Lions Win SPC

The St. Mark's School of Texas swim team showcased its depth and determination at the Winter 2023 SPC Championships held at the University of Houston, earning their second consecutive title. With 17 athletes competing, every team member set at least one new personal best, underscoring the Lions' dominance in the pool.

The Lions excelled across the board, with 30 individual final swims out of a possible 32, highlighting the team's remarkable depth. The relay teams delivered standout performances, including a third-place finish in the 200 medley relay, a first-place and record-breaking swim in the 200 freestyle relay, and a third-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Adrian Lutgen, George Hoverman, Ethan Wang, and Miller Martin stole the spotlight by setting both SPC and school records. Each swimmer posted a blistering 21-second split, dropping the previous record by over a second and securing critical points to maintain their lead.

The competition with St. Stephen's proved fierce throughout the meet. After the Spartans edged ahead following the diving event, the Lions responded with solid performances in the 100 freestyle and 500 freestyle, tying the score at 94 points. The turning point came in the 200 freestyle relay, where the Lions’ record-breaking effort propelled them to an 18-point haul, regaining the lead.

Key individual contributions included Ethan Wang’s runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke, Lutgen’s fourth-place finish in the same event, and personal-best swims by Armaan Newaskar and Sebastian Illum in the 100 backstroke. These efforts extended the Lions’ lead heading into the final events.

The championship-clinching moment came in the 4x100 freestyle relay. The team of Martin, Adam Kappelman, Illum, and Ethan Gao secured a third-place finish, sealing the Lions’ victory. The final scores placed St. Mark’s first with 154 points, St. Stephen’s second with 139 points, and St. John’s third with 98 points.

The Lions' triumph marked their second straight SPC title, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in the league.