The Loomis Chaffee boys swim team won in thrilling fashion in Hedges Pool on Saturday, January 20, in a meet against Hopkins that included multiple lead changes and a final score of 91-89.

Hopkins jumped out to a quick lead by winning the first event, the 200-meter medley relay. However, the Pelicans responded with first, second, and third place finishes in the 200-meter freestyle to take over the lead. 

The Pelicans grew their lead to six points in the first half of the meet, but there were still plenty of events left to go. 

Hopkins chipped away at the Pelicans’ lead in the second half of the meet. After the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter free, Hopkins had decreased its deficit to just three points, and with a win in the 200-meter freestyle relay, Hopkins took a six-point lead with only three events left in the meet.

However, the Pelicans were able to pick up eight points in their final three events, clinching a two-point victory over Hopkins. It started with the meet's second to last event when the team increased their lead to five points after the 100-backstroke where they placed first, third, and fourth. In the final event of the meet, the team made a strategic move to split their relays to ensure second and third place finishes and the meet ended with a score of 91-89 in Loomis' favor. 

This was an upset win for the Pelicans for a multitude of reasons, according to coach Grant Gritzmacher. “Looking at previous results heading into the meet, I didn’t think we would be able to beat Hopkins, especially since we were missing one of our better swimmers who was at the Model U.N. Conference,” Grant said. “We knew Hopkins was deeper than we were and that we were going to need some upsets from our second and third swimmers in several races.” Even so, the Pelicans overcame adversity and got the win, moving their record on the season to 3-2.

The team is back in competition this Saturday, January 27, when they will take on Hotchkiss on the road.