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11/30/2016 11:00 PMIsabel Albinger took her first swim lesson when she was just two years old and felt excited to try out for the Branford Stingrays swim team when she reached the 2nd grade. Isabel competed for the Stingrays through 8th grade, after which she joined the squad at Branford High School, where she recently completed an “extremely successful” four-year career.
“I’ve always loved the pool and loved the water,” says Isabel. “I didn’t really enjoy other sports as much as the competition of swimming and being in the water.”
Isabel suffered a setback in middle school when she dislocated both of her knees following years of the repetitive motions in swimming. The injuries forced her to stop swimming year-round, but Isabel loves the sport so much that she worked her hardest in physical therapy so she could continue swimming when she got to high school.
Hornets’ Head Coach Scott Butler, who was also Isabel’s 7th-grade math teacher, encouraged her to work her way back from the injury. Isabel did many hours of physical training at Ranfone Training Systems, while receiving additional support from Stingrays’ coach George Miles, plus her former Stingrays’ teammates who’d moved on to high school. On top of that, Isabel had “tremendous supporters” in her parents, grandparents, and her brother.
“When I was injured, my teammates all told me to stick with it, and I knew I’d want to be part of the high school team,” Isabel says. “I credit a lot of my success on Coach George Miles and Coach Scott Butler. My family has been one of the biggest factors in supporting me through everything.”
Coach Butler watched while Isabel recovered from her injury to make an impact with the Hornets. Butler praises Isabel for the selflessness she displayed as a member of his team.
“She is a model student, athlete, and teammate,” says Butler of Isabel. “She is someone who is always looking out for the betterment of the team. Many times I have had to swim her in events that would score out the best for the team. She never once criticized nor complained about it. She competed at the highest level every time she was in a suit.”
Isabel swam at Branford for four years and finished her time with the team by competing at the Class M State Championship, where she placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle. Isabel was also a member of the 400 freestyle relay that finished fifth and the 200 freestyle relay team that took seventh at states.
“Swimming my last meet was sad because I have swam with my co-captains and swim team for the last 10 years,” Isabel says. “Closing out the last relay at the state meet was emotional, but it felt successful walking away with medals, awards, and recognition.”
This wasn’t the only year that Isabel saw success in the pool. She was also a member of a 200 freestyle relay that went All-SCC during Isabel’s sophomore year and was All-State in her junior season. Paige MacNeil, Caitlin Daley, and Erika Maercklein competed alongside Isabel on that relay.
“That felt amazing, especially since I had swam with them throughout my time with the Stingrays,” says Isabel. “They encouraged me to continue swimming, so it was amazing to experience that sort of success with them.”
While Isabel has enjoyed the accolades at Branford, her favorite part about swimming for the Hornets was spending time with her teammates. Isabel has many fond memories of the team dinners and sleepovers and credits the Hornets’ upperclass athletes for creating a great community on the squad. This year, Isabel took on that responsibility as one of Branford’s senior captains.
“It was a lot more work and dedication and time to the team and it was a big difference between just being friends, but now being friends, as well as a mentor and leader,” she says. “My co-captains made the experience so much more memorable. I wanted to make the environment feel the same as the older girls did for me when I was younger by making it so welcoming.”
Even though Isabel has swam her last lap with the Hornets, she still has one more season left to compete at Branford. When Isabel had to give up year-round swimming due to her injury, she branched out to try lacrosse in 8th grade as many of her friends also play the sport. Isabel played for Branford’s JV team last season.
Outside of school, Isabel has volunteered at Yale New Haven Hospital, as well as a counselor for Branford Youth Lacrosse clinics and at Killam’s Point Day Camp. She is also a lifeguard and swim instructor at the New Haven Lawn Club.
Isabel is also entrenched in the extracurricular community at Branford High School. As a high honors student, she’s in the National Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society, and the National Junior Classical League Latin Honor Society. Isabel is additionally a four-year member of the concert choir and Model Congress, has been in the Chemistry Club and Big Brother/Big Sister program since her sophomore year, and is now a member of the Physics Club.
“I just really believe in becoming a part of your community and Branford High School has offered me so many opportunities to join so many successful places,” says Isabel. “I’m a big part of the sports community, but by joining other clubs, I get to be with many other groups of people in my school.”
Isabel is also busy looking at colleges in the Northeast. While she hopes to continue swimming at the Division III or club level, she is focusing on academics and plans to major in public health with a pre-med track and a goal of becoming a dermatologist. With college just around the corner, Isabel feels bittersweet that this is her last year of high school.
“It’s sad, but exciting. I’ve been with such amazing classmates over the last 12 years,” Isabel says. “It’s exciting to see what will become of us, but it’s also sad, because it’s the last year with them.”