Northmen’s Gendron with senior moment at girls’ states
PROVIDENCE — Perhaps it was an enticement, just a method to create a bit more incentive.
Like North Smithfield High senior phenom Sara Gendron needs any more of that.
Anyway, long-time Athletic Director Matt Tek told Gendron a week or so ago that if she won either one of her two individual events at Saturday afternoon’s R.I. Interscholastic Swimming Championships at Brown University, he would purchase a banner and hang it in the school’s Michael F. Lovett Memorial Gym to commemorate the moment.
“When he told me that, I was, like, ‘OK, if I do, can I choose where it goes?’” she said. He said, “Absolutely!”
Laughing hard, Tek promised he’ll honor his statement after Gendron scorched the field in the 100-yard butterfly with a lifetime-best clocking of 56.94, a solid distance ahead of runner-up Alexandra Miko Rydzaj of
Prout (57.72). In the process, she snared her first-ever individual state crown despite being an independent aquawoman (i.e. she doesn’t have a team because the Northmen don’t offer any aquatic programs).
She also claimed runner-up honors in the 200-yard individual medley (PR of 2:09.65), nearly five seconds behind Bay View sophomore and champ Gianna Spremulli (2:04.78) at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center.
“I knew she had a chance in the butterfly,” Tek grinned. “I know she beat her seed time, so I ws really excited about it, thrilled for her. I was worried that, after the 200 IM, she’d be bummed out about taking second, and that it would affect her.
“Turns out, I didn’t have to worry,” he added. “She had a great start, great turns and held a close lead throughout. When I saw the time on the scoreboard, I realized shre not only had a lifetime best but also a state title.
“To my knowledge, it’s the first individual state championship North Smithfield has ever won. It’s definitely the first for me, and I’ve been the AD here for 12 years. We’re going to get her a banner to put up in the gym with all of our team state champions. When I told her we’d do it, she pitched the spot on the wall.”
After winning, Gendron was asked where precisely it would go.
“Where no other one is,” she chuckled. “I want it to hang alone. I’ve worked so hard for this.”
She had complained a year ago that she felt unrecognized at NSHS because she doesn’t have a team, and few folks are interested in high school swimming there.
She hopes that will change now.
“Oh, yeah, this is sweet payback,” she nodded afterward. “People started to recognize I was a good swimmer when I committed to Bryant (University), a D-I school, not long ago. I didn’t do that because of my dad (Ron, the long-time men’s varsity tennis coach there), but instead because of my coaches (with the Bulldogs Aquatics squad, a USA Swimming, Inc.-affiliated club team that trains at Bryant).
“Coach Katie (Cameron) and Coach Jerry (Cummisky), I love them, and I love the swimmers on it. I also figured that no other programs know me as well as they do. They treat me like family, and that’s phenomenal.
“After the IM, I was happy because I wanted to break 2:10, and I did,” she continued. “I also didn’t mind because I’m friends with Gianna, and I know she practices so hard. She definitely has a stronger middle 100 (50 back- stroke and 50 breaststroke) than I do.
“When I first looked up at the scoreboard, I saw 57.2; I thought that was my time, and I freaked out. Then I realized I was looking at the wrong swimmer’s time, and I just screamed! It feels awesome; there’s no better word for it.”
Incredibly, Gendron – the Most Valuable Swimmer of The Times’/The Call’s All-Area Team last winter – finished 18th in the field of 27 teams (37 points) by her lonesome. As for the area programs trying to notch a place somewhere in the top 10, only Cumberland achieved that. Head coach Rod McGarry’s Clippers nailed terrific placements and times in the three relays to finish in a three-way deadlock for seventh with 88 points. (Rogers and Moses Brown shared that amount).
Not surprisingly with veteran mentor Sandy Gorham at the helm, Barrington gained a bit of revenge on La Salle, who edged the Eagles last Sunday at the Division I meet. Gorham and Co. outstroked the Rams for the state crown by a scant 16 points (300-284).
North Kingstown took third with 238, Prout fourth (159), East Greenwich fifth (155) and Bay View sixth (146).
Still, Lincoln earned a tie for 132th with Westerly (54), while Mount St. Charles settled for 21st (27).
