Priestley swimmers impress in national championships

WARRINGTON can boast one of the fastest swim teams in the country after a stunning performance by Priestley College’s swimmers in the national championships.
Competing in the national finals of the English Schools’ Swimming Association championships Priestley’s male medley team finished seventh.
Head of Sport Nigel Howells said it was an incredible achievement for the swimmers who were competing in the London Olympic Park pool.
“It was a great experience for our students who were inspired to be in the Olympic pool,” he said.
“To finish seventh when we were competing against the country’s strongest swimming academies and other colleges is something to be very proud of.”
Ten students represented Priestley College at the Olympic Park with one female and two male teams competing against the top 20 performers in the country.
“It was a fantastic achievement just to have qualified as regional champions,” said Nigel. “There’s some real quality in our swim team and they performed incredibly well in the competition.”
Priestley made it through to the relay finals thanks to impressive team performances in the regional qualifiers held at Everton Park in October. The boys won the freestyle event and finished second in the medley with the girls matching that medley achievement.
Priestley has entered the swimmers into several big competitions to help improve their times whilst most of the squad compete with the Warriors of Warrington.
“We all train together so have been able to push each other on and that has really helped,” said Josh Radin, who is studying A Level PE, History and BTEC Certificate in Sport at Priestley.