Drop close meets to Winchester, Lexington
Published in the October 4, 2017 edition
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
LEXINGTON — The WMHS swim team had two road meets last week against Winchester on Tuesday and Lexington on Thursday. For a team with plenty of freshmen and first-time varsity swimmers, the back-to-back away meets represented a great opportunity for some of the younger members of the team to see what life is like as the away team in the tough Middlesex League, and not just in the pool.
“For a lot of the girls it was their first time competing in an after-school event,” said head coach Kathy Byrne. “It’s great for them to have that experience with the bus ride and everything.”
While the seniors, including captains Samantha Nimblett and Caroline Sweeney, surely helped the newcomers learn the ropes as far as routines for an after-school away meet, the Warriors also took the opportunity to work on their times.
Wakefield matched up against a tough and talented Winchester team in the first meet, and brought home plenty of top-three finishes.
Hannah Guay, Laura Sweeney, CC Colliton and Abby Federici came in 2nd in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 2:06.64.
Captain Caroline Sweeney took 2nd in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:15.46.
Guay came in second in the 200 individual medley at 2:25.47.
Laura Sweeney continued her great meet with a 2nd place finish in the 50 freestyle race with a time of 2:72.3.
Colliton followed that up with a nice 3rd place finish in the tough 100-yard butterfly at 1:12.3.
Laura Sweeney picked up the Warriors first gold medal of the day finishing tops in the 100-yard freestyle under a minute at 59:54.
Hannah Guay also got first place in the 500 freestyle at 5:43.39 which makes the cut for North sectionals and States.
Caroline Sweeney, Erica Pecjo, Kyra Hoffman and Abby Federici got 3rd in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:57.42.
Skylar Forbes brought home 2nd in the backstroke with a time of 1:11.50.
The Warriors finished up the meet with a 2nd place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 4:17.69. That team consisted of Laura Sweeney, Caroline Sweeney, Katherine Maloney and Hannah Guay.
“Everyone’s times are improving which is what we’re looking for,” said Byrne.
Against Lexington, the Warriors continued to work hard and improve their times against another deep and talented team.
Skylar Forbes, Katherine Maloney, CC Colliton and Abby Federici got 3rd in the 200-yard medley relay at 2:14.13.
Hannah Guay continued her terrific freshman campaign with a 1st place finish in the 200 free, which once again qualified for sectionals and states.
Caroline Sweeney got 3rd in the 200-yard medley at 2:35.91.
Wakefield got two top-three finishes in the 50-yard freestyle, as Katherine Maloney got 2nd at 28:92 and Abby Federici took 3rd at 29:02.
CC Colliton got 3rd in the 100 butterfly at 1:12.8.
Then it was time for the Sweeney sisters to take over in the 100 free as Laura took second and Captain Caroline third.
Katherine Maloney got 3rd in the very tough 500-yard freestyle with an impressive time of 6:11.31.
The Sweeney sisters then teamed up with Hannah Guay and Kyra Hoffman to get 2nd in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:54.38.
In the 100-yard backstroke, Skylar Forbes got 3rd at 1:11.76, touching the wall after Guay took the gold and qualified yet again for sectionals and states with a time of 1:05.66.
“Hannah is going to have to choose what she wants to race in states,” joked Byrne who has been very impressed with the freshman swimmers on this team.
Laura Sweeney got 2nd in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:19.09 which was one of the best times of the season for the Warriors in that race.
The Sweeney sisters, Maloney and Guay finished up the meet for Wakefield with an impressive time of 4:11.03 in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
While the Warriors didn’t bring a win back on the bus ride home in either meet, Byrne is happy with the progress being made by all, as the girls continue to push each other to get better in practice.
“We’ve had a lot of close races and times where they should be,” said Byrne. “The girls are battling. They don’t give up.”
The Warriors will race against another good team in Belmont tonight, 5:30 p.m. at Malden High School.
“Dropping two is difficult but the girls are staying positive and they continue to work hard. I’m pleased, but I know they are looking for a win.”
