Long Beach is known as the Aquatic Capital of the World for a reason, and Wilson is its crown jewel. The school has produced some of the most elite swimmers in the world, and that trend has continued to prove true in the present day. Sammie Hamilton, a member of the class of 2024, made sure to leave her mark as a legendary Bruin before going on to swim at Kentucky.
Hamilton had already established herself as a top swimmer in Long Beach after leading Wilson to their third consecutive Moore League title in 2023 and setting multiple records as a junior. Going into the 2024 swim season, Hamilton was hungry for more.
At the Moore League finals in April, Hamilton made history when she went back-to-back as the 200 and 500 freestyle champion, breaking two league records in the process. She also anchored the Bruins’ 200 and 400 free relay, with another league record being set for the 400.
“I used to want (to make history and break records) and now I can understand why that’s actually happening,” Hamilton said. “I made it happen.”
In May, Hamilton won the CIF-SS Division 1 championship in the girls’ 500 freestyle by more than six seconds with a time of 4:46.63, just shy of the Division 1 meet record.
Later that month at the CIF State Swimming & Diving Championships, Hamilton won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:47.30 and finished fifth in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.58, two times that earned her more All-American recognition. No other female swimmer in Long Beach history has won the CIF-SS and CIF State titles.
