Moments after Elizabeth Guevara exited the pool following her 100-yard free at an early September meet in Stoneham, the Belmont High School senior received perhaps the biggest hug she had ever received following a race.
The first-year Marauder team member knew nothing of her early-season achievement — qualifying for the state championship meet — nor did she yet know the name of the teammate wrapping her arms around her — sophomore Ava Senn — but the moment best captured Guevara’s lone season swimming with the Marauders.
“I was in so much shock,” Guevara said. “She knew before me and was more excited than I was. She showed so much love. … I wanted to be part of my school team and experience that. It’s so much more team and community-driven.”
For years, Guevara only competed on the club circuit, a common route for top-tier swimmers. As a senior, she decided to represent Belmont High School as well. Five days a week, she practiced with Belmont from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m., hopped in the car and drove to Bentley University to practice with Revolution Aquatic Club from whenever she arrived until as late as 7:45 p.m.
“I want to be part of my school team and experience that. It’s so much more team and community-driven. There’s so much passion,” she said.
Despite an “overwhelming schedule,” Guevara dominated.
In her first and only season with the Belmont program, Guevara captured the 200 freestyle (1:55.83) and finished second in the 100 free (53.35) at the MIAA Division 2 state championships meet with school-record times. She also swam the anchor leg of Belmont’s state champion and school-record 200 and 400 free relay teams. For her efforts, Guevara earned Middlesex League All-Star status and All-Scholastic honors by The Boston Globe and Boston Herald.
“I’m so happy I did it,” said Guevara, who does not plan to swim in college but intends to study biochemistry or cellular biology with an interest in becoming a pediatrician. “I did not have any regrets. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”
Guevara started swimming competitively at 7 while living in Kansas, where her parents taught at Kansas State University. Guevara was born in Florida, where her parents were finishing their PhDs at the University of Florida. Soon after moving to Belmont in fourth grade, she met club coach Lulu Emmons. They reunited this year with the high school program.
“She performed very, very well and set such a high standard,” Emmons said. “It was amazing for the girls to see and welcome her in. She was always humble and always understood that she needed to earn her place in the team. She did that and then some.”
Club meets span two days, meaning fewer events in one session and more recovery time. High school meets pack numerous races into a shorter sprint, requiring an all-out effort and the ability to refocus between races.
“You learn how to go out fast and not be scared of an event,” Guevara said. “It’s such a team-driven sport. I was swimming for them rather than for me and I think that really worked well for me.”
Other Big Honors
After tallying 36 goals, girls soccer senior Danica Zicha picked up Globe All-Scholastic recognition. The Connecticut College-bound striker returned from an ACL tear that sapped the majority of two seasons as one of the state’s most feared scorers.
Senior field hockey standout Mackenzie Clarke earned Globe and Herald All-Scholastic honors for the second straight season, leading the Marauders to a second consecutive Division I Elite Eight berth. The UConn commitfinished her career as the program’s all-time leading scorer (94 goals, 75 assists). Teammate Elsie Lakin-Schultz, a junior committed to Brown, picked up Globe All-Scholastic Honorable Mention. Both now skate for the Marauders girls ice hockey team.
Boys cross-country sophomore Noah Geiger earned Boston Globe All-Scholastic Honorable Mention status.
Belmont High School Fall 2025 Middlesex League All-Stars
- Girls swimming: Summing Chan, Grace Fagan, Lily Glavin, Elizabeth Guevara, Margaret Han, Cecilia Held, Aislinn Reynolds, Karen Tao, Reina Yano
- Boys golf: Peter Ausrotas, Will Jackmin, Theo Sorblom
- Boys cross-country: Noah Geiger, Ishaan Kanagaraj
- Girls cross-country: Reece Bundy, Kira van Kelsted
- Field hockey: Mackenzie Clarke, Elsie Lakin-Schultz, Niamh Lesnik, Gigi Mastrangelo, Mia Smith
- Football: David Maia, Casey Regan
- Boys soccer: Daniel Chang, Jake Diorio
- Girls soccer: Martha Dimas, Catherine Greiner, Madhavi Ramadas, Danica Zicha
- Girls volleyball: Sadie Boas
