Five Ransom Everglades swimmers had an incredible winter season, breaking several records and cementing their legacies into RE history.
Swimmer Kiera Rampersad ’25 didn’t just break the 100-yard butterfly record this season—she did it twice. First at regionals and then again at states, where she beat her own record with an impressive time of 54.76 seconds.
“I was really happy, but honestly, I was anxious about it all season,” Rampersad said. “I thought I was going to break it last year but missed it by a hair. This time, I just focused on staying calm, and it finally happened.”
For Rampersad, a mix of preparation and mental focus made the difference. She spent the season working on underwater drills and resistance training, which helped her perfect her technique and build endurance.
“Coach [Franz] Huggins really pushed me when I needed it,” she said. “There were times I wanted to rest, but he reminded me that I had to push through if I wanted to improve. That kind of tough love made all the difference.”
Huggins emphasized the importance of discipline and consistency in his coaching approach, holding every swimmer accountable at every practice.
“The number one thing in our sport, in particular, is ensuring that you’re on time, you’re consistent, and that you’re giving effort where required,” Huggins said. “We hold them accountable every practice, and I think that really attributes greatly to their success.”
The moment she saw her time on the scoreboard was unforgettable. “I felt smooth in the water and kind of knew it was going well,” she said. “Then I saw my time on the big board, and I just splashed water everywhere—I was so excited.” With her name now on the record board, Rampersad is set to take her talent to the next level as she prepares to swim at Boston University next year.
Senior Nohan Gomez ’25 similarly ended his high school swimming career on a high note, breaking the 100-yard butterfly record at states with a time of 50.94 seconds.
For Gomez, it was a long time coming. “This race was one of my last chances to secure the record, so I came in with a strong mindset, ready to give it everything I had,” he said.
Gomez’s season focused on fine-tuning his endurance and back-end speed. “I’ve always had a strong start, but maintaining that speed at the end of races was something I really worked on this year,” he explained. The effort paid off, as he not only set the record but also delivered one of the standout performances of the season.
“When I saw my time at the end of the race, it was just pure joy,” Gomez shared. “It’s something I’ve worked toward for years, and it felt amazing to finally make it happen.” Gomez will leave Ransom Everglades as one of its most accomplished swimmers, now preparing to compete at Brown University next year.
Ransom Everglades’ 200-yard freestyle relay team also made history this season with yet another record-breaking performance at states. Lincoln Broad ’26 and Jay Holly ’26, along with Gomez and Ethan Sullivan ’25, smashed the school record at states with a time of 1:28.80.
“Being part of a relay team is different—it’s not just about you,” Broad said. “You have to trust the other guys completely. We pushed each other all season, and by the time we got to states, it was just about doing what we’d been practicing.”
The team spent months perfecting their exchanges and sprint techniques, working closely with coaches to polish every detail. According to Broad, the team “worked hard in practice to get everything precise.”
Coach Huggins recognized the team’s commitment and the mindset that set them apart.
“The relay team—I mean, I think it’s the overall approach of the swimmers in general—went in from day one knowing that they wanted to break the records that they broke,” Coach Huggins said. “There was an evidential shift from last year. There was a real goal to achieve at the end of the season, and it lifted the overall standard of the team in practice and, subsequently, in competition.”
For the seniors on the team, this record carried special meaning. “It was really cool to break this record with my teammates, especially knowing it was some of our last races,” Broad said.
“I was really happy, but honestly, I was anxious about it all season,” Rampersad said. “I thought I was going to break it last year but missed it by a hair. This time, I just focused on staying calm, and it finally happened.”
“Being part of a relay team is different—it’s not just about you,” Broad said. “You have to trust the other guys completely. We pushed each other all season, and by the time we got to states, it was just about doing what we’d been practicing.”
The team spent months perfecting their exchanges and sprint techniques, working closely with their coaches to ensure they executed their races with precision.
Reflecting on the season, Coach Huggins emphasized the mental resilience needed to succeed at the highest level.
“The biggest mental challenge is the fear of failure,” he said. “It’s trying to figure out where I went wrong when a race doesn’t go well and rebounding from that. We have to remind them that they’re human, and that not every race is going to be perfect. But in order for the race to be as close to perfect as possible, they have to practice and learn from their mistakes.”
