Medals and broken records at state finals marked the conclusion of the fall season of boys and girls swim. Gil Gonzalez, psychology teacher, led the Boys and Girls swim teams in their Nov. 8 com- petition. In addition to coaching the school’s only co-ed team for the past 20 years, Gonzalez has trained every female swimmer that currently holds a school re- cord.

At the state finals competition, Morgan Tankersley, freshman, broke the 30-year-old school re- cord for the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:51:05.

“Breaking a record was really neat,” Tankersley said, “I had been looking at the record board every day and breaking a record was my goal for a while, and Mr. Gonzalez helped me achieve that goal.”

In addition to Tankersley’s re- cord-setting swim, the boys team broke three school records at the competition and five met All- American time standards. Three team relays and six individual swimmers earned medals at the competition. Both the boys and girls teams finished sixth overall.

“[The teams] were awesome. It was one of the best state meets we’ve ever had, although we’ve finished second before,” Gonzalez said.

Evident by his long-term involvement with the swim teams, Gonzalez enjoys being part of the “instant family” created by the common bond over the sport. He often advises parents of incoming freshmen to encourage their children to join “either a fall sport or chorus,” due to the network of friendships that the activities pro- vide.

“It’s always been about the group of kids being so big, being a family. It’s one of the Plant activities that allow kids to make connections that last all four years or hopefully longer,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez’s enthusiasm affects the swimmers that he coaches. Junior Sierra Terrano recently completed her third year on the team.

“Gil is a fantastic coach with a big heart and has really helped the team grow over the last few years,” Terrano said.

Swimmers appreciate Gonzalez’s sense of humor as well as his considerate coaching methods. Gonzalez has coached senior Cameron Davidson for the past four years.

“Coach Gonzalex keeps everyone entertained and focused in order to perform our best when it counts,” Davidson said.

However proud Gonzalez feels over the teams’ successes, he acknowledged the fact that most of his swimmers participate in additional club swim teams and benefit from the coaching and practice time spent outside of the school team.

“In truth, I only see them a few hours a week, but I’m proud to be part of the successes that they have,” Gonzalez said.

Although the swim team will reconvene for practice in the summer of 2015, the athletes will be training all winter and spring in anticipation of the upcoming season.