Swim team dives into counties; Athletes set personal best times

   The swim team has already participated in seven meets this season and they have spent the last few weeks prepping for some of the most important competitions yet. Counties took place on February 8 for the girls and boys followed on February 9 at Magnolia Middle School. Regionals and States will follow at the end of February.  

    Head Coach Mrs. Hilary Canale had many expectations for her swimmers in counties. She wanted all of her athletes to get personal best times and even hoped for some swimmers and relays to place in the top three.  

    “It is difficult to make a lineup that makes everybody happy, but I must do what is best for the team,” Canale says. She explains she wanted her lineup to be as fast as it could be. She was preparing her team by making sure they were working hard at every practice leading up to counties and had increased their yardage to help their endurance.  

    Canale expects each swimmer to try their hardest and to put 100% in every race. “If they give all their effort, I will know all their challenging work has paid off,” she says.  

    Sophomore Valentina Angulo has taken on swimming for the first time this year. She explains she was hoping to drop time in her events. “I train when I get home from practice daily and do CrossFit or run,” the sophomore says.  

    Angulo explains when she started swimming, her 50-yard freestyle was 39 seconds. “I have come so far and now have a time of 31 seconds,” she says. She says she has made friendships she never thought she would make and has grown her confidence because of how much she accomplished.  

     Sophomore Michael O’Leary was most excited to swim his 100-yard butterfly because he hadn’t gone the time he had wanted to this season. “I am happy I am top three in both 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly and hope I can maintain my place,” he says.

      The girls 200 and 400 yard freestyle relay which included Angulo, senior Riley O’Hare, senior Grace Feldbush, and sophomore Anna O’Leary dropped time in both races. Two seconds was dropped in the 200 yard relay which went from a time of 2:00.30 to 1:58.51. Four seconds were dropped in the 400 yard relay and the time went from 4:25.22 to 4:21.41. 

     The girls 200 yard medley relay which included sophomore Jordyn Bell, sophomore Madison Spangler, junior Jenna Reed, and junior Abigail Gianni dropped five seconds. Their time went from a 2:32.99 to a 2:27.92.

     The boys 200 yard freestyle relay which included sophomore Kyle Difilippo, junior Ben Iampieri, senior Evan Kuzemchak, and M. O’Leary had a time of 1:46.89 and dropped 1.31 seconds. The boys 400 yard freestyle relay, which included senior Nick Spigler, Iampieri, Kuzemchak, and M. O’Leary, placed fifth and  had a time of 3:56.77 and dropped 6.33 seconds. 

     The boys 200 yard medley relay swam a time of 2:05.54 and included swimmers Difilippo, Spigler, freshman James Cassidy, and senior Griffin Hevesy. 

     O’Hare placed fourth in her 200 yard freestyle event with a time of 2:14.52 and improved her time  by dropping 3.83 seconds. M. O’Leary placed fourth in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 59.39 and dropped 0.08 seconds. He also placed fourth in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:07.77 and dropped 1.28 seconds. 

     Many swimmers set personal best times in their individual events and hope to drop more time for regionals. Boys and Girls together is ranked 6th in the county as of February tenth. Swimmers have been preparing for the next big meets.