By: Daniyal Habib <[email protected]>

After another year, there is one more state title trophy in the women’s swimming trophy case. According to Jessie Hammes, varsity swimmer and junior, though, this year’s title was the most special.

“This year has definitely been the most special because everyone worked so hard this year and it paid off. There were very few disappointing swims.

“This was the year that we were ‘supposed’ to get beat, and it was a little scary. We all really stepped it up, though, and I think it really showed how hard we had worked and how bad we wanted to win,” Hammes said.

Indeed, the women finished up a national-record tying 22nd consecutive women’s swimming state title season. The Punahou School in Honolulu is the other school with 22 straight women’s swimming state wins.

Only four longer high school state title streaks exist in the nation, ever, for any sport. Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington had 24 straight men’s swimming titles from 1960 to 1984. Mt. St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island had 26 straight wins in men’s hockey from 1978 to 2003. Pickford High School in Pickford, Michigan had 27 straight men’s track and field state titles from 1952 to 1978.

The granddaddy of them all goes to the Punahou School in Honolulu with 29 straight men’s swimming state wins from 1958 to 1986.

Hammes knows that the burden of senior leadership will be placed upon her shoulders next year, and she said she was excited to accept the challenge.

“I’m really excited to be a senior next year. Our leadership was so awesome this year, which I think contributed to our success, so I’m going to have to try to follow their example. A big part of that is upholding our many traditions, but still keep the team moving forward.

“It’s going to be a big challenge because we have some really strong seniors who scored at state. We just have to fill in the gaps and look to the younger swimmers to try and make up for who we lost,” Hammes said.

As far as predictions go, Hammes would not offer one. She said, “I don’t want to jinx anything!” Time will tell if Hammes can lead the team to State next year.