On Friday evening, the top two teams in the state, defending boys and girls state champions and crosstown rivals—Oakton and Madison—met for a Concorde Conference showdown at Oakmarr. With nearly every seat in the stands filled and the teams roaring on deck, the atmosphere at Oakmarr was at a championship level all night. 

The Madison girls, the three-time defending state champion and favorite to repeat again, presented a great opportunity as a measuring stick for the Cougars as the post-season nears. Despite missing Brynn Curtis who was racing at the TYR Pro Swim Series at Knoxville, the Cougars put up a strong fight.

• Leaya Ma continued her outstanding senior year narrowly missing the state cut in 200 freestyle while picking up the win in 200 freestyle.
• Lindsey Kotarski finished close behind in fifth with a new lifetime best.
• Freshman Leena Knepper turned in season bests in both 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
• In the 100 freestyle, her classmate, Agnese Lasmane edged out Madison by 8-hundredths for a second place finish, while sprinters Hailey Wang (fourth) and Alexandra Martschenko (fifth) dropped season best times.
• In an exciting finish to the meet, the 400 freestyle relay team of Abby Zindler, Agnese Lasmane, Leena Knepper, and Leaya Ma surged in the anchor leg to finish the meet with a victory.

Despite a great effort, the Cougars feel short 194 to 121, putting them at 5-2 heading into the final meet of the season.  Next week, the Cougars will wrap up the regular season with a dual meet against the Chantilly Chargers, at Audrey Moore Rec Center starting at 6:00pm.