CIAC swimming storylines
TAKING OVER THE HELM
Several coaching changes took place since the 2019 high school girls swimming season concluded, one of which occurred at Lauralton Hall. Fran Pfeiffer who coached at Lauralton Hall for 25 successful seasons, retired and has been replaced by his longtime assistant, Paul Katz.
Pfeiffer coached Lauralton Hall to seven state titles during his tenure — four in Class S and three in Class M.
Katz was an assistant for Pfeiffer for six seasons. His daughter, a 2015 Lauralton Hall graduate, swam his first season as an assistant coach.
“I am pleased to be taking over the reigns,” Katz said. “With six years of coaching with Fran and getting to know the school, I am comfortable on that end of things.”
The upcoming season is particularly challenging for first-year coaches, due to the numerous safety guidelines in place, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Things are new and there’s a lot of work to do, but that’s not stopping our team,” said Katz, who swam at Yale and coached at LaSalle. “We are in a region with very good teams, so I’m pleased with the list of teams we will be competing against.”
Lauralton Hall was the runner-up to Weston in the team standings at the Class S Championships in 2019.
At Seymour, Patrick DiCaprio stepped down after two seasons. He also served as an assistant coach for three seasons.
DiCaprio guided the Wildcats to two undefeated regular seasons and one NVL championship (2018). Nick Blade, who swam at Southern Connecticut , where he graduated in 2015, takes over as Seymour’s coach. Blade, a Seymour native, was the assistant coach of Seymour’s boys swimming team.
In Ridgefield, Paul Marchese takes over the program for Emmanuel Lanzo, who coached the Tigers the previous four seasons. Lanzo, who also coached Ridgefield’s boys team, was named the FCIAC Coach of the Year in 2019.
A graduate of Masuk, Marchese swam at Roger Williams, where he graduated in 2018.
A LOOK AT THE REGIONS
Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, teams in the state have been divided into regions. The schools in each region are close geographically in order to limit travel. Here’s a look at some of the regions:
⏩ The SCC-A region that was formed includes Cheshire, Amity, Hand, Lauralton Hall, Hamden, North Haven, Law and Mercy. So there will be some good rivalry meets involved in this region.
⏩ The NVL-City region includes Seymour, Woodland, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown, so the Seymour-Woodland rivalry remains intact.
⏩ The SWC-North features Pomperaug, Brookfield, Newtown, Masuk, New Fairfield and New Milford — all rivals — while Weston, Bunnell, Bethel, Stratford and Joel Barlow comprise the SWC-South.
⏩ In the FCIAC-West region, rivals Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien and WesthillStamford will face each other.
IN-PERSON, OR VIRTUAL?
Since the majority of high schools don’t have their own pool and the facilities which normally host practices and meets have issued restrictions due to COVID-19, there will be a mix of in-person and virtual meets.
Schools with pools such as North Haven and Greenwich are planning to host inperson meets. Some teams who swim at facilities outside of their school are likely to go the virtual route.
SELF MOTIVATION
Since some meets will take place virtually, with two teams swimming at their own location, athletes psyching themselves up for a meet could be an issue. Also, spectators might not be allowed at many venues.
“The biggest goal this season besides staying in the pool for the entire season, is to make sure the girls challenge themselves like never before,” Trumbull coach Bill Strickland said. “Swimming meets against an invisible competitor is going to be tough. Nonetheless, it is great the girls are in the pool and our goal is to continue to train and keep them focused for whatever kind of meets we have this season.”
Having the opportunity to hold a season could be motivation enough for the swimmers and divers.
“The biggest takeaway I have so far this year is how much the girls are happy just to be back together,” Masuk coach Mark McKee said. “They are a bit sad that there’s not going to be SWC’s or states, but just to be together as a team feels like winning.”
ALL-AMERICA APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED
Each year, numerous athletes from Connecticut earn spots on the NISCA AllAmerica swimming and diving list, based on their performances during the high school season.
