Weston adds to streak with seventh straight title
“Over the years our teams have been built with top-end talent. This season it’s been our depth, our ability to score points 2 through 8 that has pulled us through.”
— Brandon Barone, Weston girls swimming coach
MONROE — Weston girls have ruled the pool in the South-West Conference. Winners of six consecutive league titles coming into the championship meet at Masuk High, the Trojans maintained their position Saturday.
Weston scored 530.5 points to turn back challenges from Pomperaug with 545 and Newtown with 423.
“Over the years our teams have been built with top-end talent,” coach Brandon Barone said. “This season it’s been our depth, our ability to score points 2 through 8 that has pulled us through.”
Newtown’s Brianna Deierlein was named the SWC Most Outstanding Swimmer. A sophomore, Deierlein won the 100 freestyle in 51.97.
Weston won 200 medley relay to open the meet. Newtown was second and Pomperaug third in the event.
Pomperaug went on top 94-89 with four-point winners in the 200-freestyle, including champion Margaret Rutledge, after two events.
Weston, with Ally Bradley and Zofia Chmiel placed two-three, took the team lead in the 200 IM. It was Weston 186, Pomperaug 152 and the chase was on.
“I loved the way that Katie Franco and Ally Bradley led us today,” Barone said of his senior tandem. “Katie won the 50 freestyle and was second in the 100. Allie was second in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM. And of course they were there for us at the end.”
Barone was refering to the meet’s final event, the 400 freestyle relay. Weston had secured the victory prior to the swim. That didn’t stop the foursome of Adele Kopis, Olivia Huewe, Bradley and Franco from closing out the championship with a winning time of 3:36.78. The SCC meet record is 2:36.51 set by Weston in 2015.
“The girls are right where or near we want them to be going into states,” Barone said.
Pomperaug, the 2014 champion and four time runners-up, and three-time second place finisher Newtown have challenged Weston during its run. Newtown was league runner-up in 2020.
Immaculate/Bethel’s Olivia Hebert was first in the 200IM and the 100 breaststroke.
Other individual winners were Pomperaug’s Margaret Rutledge (200 freestyle), Brookfield’s Ava Gravgaard (diving), Barlow’s Audrey Gil (100 butterfly), and Immaculate/Bethel’s Cate Carboni (500 freestyle).