Despite defeating rival Walnut earlier in the season, the Diamond Bar High School swim team still has yet to finish the race. With bigger matches, including league and CIF finals, coming up, the team continues to tread through the Palomares League.

Currently, the boys are undefeated while the girls are 3-2 after losing to Ayala and Glendora, 104-66 and 93-77.

Both teams have increased their number of captains, hoping the boosting leadership will bring change to the organization and attendance of swim events.

“Another thing we’re trying to improve upon is for swimmers to keep track of the meet and make sure they aren’t missing their events,” senior Ashley To said. “Last year, that was a pretty big problem because absent swimmers caused the team to lose a lot of points.”

Along with additional practices, the team has been working on increasing morale and staying positive during races.

“A lot of fast seniors graduated the last few years, so our numbers are down from three or four years ago,” senior Brian Li said.

The team has one more dual meet before league finals, which is set for  May 2, and will include all schools competing in the Palomares League.

In addition, the team recently competed at the annual Mt. SAC swim meet, where they were named the Overall Combined Team Champions. The boys won the Spring High School Swim Meet Champions title for the first time in history while the girls placed eighth.

Seniors Kelly Cheng and David Wang placed first in their events while senior Kelsey Lloyd  and junior Kevin Vargas placed first and second in two events.

Moreover, two new school records were set at the meet, with Cheng  breaking her own record for the 200 Freestyle, and Vargas breaking Wang’s record for the 200 IM.

The meet was an opportunity to maximize the swimmers’ chances of making individual CIF cuts, hoping that the event will allow more swimmers to place for CIF times.

“Practices are getting a little tougher as the coaches are trying to get more swimmers to make the CIF cuts before CIF comes, and since we have only about three more meets, time is running out,” To said.