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Against all odds, G. Holmes Braddock Senior High’s boys swim team from Miami-Dade County Public Schools won the state championship, marking the school’s first-ever team state title in its 34-year history.
“This win is going to be legendary for years to come,” said Braddock High’s Boys Swim Coach Katia Garcia, who has also been an ESE teacher at the school for 12 years. “We’re a Title I Public school. Most private schools have their own pool and a lot of financial support. I’m so proud of these boys, knowing how hard it is for them to train so hard day in, day out.”
Garcia highlighted Braddock’s historic win as the first public school to claim a state swimming championship in 15 years.
“Our swimmers’ rigorous training occurs within their respective private swim clubs,” said Garcia, adding that a typical day involves “at least two hours of practice before school as well as two hours after school.” This schedule, coupled with the academic rigors of high school, highlights the extraordinary dedication and resilience of these student-athletes.
The fact that they achieved a state championship while managing such a challenging routine speaks volumes about their commitment and the effectiveness of their combined training regimen.
“We’re all so happy that the work we put in for this meet finally paid off,” said swimmer and 12th grader George Gonzalez. “For us to have this win under our belt, it’s the first time in history for our school and we’re very excited.”
According to Garcia, the team’s journey to the championship was an impressive climb. In 2022, they finished 33rd out of nearly 60 schools in their division. The following year, they surged to become runners-up, a testament to their rapid improvement.
The teams’ transformation started with a handful of very talented students, now seniors, who helped the team advance. As a result, more students wanted to be a part of our swimming program leading to more success.
“From that point forward, it was a done deal,” said Garcia. “In the sense that they get to know each other, and they swim together, so they develop this chemistry that is very much needed for a state championship.”
Coaches, teachers, fellow students and parents cheered their star athletes on last month as the eight students who won the state received trophies and rings to commemorate this historic victory.
“We all trained together super hard,” said swimmer Dylan Ferguson, a senior. “There are times we thought it wasn’t going to happen, but our team believed in itself, and we won the state championship.”
Four seniors, including Ferguson (U.S. Air Force Academy) and Gonzalez (Southern Methodist University), received university scholarships. Robert Alvarez (University of Tampa), and Peyton Selts (Southern Illinois University).
Returning swimmers Anthony Pineiro, Andy Serrano-Pena, Nathan Angel, and Nicolas Kokidko are ready to contribute to next year’s team and compete for another state title.
The team’s success was built upon a foundation of unwavering parental dedication and profound student commitment, with parents investing countless hours in travel and support at swim meets across the county and state.
“It was amazing to go up to Ocala, to watch my son win two individual events, two relays and ultimately win the state title,” said Braddock Assistant Principal Ron Ferguson. “I couldn’t be any prouder.”
The synergy between students, parents, and coaches propelled Braddock to its historic victory, and Garcia’s optimism reflects the team’s strong position to pursue additional state championships.
Having the resources and staff to train students to successfully compete in sports while supporting them to succeed academically is yet another reason why M-DCPS is your best choice.
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