Published November 7, 2018

By DAN BYRNE

WALTHAM — Last Sunday at Bentley University’s pool, the Middlesex League held their Fall Swimming Championships.

Wakefield enjoyed a successful day, out-swimming every team they beat in the regular season and topping Winchester, who had defeated them in head-to-head competition earlier this season, as the Warriors totaled enough points for 4th place overall.

Reading ended the day as Middlesex League Champions, with Lexington and Belmont finishing 2nd and 3rd ahead of Wakefield.

There were strong indications early on that this was going to be an exciting day for the Warriors, as the meet opened with the 200 Yard Medley Relay.

“It’s always exciting to have people swim well,” Warriors’ head coach Kathy Byrne opened up, in a recent interview.

KATIE PATT was the Middlesex League Champion in the backstroke as she took 1st place at the League Meet at Bentley on Oct. 28 with a 1:02.17. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

Wakefield’s entry of Hannah Guay, Laura Sweeney, Katie Patt, and Abby Federici swam a 2:00.01, less than half a second faster than Lexington’s relay team that touched in at 2:00.43 and good enough for 2nd place as Reading’s entry finished in first place.

Maria Brizon, Emily Chan, Jess Conley, and Reignyah Grant swam in the relay as the Warriors’ non-scoring 2nd entry.

Sophie Brown, Emily Chan, Lilly Cullen, and Lilly DeFeo swam in the 200 Yard Freestyle, with Brown taking 12th place with a time of 2:18.04 as the lone Warrior to score points in the event.

Hannah Guay took 2nd place for the Warriors in the 200 Yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:19.89. Laura Sweeney took 4th place with a time of 2:24.94. Alyssa Toppi and Erica Pecjo also competed in the event for the Warriors, placing in non-scoring positions.

Wakefield’s Laura Sweeney took 6th place in the 50 Yard Freestyle with a time of 0:26.76. Abby Federici swam a 0:27.71, claiming a point for 16th place. Lilly Cullen, Jess Conley, Sam Colliton, and Hannah Morris also competed in the 50 Yard Freestyle for Wakefield.

Katie Patt took 2nd in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 1:03.87, as the freshman continued to have a fine day, but soon it would get even better for her.

Abby Lane, Reignyah Grant, and Sam Colliton also competed in the 100 Yard Butterfly for the Warriors.

Abby Federici swam a 1:01.72 for 16th place in the 100 Yard Freestyle for the Warriors. Abby Lane and Reignyah Grant also competed in the event.

The 500 Yard Freestyle saw the Warriors score a 3rd place finish from Hannah Guay, who swam a 5:41.12.

It also featured an 8th place finish from Warriors’ captain Katherine Maloney, who’s time of 6:01.25 was faster than her qualifying time by over 5 seconds, and made her eligible to swim in the 500 in the upcoming Sectionals meet. Sophie Brown and Kyra Hoffman also swam the event for the Warriors.

Wakefield’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay entry of Laura Sweeney, Abby Federici, Katie Patt, and Hannah Guay outswam their qualifying time by nearly 2 seconds, with a 1:47.16, as the Warriors claimed 2nd place in another relay.

The Warriors also entered relay teams of Kyra Hoffman, Katherine Maloney, Erica Pecjo, and Sam Colliton, as well as a team with Maria Brizon, Emily Chan, Reignyah Grant, and Lilly Cullen.

Wakefield Freshman Katie Patt’s time of 1:02.17 saw her touch the wall 1st earning her the title of 2018 Middlesex League Champion in the 100 Yard Backstroke.

“Having Kaitlin as a Middlesex League Champion as a freshman is quite an accomplishment,” Byrne said of her freshman backstroker.

Katherine Maloney placed 8th in the event for the Warriors with a time of 1:07.51, about 2.5 seconds faster than the time that secured her entry in the event. Once again, with her League Meet performance, Maloney qualified for the upcoming sectionals meet, she also qualified for States in this event.

“This was her goal,” Byrne said. “She made her goal, so it was very exciting.”

In the 100 Yard Breaststroke, Alyssa Toppi swam a 1:19.75 for 15th place. Erica Pecjo and Emily Chan also competed in the event for the Warriors.

Wakefield’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay team’s entry of Emily Chan, Erica Pecjo, Katherine Maloney, and Sophie Brown took 8th place with a time of 4:11.11.

Byrne wrapped up the discussion saying, “People were very close to their best times, some people improved, others didn’t, it’s kind of one of those things.”

She was pleased with her team, and is looking forward to the upcoming North Sectional Championships at MIT this Sunday, Nov. 11 at 8:45 a.m.

“We ended up coming in 4th overall, and that was pretty cool,” Byrne said. “Out of 10 teams, I’m very pleased with the girls’ performances overall and I’m happy to have Katherine (Maloney) qualify to move on to the championship meets. We’re excited to be taking a big group on to North Sectionals.”