Jesuit’s swim team celebrated an impressive victory at the 9-5A District Swim Meet, held at the SUNO University Center, clinching its 42nd consecutive district title. This championship marked the first under the leadership of head coach Brett Dipuma ’14. The Blue Jays demonstrated their skill in various events, securing top positions and accumulating a total of 219 points, placing them at the pinnacle of the team rankings.

In the 200 Yard Medley Relay, Jesuit’s team, composed of junior Grant Castillon, junior Ben Breithaupt, freshman Conor Samuels, and senior Bryan Santos, delivered a strong performance, finishing with a time of 1:41.65. The team continued to excel in individual events, with standout performances from senior Enzo Solitario, who claimed first place in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 49.50, and junior Aidan Villars, who dominated the 100 Yard Backstroke, finishing in 53.99.

The Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay was another highlight, with the team of Villars, Castillon, junior Drew Launey, and Solitario finishing first with a time of 3:21.30, further cementing Jesuit’s success at the meet.

Additional highlights include:

• 200 Yard Freestyle: Solitario placed first with a time of 1:41.25, Breithaupt second, sophomore Louis Roux fourth, and junior James Denning fifth.
• 200 Yard IM: senior Evan Kee placed second with a time of 2:07.54, senior Nathan Flynn sixth, freshman Cody Brown seventh, and senior Christian Lang tenth.
• 50 Yard Freestyle: senior Luke Balhoff finished first with a time of 22.87, freshman Conor Samuels, fourth, sophomore Dillon Nguyen fifth, senior Eagan Palmisano, and sophomore Luke Barnett in tenth.
• 100 Yard Butterfly: Solitario placed first with a time of 49.5, Grant Castillon finished in third, senior Sam Schlafer sixth, and senior Christian Offner eighth.
• 100 Yard Freestyle: Villars placed first with a time of 49.72, Samuels third, Breithaupt fourth, Santos eighth, and Flynn tenth.
• 500 Yard Freestyle: Castillon placed second with a time of 5:01.02, Kee third, Denning fourth, and freshman James Ganucheau fifth.
• 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Villars, Schlafer, Samuels, and Solitario took first with a time of 1:31.34
• 100 Yard Backstroke: Villars placed first with a time of 53.99, Balhoff second, Kee third, and Palmisano eighth.
• 100 Yard Breaststroke: Santos finished in first with a time of 1:05.89, Barnett third, Roux fourth, and Lang eighth.

Ultimately, the Blue Jays accumulated an impressive 219 points to receive a first place finish.

“Winning district is a great step for this team as we move into our championship season. The team is starting to look more relaxed, and the times are dropping,” said Dipuma. “I am extremely proud of all of the work the boys have put in, and am excited to see what the rest of this season has in store for us.” The collective efforts of the swimmers not only upheld the school’s storied tradition of excellence in swimming but also showcased a promising future under Coach Dipuma’s guidance.

Allstate Sugar Bowl Metro New Orleans High School Championship Swim Meet

The recent district win added momentum as the Blue Jays advanced to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Metro New Orleans High School Championship Swim Meet on Saturday, November 2, at Franco’s Health Club and Spa in Mandeville.

Solitario, a Wisconsin commit, delivered an outstanding performance at the metro championships, setting three meet records. He clinched first place in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events, breaking records in both. His impressive performance continued in the 50-yard freestyle, where he set another record while swimming the first leg of the 200-yard relay.

Solitario had previously set the 100-yard freestyle record last year and successfully lowered his own mark in this year’s finals with a time of 44.89 seconds. He also set a new record in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing in 1 minute, 37.52 seconds. His record-breaking swim in the 50-yard freestyle was clocked at 20.91 seconds, surpassing a mark previously held for over twenty years by former Jesuit swimmer Alton Smith ’03. Solitario’s exceptional ability to set and meet ambitious goals was evident, as he stated, “Swimmers rise to whatever goals they’re given.” His dedication and strategic approach to improvement were highlighted by coach Dipuma, who praised Solitario for his focus on continuous enhancement.

Villars set a record in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 48.75 seconds at the metro meet. Villars also placed second in the 200-yard individual medley and swam on the winning 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relay teams.

These achievements contributed significantly to Jesuit’s team victory, earning them a championship with a total of 350½ points.

The metro meet is the last major meet before the LHSAA Division I state championships on November 22–23. As the team prepares for the upcoming state meet, these record-breaking performances serve as an inspiration to their teammates.