Regarding virtual meets this fall, the NISCA will accept results from a virtual swim meet for All- America Swimming and Diving applications or NISCA National Records. Conditions must be met in order for such applications to be accepted. The course must be the same at each site — all teams must compete in either a yard or meter pool. Also, the virtual meet between two or more teams must have all the teams competing on the same day and automatic timing is required.
Maddie Bergin, North Haven: Senior finished third in 50-yard free at 2019 State Open
(23.90 seconds) and fourth in 100 free
(52.31). Won both Class M 50 (24.01) and 100 free (52.52). All-State, All-SCC and GameTimeCT All-State selection anchored Class M championship 200 medley and 200 free relays. Earned Most Outstanding Performer honors at 2019 SCC Championships.
Nora Bergstrom, Cheshire: Senior took third in 500-yard free (5:02.55) and was fourth in 200 free (1:53.99) at State Open. Bergstrom finished third in both Class LL 200 free (1:54.01) and 500 free (5:05.47). Allstate, All-SCC, GameTimeCT All-State selection in 2019.
Annie Bingle, Greenwich: A two-time NISCA All-America diver, Bingle joins Cardinals, aftAer starring at Greenwich Academy. junior excelled on 1-meter diving board as a sophomore, placing second at 2020 NEPSAC Championships (All-America total of 446 points).
Bingle also finished second last season at FAA Championships (445.65).
Samantha Ennis, Greenwich: Third in
100-yard backstroke (State Open, 56.74 seconds) in 2019. Also at State Open and Class LL Championships, Ennis led off Greenwich’s winning 200 medley relay team. A senior, Ennis, who earned All-FCIAC and all-state and GameTimeCT All-State honors
(2019), was runner-up in 100 backstroke (Class LL finals, 56.26).
Natalia Ferranto, Darien: Helped key Darien to Class L and FCIAC team championships. A sophomore, Ferranto claimed first-place medal in 50-yard free (Class L finals, 24.08). Ferranto also ignited Darien’s State Open championship and All-America
200-free relay team (1:37.76). Ferranto finished fifth in 50 free (State Open, 24.27).
Charlotte Frank, New Canaan: Senior placed fifth in diving (State Open, 2019, allstate honors), with 461.90 points. Captured Class L title (425.05 points) and was FCIAC runner-up (432.10).
Isabella Gary, Weston: Junior season featured wins in Class S 200 IM (2:07.28) and
100 breaststroke (1:04.52). All-SWC, AllState, GameTimeCT All-State recipient) third at State Open in 200 IM (2:05.94) and fourth in 100 breaststroke (1:05.07).
Rylie Giles, Ridgefield: Recorded two second-place finishes at State Open (200 free, 1:53.40, 500 free, 5:02.34). Senior was second in Class LL in 200 free (1:53.15) and
500 (4:58.80). All-FCIAC, all-state, GameTimeCT All-State selection in 2019 will swim at Bucknell. FCIAC champion in 100 free and
500 free.
Nicole Hahn, East Lyme: Junior flourished in 100 breaststroke (sixth at State Open,
1:06.35, second at Class M, 1:05.68) and 200 IM (third at Class M Championships,
2:09.89). Competed on runner-up 200-medley relay squad (Class M).
Maddie Haley, New Canaan: Senior was second at State Open in 100 backstroke
(56.19). At Class M, won 100 backstroke
(56.02). GameTimeCT All-State, All-FCIAC honoree placed second in backstroke at FCIAC’s (56.31).
Claire Kehley, Lauralton Hall: Third in State Open’s 200 free (1:53.93) and fourth in
500 free (5:06.20). A junior, who was Allstate, GameTimeCT All-State selection, won both Class M 200 free (1:54.64) and 500 free
(5:10.06). She also anchored Class M championship 200 relay.
Avery Kudlac, Glastonbury: Senior inished sixth in 100 butterfly (State Open, 57.90) and
10th in backstroke (Open, 58.42). She took fourth and seventh in butterfly (57.46, Class LL) and backstroke (58.92), respectively.
