Girls’ swim team comes up big against Stoneham

Warriors race to second victory of season

Published in the September 25, 2015 edition.

MALDEN — In terms of numbers, the Wakefield Memorial High girls’ swim team is small. But in their first two meets of the season, the Warriors have come up big.

Wakefield posted its second straight win as it topped Stoneham by a 92-70 score last night at Malden High School.

The Warriors, who are now 2-0, had some outstanding performances and had several sectional and state qualifying times.

In the 200 medley relay, Wakefield captured first place in a time of 2:04.18. The four swimmers included Chris Anastasiades, Nicole Pecjo, Madi Guay and Caroline Sweeny.

Anastasiades, a freshman, qualified for North sectionals as he clocked in at 2:07.22 in the 200 freestyle.

Senior co-captain Guay secured first place in the 200 individual medley and posted a North sectional qualifying time of 2:27.32.

Wakefield’s best finish in the 50 freestyle was a third place by Sweeney, a sophomore. Sweeney touched in at 28.61 seconds.

The Warriors captured first and second in the 100 butterfly behind the efforts of senior Taylor Guarino and CC Colliton. They swam times of 1:16.08 and 1:22.89.

Sweeney won the 100 freestyle in a time of 1:02.36 for another Warrior first place finish.

In the 500 freestyle, first and second were claimed by Wakefield. Anastasiades posted a North Sectional qualifying time of 5:36.58 for first, while Brigid Scanlon took second with a time of 7:21.26.

One of the goals headed into the meet was to have the 200 freestyle relay team qualify for the North Sectional meet which it did. The team of Guay, Guarino, Pecjo and Sweeney combined to swim a time of 1:56.57.

In the 100 backstroke, Guarino finished second as she touched in at 1:18.76.

Guay qualified for the state meet with her second place time of 1:15.94 in the 100 breaststroke.

Wakefield was edged out for the top spot in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Anastasiades, Colliton, Tori Tringale and Guarino came in second place in a time of 4:22.76.

“We had a good meet,” said Coach Kathy Byrne. “We had some personal bests. It was nice to see us improve. We have Reading on Tuesday which is quick compared to going the past two Thursdays.”

The Warriors host the Rockets on Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. at the Malden High School Pool.