2018 H.S. SWIMMING PREVIEW CAPSULES
East Lyme
Coach: Jack Stabach (18th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Maeve Counter, Sr. Kate Orefice, Sr. Emma Vlaun, Sr. Amelia Kozlowski, Sr. Mary Kathryn Taylor, Sr. Sydney Wyatt, Jr. Hiruni Jayawickreme, Jr. Anna Johnson, Jr. Katie Keating, Jr. Hanna Yousuf, So. Grace Vlaun, So. Alissa Li, So. Ashwini Saharabudhe.
Top newcomers: Nikki Hahn, Grace Liu, Anna Lu, Jamie Kim, Mikayla Stahl.
Outlook: The Vikings remain the Eastern Connecticut Conference's flagship program, winning every title since the conference realigned in 2000, and they will be the team to beat again after finishing third in the Class M state championship meet and qualifying 20 swimmers for states. Counter, Orefice, Taylor and Grace Vlaun return after earning All-Area honors in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, while Taylor was an All-Area pick in the 100 butterfly.
Fitch/Stonington
Coach: Brandon Biondi (2nd year)
Key returnees: Sr. Paulomi Sardar, So. Kylie Heard, So. Emily Tarinelli, Jr. Alyson Lowney, Jr. Hope Sowle, So. Madison Rea, Sr. Fiona Lemay.
Top newcomer: Fr. Rebecca Lowney. Outlook: The Falcons went 7-4 (6-4 in the ECC) during Biondi's first season and must improve their depth to challenge East Lyme in the conference. Sardar and Alyson Lowney are the top returning swimmers. Sardar was runner-up in the 100 freestyle at the ECC meet while Lowney was second in the 500 free.
Ledyard
Coach: Alan Opsahl (9th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Jenable Felmy, Sr. Mikayla Fors, Sr. Catalina Jackson, Sr. Maddie Johanson, Sr. Gabrielle Schauflers,
Sr. Ellie Shea, Sr. Olivia Strelevitz.
Top newcomers: Fr. Emma Cassidy, Fr. Emily Goodrich, Fr. Katelyn Hughes, Fr. Alexandra Martinez-Garcia.
Outlook: This should be a successful fall for the Colonels, who return a strong senior class and have one of its largest freshman classes during Opsahl's tenure. Ledyard, which went 6-6 overall and 5-5 in the ECC in 2017, will be led by Strelevitz, the reigning ECC champion in the 100 backstroke, and Johanson, a member of The Day's All-Area team last season who competes in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.
NFA
Coach: Cory Tubbs (18th year) Key returnees: Sr. Lane Perkins, Sr. Eudora Poe, Sr. Carsen Keith, Sr. Isabella Rosas. Top newcomers: So. Michaela Ryan. Outlook: The Wildcats (3-9-1 overall, 2-8 ECC in 2017) were hit hard by graduation losses as Tubbs must replace 16 seniors, most of whom were four-year swimmers, including Anna Ciriello, the school record-holder in diving. NFA does have good numbers (42 athletes).
Waterford
Coach: Brett Arnold (18th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Jayne Darras, Jr. Elyse Gathy, So. Ella Dyjak, So. Tallah Ryan, So. Viviana Martinez, Sr. Safa Danesh, Sr. Sophia Kasem-Beg, Sr. Elizabeth Hawkins.
Top newcomers: Fr. Izzy Bove-Dumin, So. Sarah Johnson, Jr. Natalie Donahue, So. Jenna Morin.
Outlook: Waterford has the best chance of challenging East Lyme's ECC supremacy with the return of 15 swimmers from last year's 8-3 team, including Dyjak. Dyjak was The Day's All-Area Swimmer of the Year after being named Swimmer of the Meet in the ECC championship and following that by capturing the Class S state title in the 500 freestyle. Gathy is also one of the ECC's top returning swimmers, while Darras will be an important piece in all of the Lancers' relay teams.