This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
11/16/2016 11:00 PMThe Hand girls’ swimming and diving squad has displayed plenty of pride in the pool throughout the 2016 season and that was never evident than at the recent state meet.
After notching seven wins during the regular season, the Tigers cracked the top five at the SCC Championship on Nov. 3. Then at the Class L State Championship, Hand hit another high-water mark as the team broke through the top-10 ceiling by finishing seventh out of 21 clubs with 339 points.
“Going into states, we came off a very successful season of 7-4 and placing a close fourth out of 16 teams at the SCC Championship. The team had focus and drive to continue their in season success throughout this postseason,” said Head Coach Jen Lyman. “This group of swimmers and divers are committed to each other with their work ethic, team and individual goals, and strong sense of Tiger pride. They have been determined from this season’s first practice to make this season a memorable one. And it has been exciting to coach this group throughout this season while guiding and watching them obtain individual and team milestones.”
The Class L meet kicked off with the Diving Championship at Middletown High School on Nov. 9 and Hand senior Noelle Bergere finished a close second by scoring 439.3 points for a new program record. New Canaan’s Katie Kushner won with a score of 447.3. Sophomore Mary Huminski finished 15th (306.75) for the Tigers. As a result of her performance, Bergere qualified for the State Open Diving Championship that will take place at Bulkeley High School at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18. Both Bergere and Huminski scored points for the Tigers that carried into the Swimming Championship portion of the Class L competition, which was held at Southern Connecticut State University on Nov. 15.
The Tigers didn’t win any events that night, but they did boast a pair of runner-up finishers. One of them was freshman Kayla Mendonca, who swam a time of 58.6 seconds in the 100 backstroke to finish just shy of Darien’s Phoebe Slaughter (58.4) for first. Also, junior Allie Mascia finished second in the 50 freestyle in a time of 24.53, which was only behind McKenna Dale of E.O. Smith (24.17).
In the 200 medley relay, the unit of Mendonca, senior Caroline Genther, junior Case Porter, and Mascia finished fifth in 1:52.58, which set a school record. For the 400 free relay, freshman Ruby Redlich, senior Kelly Doktorski, Mendonca, and Mascia swam to seventh place at 3:42.55. In the 200 free relay, sophomore Gabby Wira, senior Emma Connolly, freshman Erin Reilly, and Doktorski finished 11th (1:46.48).
For other solo events on the night, Mascia finished fourth with the 100 free (53.50) and Doktorski came in 11th (55.50). Mendonca swam to sixth in the 500 free behind a mark of 5:10.32 and Genther was 10th in 5:15.43. Doktorski placed 17th in the 200 free by clocking in at 1:59.56. Connolly took 10th for the 100 butterfly in 1:00.17, plus Porter followed in 17th with a time of 1:01.25. Redlich came in 23rd for the 100 backstroke in 1:04.09. In the 100 breaststroke, Genther finished 21st with a time of 1:11.89.
Also qualifying for states this season for the Tigers were senior Grace Lawton in the 500 free, sophomore Sam Tuveson in the 200 and 500 frees, and freshman Kylie Scarpellino for the 200 free.
“We had a big squad of 14 represent Daniel Hand in states for Class L. The seniors led with their Tiger pride and athletic abilities by having five out of our six seniors in this state championship,” said Lyman. “This leadership helped with the four freshman that also qualified by giving them support and guidance through the tournament.”
Hand also saw several swimmers qualify for the State Open based on their showings in the Class L meet. That meet will be held at Yale University at noon on Saturday, Nov. 19 and representing the Tigers will be Mascia in the 50 and 100 frees, Mendonca in the backstroke and the 500 free, Genther in the 500 free, along with the team’s 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.