News Summary

The Taft Union High School Swimming and Diving team has celebrated a record-breaking season, bringing home an impressive total of 99 gold medals and 184 overall. Standout performances from swimmers propelled the women’s team and men’s team to remarkable victories. Highlights include a dual sweep against Shafter and a strong showing at the CIF Central Section D2 Championship. As the team anticipates future seasons, the Tigersharks Swim Club is ready to inspire young athletes to excel in swimming.

Taft Celebrates a Record-Breaking Swim Season!

The city of Taft is buzzing with excitement as the Taft Union High School Swimming and Diving team has *made waves* this season, bringing home an impressive haul of gold medals! The 2025 season has proven nothing short of spectacular, with the Wildcats claiming an astonishing total of 99 gold medals and an overall count of 184 medals. That’s a lot of shiny hardware!

Star Swimmers Shine Bright

Leading the charge for the Wildcats were standout swimmers Kimber Crabb and Cooper Golling, each swimming their way to more than 20 gold medals. The women’s team was fierce in the pool, racking up 50 golds, 43 silvers, and 19 bronzes, while securing victories in four team events. Meanwhile, the men’s squad wasn’t far behind, amassing 49 golds, 17 silvers, and 6 bronzes along with two team victories!

Season Kick-off and Key Competitions

The Wildcats’ season kicked off a bit rocky, finishing in 7th place at the KHSD Early JV Invitational back in February. However, they quickly turned things around. Notable performances included Isabell Leaf, who shined with a gold in the 100-Fly and a third-place finish in the 100-Breaststroke. Aubrey Neudorf also made waves with a fifth-place finish in the 200-Free.

As the month progressed, the JVs showcased their skills by finishing third at the SLO meet. March saw the Wasco Powermeet where the Wildcats struck gold—literally! They claimed an impressive 11 gold medals, highlighting Cooper Golling’s four-gold show and Kimber Crabb grabbing three golds along with a silver.

An Impressive Dual Sweep!

The Wildcats continued to build momentum, achieving a dual sweep against Shafter in spectacular fashion. By April, the thrill kept rising as the Women’s team secured victory at the “City in the Clouds Powermeet,” while the Men placed second. Under Coach Greg Golling’s guidance, the small but mighty team won 8 out of 12 events for the girls and 9 out of 12 events for the boys across various Powermeets.

Celebrating Senior Night

April 23 was a night to remember as the team celebrated *Senior Night* against Delano, dominating the meet and securing multiple gold medals. The excitement continued on May 2 when the Wildcats shone brightly at the SSL Championships, snagging a total of seven gold medals.

Wrapping up the Season with a Bang

The action came to a crescendo at the CIF Central Section D2 Championship held from May 7-10, where the Wildcats added three golds and two bronzes to their medal tally. Kimber Crabb showcased versatility, earning bronze in both the 50-Free and 100-Free, while Rylie Pendergrass made headlines winning gold in the Women’s 1M Dive.

Despite not taking home medals at the State Championships, both Rylie Pendergrass and Coach Greg Golling were filled with pride in the team’s exceptional efforts and laid plans for even greater success in the upcoming season.

Looking Ahead: Future Stars

As we look towards the future, the team is excited about potentially retaining a strong roster consisting of returning talent and new freshmen joining the ranks. Plus, the Taft Tigersharks Swim Club is ready to keep the spirit alive this summer, providing a plethora of training and competition opportunities for young swimmers. The Tigersharks are gearing up for both local and regional meets, including an All-Star meet in Santa Clarita next January.

Swim safety remains a top priority, and the club welcomes young talent aged 4 to 18, regardless of their swimming experience. With multiple practice levels ensuring everyone from novices to competitive swimmers have a chance to shine, the future looks bright in Taft’s swimming scene!

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