Chokureva makes splash
Leads Andover to state swimming title
CAMBRIDGE — In the girl’s swimming and diving Div. 1 state championship, a large group of freshman and sophomores ruled the MIT pool Sunday morning. Andover freshman Michaela Chokureva stood out above the rest.
With automatic All-American times in two different events that set state records in the 50-yard freestyle (23.18 seconds) and 100-yard freestyle (50.09), Chokureva not only paved the way to a very promising individual future, but also served as a key contributor for the Warriors to claim their sixth straight state title with a score of 456.50 points.
North Andover sophomore Malia Amuan was right behind her with a staterecord first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.32) and a meet-record, All-American consideration time of 4:53.56 in the 500yard freestyle, but Chokureva’s two individual wins were part of six first-place finishes and 19 top-six finishes in a complete team effort for Andover.
The second-place team was Needham (256), while Newton North took third (199) and Brookline took fourth (188). Andover has now won 14 of the last 16 state titles, this one the first since longtime coach Marilyn Fitzgerald retired at the end of last year.
“It feels very good, I’ve always seen the seniors winning an event and it felt good, as a freshman, to be able to set two state records and win both of my events,” Chokureva said. “Going into it, I was very confident … (but) after, I did not expect to set two state records.”
On top of the two recordsetting individual performances, Chokureva served as the anchor for a 200-yard freestyle relay team that took first with a meet-record 1:38.50 time, as well as partaking in the first-place 400yard freestyle relay team. Two others on the 200 free relay team had big days as well, with senior Emily Clements taking first in the 200yard individual medley (2:06.57) and 100-yard backstroke (56.29), and fellow senior Emily Ma finishing second in the same two events.
Wellesley wins Div. 2
For the girls swim team at Wellesley, the last few years have been a slow build, and this season, the Raiders went all-in.
There is no question that was the right choice. After falling just short to Reading each of the previous two campaigns, the Raiders’ 29year title drought finally came to an end Sunday night as they compiled 430 points as a team to clinch the Div. 2 girls swimming and diving championship at MIT.
It was the first title for Wellesley since the fall of 1990, prior to the MIAA’s switch to two divisions.
Wellesley only placed first in two events overall, but every member of the team contributed, as the Raiders ended the night with several top finishes.
Senior Nellie Thompson proved to be the differencemaker for the Raiders. A senior, Thompson anchored Wellesley to a first place finish in the 200 freestyle relay with a team time of 1:39.63, and a second place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:35.62). She also finished second individually in the 50 freestyle, clocking in at 24.59. Freshman star Naomi Boegholm finished as the Raiders’ lone individual winner, taking first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.92.