Seniors Taylor Giorlando-Wall, David Gaines, Patrick Cecola, Daniel Edmund, Michael Conrad, Sam Johnson (holding the team’s 2014 District trophy), Francis Plough, and Chris Simmons. Photo by R. Stewart Johnson.

The Jesuit swimming team is determined  to reclaim what was once theirs … 37 times. The team is training to compete for the 2014 Division 1 State Swim Championship in Sulphur, La. on Nov. 21-22, after having the title slip through their fingertips in 2013.

The team has won every meet this season and has taken its training up a level to prepare for the stiff competition that comes at the state meet. Coach Bret Hanemann ’85 said, “The boys have trained harder than any team of the modern era. We’ve added practices this year and implemented a weight program. Assistant Coach Tre Roux has been running them more than they have ever seen; some thought they were on the cross country team.”

The team is led by a strong group of seniors starting with Chris Simmons (who will be chasing the 50- and 100-freestyle records), Francis Plough, Sam Johnson, Michael Conrad, Taylor Giorlando-Wall, Dan Edmund, and Patrick Cecola. In addition, Edmund was named to ExxonMobil/ISC 2014 2014 All-Academic Scholar Composite Boys’ Swimming Team for his 4.o GPA.

These seniors “have demonstrated through their careers at Jesuit how to lead by example,” Hanemann said. “This team epitomizes what the Jesuit High School athletic program is all about commitment, desire, focus, and a work ethic that cannot matched.”

After 20-plus years of coaching, Hanemann will not give predictions about the outcome. But, he added, “I always have hope.”

The boys will swim Nov. 21- 22 in Sulphur, La. at the SPAR Aquatic Center. Finals will take place Saturday at 3 p.m.