By james art 
Winning titles is nothing new for swimming titans Catholic High and St. Joseph’s Academy.
Or for Episcopal senior Rylee Simoneaux.
The ever-changing path to success makes each win at the Capital City Swim League Championships unique, including what happened Saturday at the Crawfish Aquatics pool.
Catholic won its 32nd straight CCSL boys title. It was St. Joseph’s 22nd straight girls crown. Meanwhile, Simoneau, a Houston commit, was the girls swimmer of the race for the fourth year in a row.
“Good way to introduce yourself,” first-year Catholic coach Zion Kavanagh told two swimmers after a race. “You did it.”
Indeed the Bears did. Catholic scored 593 points, ahead of Baton Rouge High (392) and Zachary (185) to win the boys title on Day 2 of the meet.
The Redstickers accumulated 568 points for their first coach, Jimmy Roberts. Episcopal (293) and St. Amant (251) are next.
“It’s phenomenal … we’re probably faster than I thought we’d be right now because most of the girls haven’t rested (reduced their training),” Roberts said. “That environment yesterday and today plus being able to compete with all the great swimmers here takes it to another level. I think they (SJA swimmers) surprised themselves.”
Simoneau won the 100-yard freestyle in 51.91 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 56.21 seconds. Dutchtown senior Matthew O’Konsky won the 200 individual medley in 1 minute, 54.40 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 4:38.46 to earn boys swimmer of the race honors.
The biggest surprise came early in the meet when Catholic won the 200-meter medley relay in a record time of 1:34.37. This was the record for a solitary meeting. Its significance resonated with Kavanagh, a former Catholic swimmer.
“Nothing like starting the meet with a record,” Cavanagh said. “I thought we were going to smash it, but not by the margin we did. Everyone got involved and that carried over into the rest of the meeting.”
St. Joseph’s had the meet’s only other double winner in Riley Rodel (100 butterfly, 500 freestyle). Catholic and SJA swept all three of their relays.
Simoneau and O’Konski were all smiles, even though both shift their focus to the LHSAA meet later this month.
“I was definitely happier with my 100 free and a little surprised that I can go that fast now,” Simoneau said. “This is the last ride with my girls at state. Hopefully we can bring home a first place state trophy.”
O’Konski said: “For me it was about pushing myself to go fast. I will work on underwater stuff and hitting techniques to find a good rhythm.”