Quirk sets new WMHS record, Warriors have a host of sectional and state qualifiers
WOBURN — There were a lot of good things that happened for the Wakefield Memorial High girls’ swim team in the season opener. There was a school record setting performance and qualifying times for sectional and states.
The one downer is that the Warriors didn’t win the meet as they were on the short end of a 55-39 decision against Woburn on Saturday at the North Surburban YMCA.
Senior standout Shannon Quirk set a WMHS record in the 200 individual medley as she clocked in at 2:18.21 for first place. Quirk broke the 2008 school record set by her older sister, Maureen.
The 200 IM time also allowed the senior to qualify for North sectionals and states.
Quirk wasn’t the only Wakefield swimmer to have a good meet as the Warrior team posted some good times and had several swimmers qualify for sectional and states, too.
The 200 medley relay team came in second with a state qualifying time of 2:04.69. The four swimmers were senior co-captain Shannon Grady, junior Nicole Pecjo, junior Madison Guay and Quirk.
In the 200 freestyle, freshman Caroline Sweeney made an immediate impact in her first meet. Sweeney came in second overall as she touched in at 2:15.32.
Guay had a couple of good performances in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Guay came in second overall in the 50 freestyle in a time of 27.90 seconds. The junior also was the runner-up in the 100 butterfly as she touched in at 1:09.50.
Sweeney captured first overall in the 100 freestyle as she timed in at 1:02.47. Grady also placed in the event as she finished third at 1:03.65.
Quirk also secured the top spot in the 500 freestyle as she swam a quick time of 5:15.89. That time also meant that the senior has already qualified for sectionals and states in two events.
The 200 freestyle relay will also be going to the North sectionals as the entry posted a qualifying time of 1:57.21. The four swimmers included Grady, Pecjo, senior Kim Green and Sweeney. They also placed second in the event.
Grady competed in the 100 backstroke and placed third in a time of 1:12.45.
In the 100 breaststroke, Pecjo claimed second place with a sectional qualifying time of 1:19.82.
The final event was the 400 freestyle relay and Wakefield took first place with a state meet qualifying time of 4:06.57. The four swimmers were Guay, Sweeney, junior Taylor Guarino and Quirk.
“There were some exciting and close races. I wish we had got the firsts instead of the seconds,” said Coach Kathy Byrne. “The times were good. We have numbers going to sectionals and states. We have Lexington today and it’ll be nice to get some more (swimmers) going to sectionals and states.”
Wakefield takes on Lexington tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Minuteman Tech Pool.
