Story By Juliet Olivares

After competing in the Northside battle at the block Marshall girls and Holmes boys won. And in the diving part both Marshall girls and boys won. Due to COVID, students weren’t able to do a swim battle last year. So this is the second time that they are doing a battle. 

All Northside schools like Waren, Stevens, John Jay, Marshall, and, Holmes have participated in the battle. There are a total of 24 events with 12 boys and 12 girls with both competing separately. 

“The most exciting part for the kids are always those relays where you start the meet with one relay,” O’Malley said. For a relay they start with four swimmers in an event from each team and it really gets the meet going. 

“Everyone’s all excited for the first event and that medley relay there is lots of cheering and screaming” O’Malley said. 

 On Oct. 16th the diving part of the competition took place. The diving points will affect the swim meet points so teams still have a chance to make a comeback from their divers. We took home the win on both girls and boys side in the diving part of the competition. Shelby Hawes took home the win for girls and Tate Brisco got the win for the boys. Another meet for divers will be held on Friday Oct.29 Both Tate and Shelby will go and compete against some north east schools and that will show what they are looking at for regionals. 

“They make a big deal about it by packing the stands and selling T-shirts,” Joseph O’Malley said.  Profits from the T-shirts go to the Kids Saving Kids Northside program where lifeguards teach third-graders basic life skills. They were able to sell over 40 T-shirts.