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city league coed swimming championships

Latin Academy swim team wins 7th straight title

Latin Academy freshman Abigail Bowers heads to victory in the 500-yard freestyle, winning in 6:25.82 on Thursday.jim davis/globe staff/Boston Globe

The Latin Academy coed swim team cruised to its seventh straight Boston City League championship Thursday at Madison Park. The Dragons have now won 23 of the last 24 City League titles.

“It’s good to keep the tradition,” Dragons senior captain Colby Cahill said. “We’ve held this title for so long so I’m glad I can kinda keep it going. I just feel really proud of my team and also my other cocaptains.”

Cahill finished second in the 100-yard backstroke, helping Latin Academy earn a winning total of 141 points. O’Bryant finished second with 68 points. East Boston came in just behind the Tigers with 63.

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Latin Academy’s Mark Thomas will retire from coaching after this season. He said this final City League championship brought out “a lot of emotion.”

“To finish off this way means a lot,” Thomas said. “You know, I’m thrilled for the kids and thrilled for the program. Just very, very happy.”

Senior Cristian Mojica was part of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team and won the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard freestyle.

“It feels good,” Mojica said. “End senior year with a bang.”

Dragons sophomore Jason Zernitsky captured the 100-yard butterfly title in 1:00.97. He also finished second in the 200-yard individual medley. Latin Academy junior Kevin Zhang won the 100-yard freestyle in a speedy 56.28 seconds and was the runner-up in the 50-yard freestyle.

Dragons freshman Abigail Bowers won the 500-yard freestyle, taking the 20-length race in 6:25.82.

Latin Academy swept the relays, winning the 200-yard medley in 1:58.90, the 200-yard freestyle in 1:47.33, and the 400-yard freestyle in 4:06.40.

O’Bryant sophomore Justin Chung won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:07.06 and the 200-yard individual medley in 2:12.45. He was also part of the Tigers’ 200-yard freestyle relay team that finished second.

“We beat Eastie, I’m proud of that,” Chung said. “But we’re trying to beat BLA. BLA’s a big team and we’re a small team compared to them, but we did pretty good against them.”

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Thomas said he was happy that the Latin Academy seniors were able to end their swimming careers with a title.

“I feel great for the seniors but this is a great, great team that’s very young,” Thomas said. “Out of the 60 swimmers we have on the team we only have three seniors. 57 kids will be back next year. I feel like I’m leaving the team in good hands.”