Kendall Luecke, Darien: Anchored AllAmerica 200-yard free relay team, which captured State Open in 1:36.72. All-state, All-FCIAC performer anchored team’s winning Class L 200 free relay (1:37.76). Senior won Class L 200 free and was part of FCIAC championship 200 free relay.
Nicole Linell, Weston: Tied for fourth with teammate Isabella Gary in 100 breaststroke
(1:05.07, 2019 State Open). Placed second in breaststroke (Class S, 1:05.65) and swam on winning 200 medley relay team.
Meghan Lynch, Greenwich: Stanfordbound three-time All-American in 200-yard IM. Captured gold medal in 200 IM last season (Class LL) in an All-America/state record time of 1:59.13. Also won race at State Open
(1:59.50) and placed second in 100 breaststroke at LL meet (1:02.57) and Open
(1:02.44). Holder of 68 Connecticut Swimming Age Group records, Lynch also earned All-America accolades in 100 free (50.79) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.57, second State Open, Class LL). Lynch (all-state, All-FCIAC, GameTimeCT.com All-State Team/Swimmer of Year 2018), also powered Cardinals’ 2019 State Open champion 400 free and 200 medley relays.
Sophie Murphy, Cheshire: Murphy’s junior season was highlighted by victories in 50 free (State Open, 23.68) and 100 free (51.08, Open). Anchored Rams’ 400 free relay and
200 free relay (State Open), which placed second and third, respectively. Captured Class LL 50 free title (23.88), 100 free (51.11) and was on winning 400 free relay. An All-SCC, All-State and GameTimeCT 2019 Swimmer of Year recipient.
Emma Nordquist, Hall: Senior notched sixth-place finish in 200 free (State Open,
1:54.56), was ninth in 500 free (5:09.56). All-Stater was fifth in 200 free (1:55.38) and fifth in 500 free (Class LL Championships).
Karine O’Connor, Amity: Took third in 100 butterfly (56.73) at last season’s State Open. She was 10th in 50 free (24.43). In Class LL, All-state, All-SCC, GameTimeCT All-State pick finished third in 100 butterfly (57.45) and was fourth in 50 free (24.53).
Katrine O’Leary, Seymour: O’Leary’s allstate freshman season featured fourth-place finish in 50 free (State Open, 24.12) and fifthplace effort in 100 free (Open, 52.71). Led off
400 free relay, which placed eighth. Class S
50 (24.18) and 100 champion (52.95).
Alexa Pappas, Weston: Rejoins team for senior year, after swimming for club squad last season. In 2018, was State Open’s 100 backstroke champ and placed third in 100 free. Also was part of championship 200 medley relay team.
Adriana Mieses-Sanchez, Windsor: Junior diver finished fourth in Class L (370.70). At State Open, posted a seventh-place finish, amassing 448.62 points over 11 dives.
Hannah Seward, Ridgefield: Northwestern-bound Seward posted first-place finishes in 100 butterfly at Class LL and State Open Championships, respectively (55.14, 55.30). All-FCIAC, All-State, GameTimeCT All-State recipient placed third in 100 free at Open
(52.26) and was second in Class LL (51.86). She earned FCIAC butterfly and 50 free titles.
Elizabeth Stoelzel, Masuk: Junior year was highlighted by a fifth-place finish in State Open’s 50 free (24.27). In Class M 50 free, was second (24.32). Also third in Class M 100 backstroke and was on second-place 200 free relay.
Sophia Velleco, Seymour: As a freshman last season, placed fifth in 200 free (State Open, 1:54.39). Swam 400 free relay (eighth State Open) and was runner-up in 50 free
(1:54.64) at Class S finals, which saw her swim on victorious 400 free squad.
Lauren Walsh, Trumbull: Junior earned All-America honors in 200 IM (2:01.82) and
100 breaststroke (1:01.96). Won breaststroke at State Open (1:01.96) and was second in
200 IM (2:02.42). Walsh (All-State, AllFCIAC, GameTimeCT All-State selection won Class LL breaststroke (1:02.40) and was second in 200 IM (2:01.82). Competed on second-place 200 medley relay team (State Open).