It was an extra happy valentine’s day for Freedom’s swim team when Liberty hosted the Patriots’ senior night last Thursday.

“[Liberty coach] Reik [Foust] was beyond supportive and beyond understanding,” said Freedom coach Melissa Baer.

As last week’s weather threatened and then cancelled the Patriots’ last chance for a home swim meet before the regular season ended, Baer asked Foust if the Pates’ could hold their senior night ceremony at the Liberty-Freedom meet, which was at Liberty.

Freedom’s seniors Shannon Connelly, Emily Justice, Al Bell, Dominic Fresoli, Sahil Shah, Paras Chand, Jared Franges, Shawn Higgins, Nikunj Singh, and Jack Rosen were recognized at the halfway point of the meet.

“Honestly I was a little scared because it’s not our pool and the Liberty team is pretty good but I was kind of excited because it’s our rival and it gives us motivation to do better,” said Connelly.

Liberty’s swim announcer Dan Capwell gave Freedom’s swim announcer Eric Smith the honors of announcing the Patriot seniors in front of family, friends, and fans.

“I have a lot of strong connections with swimmers on the team,” said Justice. “It’s my last goodbye to them and I’m really going to miss them. It was just a lot of fun. Swimming is fun in general, a way for me to clear my mind and relax.”

Liberty’s Samantha Taylor, Natalie Richardson, Talia Lehr, and Abby Mack won the 200 medley in 1:56.77.

Mack won the 200 free in 2:02.30, and Maddy Drager won the 200 IM in 2:27.94

Greta Stuckey, who has been aiming for breaking a 26.00 in the 50 free all season, took first place with a time of 25.98. The Hurricane senior also took first in the 100 free in 57.87.

Freedom’s Sarah Gill took first place in diving with 213.45 points.

Kay Wetmore of Liberty won the 100 butterfly in 1:02.13 and the 500 free in 5:32.57.

Stuckey, Lehr, Taylor, and Mack combined to place first in the 200 free relay in 1:43.79.

Taylor won the 100 backstroke in 1:02.38, and Abby Burnette from Freedom won the 100 breaststroke in 1:13.47.

Aliah Corrado, Sage Hillier, Cailin Connelly, and Sophie Twigger won first place points in the 400 free relay with a time of 4:18.68.

With a final team score of Liberty 99 - Freedom 82, the Patriots were able to gain points with their two, three, four finish in the 50 free by Sydney Straka, Twigger, and Corrado. Also, Freedom junior Fallon Tatlow earned second place points in diving.

“Our score wasn’t that bad and I think we had really good performances,” Connelly said.