Robinson's Boys Win Sixth-Straight Virginia AAA Swim & Dive Championship

By Sam Dowell
Fairfax High Senior

(Look below the story for dozens of video highlights and interviews from Saturday’s championship meet.)

On an evening full of record-setting performances, it was Robinson Coach Rich Gordon who took the last swim of the night after celebrating the most unprecedented record of all: The Rams’ boys team, led by seniors Derek Bui and Tim Wingert, won their sixth consecutive Virginia AAA state title.

To put that in perspective, it means that Gordon’s teams have won the championship every year since his seniors were in the sixth grade.

“Six straight championships is amazing to say,” Gordon said incredulously after reality was finally setting in.

This championship was just as important to the swimmers as it was to their coach.

“I was the two-time defending state champion in the 100-breaststroke and I just wanted to contribute to this team as a senior and as one of the captains,” said Bui, who won that event for the third consecutive time, tying the state record that Thomas Jefferson’s Jonathan Christensen set in the preliminary round.

In all, there were a total of 18 state records tied or broken out of the 24 events, 16 of which were set by Northern Region athletes or teams.

Wingert and Lake Braddock’s Ashley Danner were the only two swimmers to be a part of three state records this year.

“Getting three state records is amazing,” Danner said. “I was really proud of both my individual events. I did what I wanted to do – get the records.”

Fairfax’s girls’ team also shined. Highlighted by two state record-breaking relays in the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle, the Rebels high quantity of stellar swimmers led to a first-place team finish.

“We knew we could get it,” said Fairfax senior Emily Ferguson, who competed in four races for the Rebels, including serving as the anchor on that 200-yard medley relay team. “We really wanted it. We knew we had tough competition, but we just had to go out there, swim fast and set the tone for all the other meets.”