Jamal Walker is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Westwood High School for AZPreps365.com

The Westwood High School Warriors showed tremendous support in an impressive swimming meet when the girls team beat the McClintock Chargers 113-65 Thursday at the Carson Aquatic Complex. The boys were close but the Chargers bested the Warriors 88-70.

Senior diver Charly Sharp finished with the highest diving score of the meet, 185.05 points.

Senior Lilly Merritt led the ladies to victory in four events, starting with a win as the lead swimmer in the 200-yard medley relay. The relay team finished in  2 minutes, 5.3 seconds, with Merritt swimming her 50-yard leg in 32.1 seconds.

In the 50-yard freestyle race, Merritt had the best start from the block, diving into the pool first and beating the Chargers easily for her best 50-yard time of the day at 27 seconds.

Head coach Joey Rusnak credits Merrit’s performance with a grueling week of preparation.

“We had a couple of hard days of training, so coming up on the blocks and getting ready to race today they did well,” Rusnak said.

The girls team's most impressive feat for the second year head coach came when the Warriors beat McClintock in every relay.

“The girls won all three relays, which is really impressive,” Rusnak said. “I'm always proud when we win those relays.”

Despite the boys losing the meet, senior Kit Collard had an impressive day, winning first place in the 100-yard butterfly and placing second in the 200-yard freestyle. The senior was also a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay, which was the only relay the boys team won in the meet. They finished in 1:41.6.

The meet held extra significance for the team, as the Warriors honored their seven seniors at the meet’s Senior Night.

“I told them at the beginning, we don't lose on Senior Night,” Rusnak said. “So, to see the girls get the W was super, super exciting for them. The seniors, they deserve it.”

Diving coach Stella Pickron also said it was a special Senior Night. 

"What truly makes this team stand out is how unified they are,” Pickron said. “They support each other on and off the boards, and it’s been amazing to watch them grow together. I’m incredibly grateful to have this team of seven awesome divers who truly bring out the best in each other.”

Sharp led all divers at the meet, performing a back flip one-and-a-half twist.

Senior diver Maria Podolnikova said what she loves about diving is how powerful the mind is. In her first year diving, Podolnikova scored her best of the season at 111.35.

“Today, she performed a beautifully executed back dive straight, scoring 22.95 on that dive alone, and she also performed her front one-and-a-half twist for the first time, which she recently mastered,” said Pickron. “Her dedication is incredible—she hasn’t missed a single practice.”

The Warriors compete in a big meet this week as they face five other schools from Dobson, Mesa, Red Mountain, Mountain View, and Skyline on October 2 at the Kino Aquatic Center in Mesa.