Minutes into its regular meeting on April 5, the Arlington County School Board paused to recognize student-athletes from its public high schools: Wakefield, Washington-Lee and Yorktown. All the young men and women were finalists in state-wide winter sports, which included swimming, diving, wrestling, gymnastics, indoor track and basketball.

Special note was taken of the achievement of four young women from Yorktown: Mary Kate Reicherter (sophomore), Kayle Park (junior), Victoria Huske (freshman) and Emily Brooks (senior). On the way to becoming this year’s champion, the quartet set an all-time state record for the 200 Medley Relay. Their coach, Torey Ortmayer, observed that each swimmer was talented, but all also demonstrated a willingness to work hard in every practice. Ortmayer said he had confidence his squad could win the event this year, so much so that he “could stand back and enjoy the race knowing they would take care of business.”

Seven other state championships were claimed by Arlington students: Jabari Bennett, Washington-Lee - Shot Put; Justin Clark, Wakefield - Diving; Julia Hays, Yorktown – Gymnastics (floor); Katya Olsen, Yorktown – Gymnastics (vault); Victoria Huske, Yorktown – 50 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly; and Kayle Park, Victoria Huske, Mary Kate Reicherter and Natalie English, Yorktown – 400 Freestyle Relay (Tie).