Palisades swimmer pops question at City Section finals: ‘Will you go to the prom?’

Zachary Senator, one of the top swimmers at City Section power Palisades, waited until Friday’s City Section swim championships to ask his girlfriend, soccer standout Kaitlyn Purcell, the big question.

The school prom is next Saturday, so Senator got out of the pool at East Los Angeles College during warmups and had the public address announcer make an announcement.

“Is there a Kaitlyn Purcell here?”

Purcell was surprised that her name was being called. She was in the stands waiting to root for Senator. Several friends told her to stand up.

Then the announcer read from a script provided by Senator, asking if she would go to the prom with him. Senator presented her with a dozen pink and white roses.

Purcell’s answer was, “Yes.”

Then came the pictures and a moment to savor. Later, Senator won the 500 freestyle.

Senator also was excited for teammate Kian Brouwer, who broke a 39-year-old City Section record when he won the 200 freestyle in 1:38.55.

Palisades won City titles in the boys and girls divisions.

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