Staples Girls Swimming Exceeds Expectations
October 24, 2008 by Editor ·
By Eliot Schickler
Oct. 24, 2008 – Going into its meet at Darien High Wednesday, the Staples High girls swimming team expected to score 69-73 points. Although Staples lost, it left Darien feeling pleased with itself because they exceeded expectations in its 100-84 loss to Darien. The Lady Blue Wave raised their record to 7-2. The Lady Wreckers dropped to 8-3.
“The kids swam well and we won the medley relay, which we didn’t expect to do,” said Staples coach Mike Laux. “We got off on a roll after winning the medley relay.”
Junior Natalie LeBlanc, senior tri-captain Savitri Horrigan, freshman Gabby Wimer and junior Helene Neuhaus won the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:57.50, nipping Darien’s relay (1:57.51) by .01 second.
Following the medley relay, Lady Wrecker sophomore Molly Loftus won the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.84). However, the Lady Blue Wave took second, third and fourth and won the event, 9-7.
“I tried to take it out smooth and build on it,” said Loftus. “It ended up being a closer race. I started out behind and I played catch up. My turns helped and I tried to make it up on every lap.”
Horrigan was second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:18.99). Neuhaus won the 50-yard freestyle (25.82) and Wimer (27.24) placed fourth.
Darien captured the top two spots in diving and Staples’ best diver, sophomore Schaefer Andrews (157.58) placed third. Senior Ariel Steinglass (134.1) was fourth.
Leblanc (1:04.75) and Wimer (1:04.89) were two-three in the 100-yard butterfly. The Lady Blue Wave swept the 100-yard freestyle and sophomore Stephanie Nussbaum (1:02.13) led the Lady Wreckers by placing fourth.
Loftus won the 500-yard freestyle (5:17.08). Sophomore Louise Fonteyne (5:44.09) and junior Charlotte Katter (5:46.82) finished in fourth and fifth place in the 500-free.
“I tried to take it out in the first 200 so I could defend the next three 100s,” said Loftus. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Darien took the top two spots. Sophomore Julie Vahlgren, Fonteyne, junior Cat Friel and Loftus took third for the 200-free relay (1:51.42), missing second place by .02 seconds to the Blue Wave’s second relay team (1:51.40).
The Lady Wreckers took home a win in the 100-yard backstroke with LeBlanc (1:03.38) grabbing the gold. Katter (1:09.21) and senior tri-captain Michelle Smoler (1:09.67) were four-five in the 100-back.
“I just really worked on my stroke and I streamlined it,” said LeBlanc. “I knew it was going to be a close race and I did what I could to beat the girl that was next to me.”
Horrigan (1:10.47) prevailed in the 100-yard breaststroke and senior Stephanie O’Kelly (1:13.91) took third.
“I did what Mr. Laux told me to do before the race, which was to negative split in the second 50,” said Horrigan. “He wanted me to keep my first 50 strong and pick it up in my second 50.”
Fonteyne, Loftus, LeBlanc and Vahlgren led Staples to victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay (4:00.42).
“It was a great meet because we swam better than we expected,” said Horrigan. “We wanted to see how we’d do in certain events and it pumped us up for the New Canaan meet [which takes place today at home at 4 p.m].”
Reprinted from The Westport News
