the future of Samo swim.