The FM boys’ swim and dive team did well this year, as they have in the past. This was an impeccable season, building off of last year with impressive scores and an even more impressive team.
Starting at the beginning of the season during tryouts, head coach Timothy Gallivan saw a record number of students. “We had 53 student-athletes try out for the team this season, which was a great sign of continued interest and enthusiasm around the program. We carried a roster of 47 athletes, which gave us strong depth across all events while also allowing us to build a competitive and connected team culture,” said Gallivan. The team also added two new divers, doubling the number of divers and making it the largest number of divers the boys have had in 3 years.
This team faced several challenges to achieve these results, including harsh winter weather. “I do think the winter weather had an impact — both logistically and mentally. Like many winter sports, we had to navigate weather-related disruptions, schedule adjustments, and the general challenge of keeping momentum during a long, demanding season. That can affect training rhythm, meet preparation, and recovery. What stood out, though, was how well this team handled it. They stayed adaptable, focused, and resilient. If anything, those challenges helped reveal the maturity of this group. They didn’t make excuses — they adjusted and kept moving forward,” Gallivan said.
In meets, the boys went undefeated through the regular season, eventually winning the Class A Section Championship for the second year in a row, as well as the George Farwell Cup. 33 athletes qualified for sectionals and that led to 20 athletes qualifying for states. Of these 20 state qualifiers, 9 of them went to the state competition. In addition to the championships, 5 school records were broken. This included Jack Prendergast in the 200 Freestyle with a time of 1:45.46, Jack Prendergast again in the 100 freestyle with a time of 48.11, the 200 freestyle relay team consisting of Alex Kim, Conor Kelly, Derrick Wang and Jack Prendergast with a time of 1:28.19, Ben Prendergast in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.26, and finally the 400 freestyle relay team consisting of Jack Prendergast, Alex Kim, Conor Kelly and Ben Prendergast.
Gallivan analyzed this season in comparison to others, “This was an extraordinary season because it represented everything you hope for in a high school program — competitive success, academic excellence, leadership, and team culture. We had 47 athletes on the roster, a team GPA of 94.2, won Class A Sectionals and the Gorge Farwell Cup, qualified 9 athletes for States, and broke multiple school records. But more than anything, this group was selfless, resilient, and committed to each other, and that’s what made them special.”
Gallivan also said, “From a coaching perspective, this season was incredibly special. Last year set a high standard, but this group found a way to build on that in meaningful ways. We didn’t just have standout performances at the top — we had buy-in across the entire roster. The team culture, work ethic, accountability, and support for one another were as strong as I’ve seen.”
There have been rumors circulating that the team might be moving its home pool from Heninger High School to Nottingham High School. Moving to Nottingham would give the team access to advanced timing software and hardware, 8 lanes rather than 6 as well as a shallow end with an additional 8 lanes, two 1-meter diving boards, two 3-meter diving boards, live film review for divers, and overall just a larger facility for our growing team size. When asked, Gallivan said the situation is still being finalized and more information will be shared when available.
Gallivan reflected on the team’s outstanding performance, “There are a lot of reasons why, but what stands out most is that this team succeeded at a high level without losing sight of what matters most: team culture, consistency, and representing the program the right way.”
A great season for the boys — keep it going next year. Let’s go green and white.
