WESTFORD BOYS RULE THE DIVISION 1 POOL
Ghosts capture program's second state championship
CAMBRIDGE >> Before the season started, Westford Academy coach Harriett Kinnett that the seniors on the boys swim and dive team had been waiting for this season for four years.
On Sunday afternoon at the MIT pool, the four-year culmination of hard work, tough practices and the thousands of laps in the pool paid off. The Ghosts, who finished second last year, came through by winning the Division 1 state championship title by compiling 220 points, edging Minnechaug Regional and BC High (213), who tied for second.
This is the second state title for WA, the last coming in 2015.
“This was a total team effort by these boys. We scored points in eleven out of the twelve events. Our leadership was incredible. We have eight seniors on this team, and all eight seniors qualified for this meet and contributed,” said Kinnett.
One of the eight seniors, Quinn Schwab had a day that he’ll remember for the rest of his life. He was the state champion in the 200 freestyle in 1:41.74, was second in the 100 backstroke in 52.10, and was part of the first-place 200 freestyle relay team along with Aeden Curtin, Zach Ouellette and Brian Hall with a combined time of 1:28.16.
Schwab also joined Brian Hall, Curtin and Oliver Yorke to finish third in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:11.92.
“Quinn Schwab was unbelievable for us. He started the meet with an individual state title in the 200-yard freestyle, despite such a deep and talented field.
He then led his team to a relay state title in the 200-yard freestyle relay. He is such a student of the sport, with an incredible work ethic. We are so lucky to have him,” said Kinnett.
Besides being a part of that 400 freestyle relay team, Yorke another senior, was seventh in the 500 freestyle (4:47.86) and eighth in the 100 backstroke in 54.05, and was also part of the seventh-place 200 medley relay with Vincent Xu, William Esteves and Zach Ouellette with a combined time of 1:39.42.
“Oliver Yorke has been an incredible leader for us. He is such a team player, and swims the best when his team needs it. He made the podium in both of his individual events today, and was huge in our relays,” said Kinnett.
A huge reason for the team victory came from the performance of diver Jeremiah
Small. He finished third with 491.75 points.
“Jeremiah made the difference for us today. Both BC High and Minnechaug did not have a diver score. As a result, his points pushed us into first before the last relay, setting us up for the win. The meet came down to the last relay, and we needed a top three finish to secure the win. I am so proud of these boys,” expressed Kinnett.
Brian Hall added a seventh place in the 200 IM in 1:59.21 and Owen Curtin was also seventh in the 100 butterfly in 53.25 seconds. Aedan Curtin also picked up a ninth place in the 50 free (22.02) and a 10th place in the 100 free (48.46). Also in the mix was William Esteves, who was 11th in the 100 backstroke in 54.78 and Aiden Gouldson, who was 15th in the 500 free in 5:01.57.
Also in the Division 1 Meet, Chelmsford finished 12th and Lowell/north Andover was 19th. For the Lions,
on beam. Her score of 9.550 was good enough to tie her for second place in a talented field.
Tying for 22nd place was Bartlett’s Red Raiders’ teammate, Malinda Yim, after she posted a 34.775.
Nathaniel Murray had a big day as he was third in the 200 IM (1:56.02), 11th in the 100 free (48.54), was part of the seventh-place 200 free relay with Jack Dorsey, Henry Reitman and Declan Hughes in 1:31.09, and the same four finished 13th in the 400 free relay in 3:23.41.
Hughes was also second in the 50 free (21.20) and 12th in the 100 free (48.59).
For Lowell, Jack Ventre, a North Andover resident, was fourth in the 500 free
Charlotte Woodbury of Groton-dunstable tied for 29th place with a 34.325. Woodbury’s teammate, Nina Scaramucci, finished in a tie for 33rd after a 34.250.
Chelmsford was led by Cady Serrano’s 40th-place (4:43.89) and seventh in the 200 free (1:45.33), and he also joined Ethan Ackerman-vallala, Son Nguyen and Leo Ferrucci to finish 15th in the 200 medley relay in 1:44.20.
In Division 2, Lowell Catholic’s Luke Williams was third in the 100 free in 49.08 and 10th in the 50 free in 22.61, whilewilmington/north Reading senior Ethan Ryan was 18th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.14 and 22nd in the 200 IM in 2:11.95.
finish and 33.050 score. Westford Academy’s Leah Spinney scored sixth on bars and seventh on beam.
The top gymnasts advance to the sectionals on Saturday at Algonquin Regional High School.