SPORTS
CREEK CAPTAINS: JUSTIN VEXLER, staff writer
Swim: Six Varsity Seniors
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he gladiators swim team aimed to add to their trophy case yet again this season. They first acquired some hardware at the Fulton County Championships on January 9, 2020. The boys won first place and the girls captured the second spot tallying up to an overall first place for the Johns Creek swim team. The boys aspired to repeat as state champions and the girls targeted to come back stronger and more determined to improve from their state finish last year. The gladiator swim team as a whole looks stronger than ever with senior captains Chris Bodea, Garrett Halak and Jason Steel leading the boys, and Zoe Oliphant, Amy Hitzel and Charlotte Lowe leading the girls. Senior captain Chris Bodea said that swimming is not only physically demanding but mentally as well. “To have a successful meet we need to have an amazing week of practice. We need to get in the right amount of yards, focus on our technique, and mentally prepare ourselves. Swimming is a physical sport but for most of us it comes down to our mentality at the meet. We need to prove to ourselves that we are ready,” said Bodea expressing the team’s emphasis on preparation. When asked about the key to being successful at a meet Bodea said, “We practice for each other. We cheer for each other. We race for each other. It might come down to one swim or one dive but in the end we are one team.” One thing is for certain, the Johns Creek swim team always makes a splash.
Wrestling: Joseph Hunter
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he Johns Creek wrestling team after last year’s exceptional season aspired to carry the momentum into this year. Junior wrestler Joseph Hunter accentuated the importance of a positive attitude when wrestling. “The key to having success in a match is all mental, a positive attitude and remembering the moves will bring you success. Even the best wrestlers can lose if they aren’t thinking positive,” said Hunter in regard to a crucial part of wrestling. Led by Coach Richau and Coach Sweatt they partake in strenuous conditioning during practice to prepare for their matches. “A typical day of practice is usually started off with a run around the school and a couple stadiums, and then we go directly to drilling different moves to see how we can improve” said Hunter. The Johns Creek wrestling team works hard every practice to make sure they leave it all out on the floor when the match starts.
4 | ADAM KLAFTER
