The Venice high varsity swim team started this year’s pre-season strong. The players are excited and pumped up because of winning the Western League at the city championships last year. They hope to do it again this year but overshadowing the season is the possible closure of the pool due to leaky pipes.

In two pre-season meets, the Varsity girls beat Culver City and lost to San Pedro.

Boys on the Varsity team lost both their pre-season meets, but

“No worries, the [regular] season is coming soon,” said swimmer Mark Mercado.

From 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning, and sixth period to 4:30 into the afternoon, the Venice swimmers work out and are ready for their first game.

“The hard work and heart that we put in shows,” Raymond Liou stated.

“Even though these work outs kill, they always pay off in he end,” said Mercado.

The Venice team was the only team in the Western League last year to have broken city records, thanks largely to underclassmen George Sun and Andi Murez. Murez swam 2.87 seconds in the 100 m. freestyle, 27.27 seconds for the 50 m. backstroke, 33.46 seconds for the 50 m. breast-stroke, and 1:59.05 seconds for the 200 m. medley. She, along with Kathleen Vincent, Margaret O’Rourke and former swim captain Molly Temple completed the women’s 200 freestyle relay in 1:45.64. Sun completed the men’s 50 m. butterfly in 25.68 seconds.