This season, Socastee’s Girls Swim Team broke Carolina Forests’ seven year winning streak by placing first in the 2021 Region Championship, with a few individual swimmers moving on to place at States as well.
The post-pandemic season resulted in many highlights and victories as the team was able to train with better resources and less restrictions.

“Just about every single one of the swimmers had their best time at our region meet,” Asst. Coach Mrs. Tamar BenPazi said. “Everybody was able to achieve their goals and then some.”

Sophomore Alison Ludeman explains that the team had the advantage of returning to practices at Coastal Carolina University’s pool every weekday after school, whereas last year practices were typically held at the YMCA twice a week due to COVID restrictions.

“Last year was really crowded because the whole team had to practice together in a smaller space with less lanes,” Ludeman said. “But this year we were separated into groups that way had more space, and it was easier to focus and work one-on-one with our teammates.”

Ludeman beat the 50-meter freestyle and the 100-meter freestyle record at the regional meet, and then went on to beat her newly set record while participating at States.

“My motivation for swimming is the coaches that push me to become better, and the teammates that I’m surrounded by,” she said.

Along with Ludeman, Freshman Madison Jacquemin broke the 100-meter backstroke record, and went on to beat her newly set record at States.
“When you work hard and you start to see improvement, you want to keep doing it,” she said.

Overall, Asst. Coach BenPazi shares that the team’s greatest strength is the team’s desire to participate and to accomplish. The team has bright hopes for next season, while Ludeman and Jacquemin both state that they plan to work hard to break their records once again.

“I actually think that we’ll do even better next year than we did this year,” Ludeman said. “I feel like we can only move forward.”