The 2023 CIF-SS D1 Swimming & Diving Championships, one of the best section championships in the state of California featured a dominant display of athletes.  Northwood boys delivered a handful of impressive performances, 3rd overall, and lowered the 200 IM & 400 free relay school records.   Photos courtesy of Alex Tokachev.

The 2023 CIF Southern Section Championships gave the areas fastest high school swimmers a chance to compete against top-tier opponents in one last opportunity at the Riverside Aquatic Complex in Riverside, Ca.  The Timberwolves competed against a field of thirty-six highly competitive high school teams in Southern California.

Although individual and team titles were not in reach at the 2023 CIF Southern Section D1 Swimming Championships, Northwood's showing was still outstanding in a field of exceptionally tough competitors. That theme dominated throughout the venue, which started with seven swimmers qualified in finals and ended with one individual and one relay school record.  Northwood senior Christopher Leung set a new school record in the 200 IM in 1:48.17, and garnering a fifth place.  Leung also claimed another 5th place in the 100 breast (54.83). The future Northwestern swimmer anchored Northwood's 200 freestyle team splitting (20.33) and 400 freestyle relay (44.34) surpassing two school record marks with 1:23.45 and 3:00.90. Leung would lead Northwood's squad in overall scoring with 35 points.  

Sophomore Derek Hitchens made his presence known this evening staking his claim on the 100 back placing 5th overall touching in a time of 49.18.  Hitchens also won the 100 fly consolation heat registering a 49.28 10th place.  The sophomore's 200 medley relay back split 22.24 produced the fastest split in the field with a team placement 3rd overall.  Hitchens capped off the session by helping Northwood lower the school record in the 400 free relay (3:00.90), lowering the team's own mark from 2018 (3:02.24).  His third leg split of 44.34 was a season best with the performance.  Hitchens ended the venue with scoring 26 points.

Andrew Maksymowski, a freshman, had a huge swim this evening, taking 8th place with a 1:39.77.  It actually wasn't a lifetime best for Maksymoskwi, who blazed a 1:39.02 at the 2023 Pacific Coast League Championships last month.  Maksymowski was also a key contributor towards Northwood's team school 400 free relay record, splitting 46.39 second leg.  The third-place team finish was a tight 400 free race (3:00.90) in which the top three finishers were separated by less than a couple seconds. Maksymowski ended the evening scoring 13 points.

Sophomore Will Chen asserted himself in the consolation round of the 200 freestyle, blasting his way to a 1:39.15 10th place.  His time was only slightly off the 1:39.02 personal best set at last month's Pacific Coast League Championships.  Chen put up a solid lifetime best 45.85 in the 100 free, ultimately winning the consolation heat with 10th.  He was also a member of the 3rd place 200 free relay, contributing a third-leg 20.68 split.  Chen helped topple the school record during the 400 free relay, splitting 45.94 on a first leg.  Chen tallied 10 points for Northwood, fueled by his performances.

In many ways, this 2023 high school season for the Northwood Timberwolves was seeing the evolution of a batch of high-performing freshman and sophomores making a strong case of remaining relevant at this venue.  Of the 11 swimmers who competed for Northwood at the CIF event, only three were seniors, leaving much intact for the upcoming seasons.  It's a natural progression, but Northwood has silver linings in taking the positives from this season, and raising the bar to the next level.

The Timberwolves have fought hard this season to maintain their winning ways and for the most part, they have.  To boast a Pacific Coast League Championship boys title and girls second is no small feat, and they have swam their way into CIF Champs with some respectable performances.

The expectation that follows Northwood's swim program is there for a reason.  It has consistently succeeded and despite a colorless post season; it still is succeeding.  The boys finished their regular season undefeated (6-0), and girls league runners up (5-1).  While it may seem unfair to expect it to achieve so much, it is only because it can.

“CIF Champs always presents great high school teams, so it was great to just see some of our team race against them," Northwood Head Coach Alex Nieto said. "I thought over the course of the entire meet there were really encouraging things.  I think it's just a good place to build from and that swimmers know that they have different things to work on for next season."