The BHS swim team shattered expectations at the district swim meet on Friday, Feb. 19 at Cleveland State University, as six students qualified for states.

Seniors Bagatur Askaryan and Junyoung Lee, juniors Sanford Hong and Heli Colmenares, sophomore Caleb Gecovich and freshman Spencer Bystrom all qualified for states. The students placed in a combination of both swimming and diving events.

“This is the most State qualifiers that we have had in Beachwood swimming history,” Athletic Director Ryan Peters wrote in an email. “These young men broke six school records this season and have put Bison swimming and diving on the map statewide.”

Askaryan qualified in 50 free, Lee, Hong, Gecovich and Bystrom qualified in the 200 medley relay.

Bystrom, Colmenares, Gecovich and Askaryan also qualified in the 200 free relay.

In addition, Bystrom qualified for diving.

Coach Brad Burget is focused on strengthening the program.

“I want a program that is in the top ten of the state consistently,” he said.

He hopes to get there by building specific skills in his swimmers.

“The high school events cater toward short sprints [and] short bursts of energy, [so we try] building the endurance as well.”

Burget explained that it took years of preparation to get the swimmers to their current level of competitiveness.

“We usually start training through [the] middle school program, [getting them] used to the swimming environment,” he said.

Askaryan began swimming on a school team at the age of six.

“I started swimming more competitively and consistently in the sixth grade,” he added.

”Making an impact at states has always been my number one goal,” he said.

However, Askaryan does not wish to take his swimming career to college.

“I’ll probably not swim in college, at least not varsity swimming,” he said. “College swimming is a very large time commitment, and I’d rather focus on my academics.”

Bystrom is the first BHS student to qualify for both swimming and diving in states. He is also the first swimmer in the school’s history to qualify for states as a freshman.

“I honestly never thought I’d make states my freshman year,” he said, “…so this feels pretty good. I’m super happy to be representing Beachwood at the state meet.”

Bystrom, who after two hours of daily swim practice, goes to an offsite location for two more hours of diving practice, hopes to carry his career into college.

“I couldn’t have done it without my coaches, friends, and parents,” he said. “Special thanks to my swim coach, Brad Burget, and my diving coach, Marc Cahalane.”