Heading McGarry’s bunch was sophomore Caroline Shen, who sprinted her way to a pair of thirds in the 50 and 100 freestyles. She registered PRs in both, including 24.91 in the former and 54.56 in the latter.
Shen also combined with classmate Kheara Zito and juniors Cammy Cronin and Abby Dion to grab sixth in a season-best 1:45.79. (It should be noted archrival Lincoln – courtesy of sophomores Amanda Allen and Anna Vygoder, senior co-captain Natalie Westrick and junior co-captain Lily Jacobson placed seventh in 1:46.06, only .27 behind CHS).
As for the 400 freestyle relay, Shen joined Cronin, Olivia Barboza and Zito to earn another sixth (3:48.74).
“The 200 free relay dropped three seconds from its previous best this year, and the 400 free relay was nearly eight seconds faster; that’s incredible,” McGarry stated. “Caroline swam really quick in the 50; that was the first time she’s broken 25 this year. She head a great 100, too, then split 24.73 in the 200 relay.
“You know, every girl who swam in the relays did their best splits; in a state meet like this, that success rate is astonishing,” he added. “Everything came together better than we expected. The kids are hitting starts, turns and finishes at the perfect time.
“As for us tying for seventh, I wasn’t wor- ried about final points, but just seeing the girls get Pbs and the relays get season bests. This is a nice way for us to finish off the season.”
For the record, Cronin took 15th in the 100 butterfly (1:05.11, a PR by .06); and Zito did the same thing in the 100 free (58.15).
Like McGarry, Lincoln High chief Tom DiIorio sang the praises of his relays, who combined for 46 of the Lions’ 54 points.
The same foursome of Allen, Vygoder, Westrick and Jacobson took eighth in the 200 medley relay (1:58.59, a campaign-leading clocking by 1.5 ticks) while the same group doubled that success in the 200 free relay.
Westrick eked out a pair of 16ths in the 50 freestyle (26.14) and 100 freestyle (58.17), only .02 behind Cumberland’s Zito (15th, bestever 58.15). And Vygoder mustered 13th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.77), just before Allen scored two more points with a 15th in the 100 backstroke (PR of 1:04.88).
“We had great, fantastic efforts,” DiIorio said. “Not everyone did a PR, but most of the girls did, so we’re thrilled. I’m very happy with the girls and the boys, the boys and the girls.
As for the Mounties, it’s hard to say who had the better day.
First there was freshman Frankie Arnold, who posted eighth in the 200 freestyle (2:04.13), and earned her first state medal of what should be a golden career, then settled for 11th in the 500 freestyle (5:35.36).
But then there was senior co-captain Emi English, who failed to place in the top 16 in either of her individual races, but achieved four lifetime bests.
They came in the 100 fly (1:06.92, good for 20th) and the 100 backstroke (1:06.87, 21st).
She, however, split 30.3 on the 50 backstroke leg of the 15th-place 200 medley relay (season-best 2:05.15) and 26.67 on the No. 14 200 free relay (1:54.34).
“Emi had the meet of her life; she’s never come close to swimming this fast,” offered an enthused Evans. “Man, did she fly here.”
Noted English: “Those times just came from adrenaline. Then again, it also came from coaching because he wants me to say that.
“Seriously? I never imagined this. I honestly thought about quitting my freshman year because I wasn’t swimming as fast as everybody my age or those younger. I was so frustrated. Now, I’m so glad I didn’t.”
Arnold never has to worry about a similar decision. She’s really fast for her age – and then some.
She admitted being a bit bummed out by her place in the 500, but certainly kept her sense of humor.
“I was concerned because I ripped my suit when I was putting it on, and that got into my head; I was thinking, ‘What else is going to go wrong?’” she grinned. “I talked to my mom about it, and she just said, ‘Frankie, relax. It’s not going to affect you. Just have fun.’
“I listened to her, but I was slower in both events,” she continued, raising an eyebrow. “I wasn’t happy with the 200 at first, but then I thought about it, that I’ve been racing hard the last three weeks, so I figured it’s not that bad. The 500 was my second fastest time ever, so I’m happy about it, but not that much.
“I still would have liked to place in the top eight and get another medal!”