Seymour finishes another dualmeet season undefeated
A sign that a team hasn’t lost to a league opponent in a long time is when its coach actually has to research the last time it was defeated.
Seymour girls swimming coach Patrick DiCaprio did the research and learned the last time the Wildcats dropped a dual meet against a league foe was when Sacred HeartWaterbury emerged victorious in October of 2014.
Since then, Seymour has gone undefeated in dual meets spanning parts of six seasons and has lost just twice overall during that era.
The Wildcats have finished unbeaten the past three seasons, including a perfect 90 record this fall.
“For our seniors last season, it was a big deal for them to go undefeated in the league for four years,” DiCaprio said. “The team is aware that we’ve been undefeated in the league for a while, it is one of their focal points.”
Entering the season, Seymour had some events to fill in its lineup, due to the graduation of several standouts, including Sierra Cripps — an AllState, AllNVL performer, who is continuing her swimming career at Seton Hall University’s Division I program. Sophia Velleco and Katrine O’Leary are a pair of freshmen, who have helped spark the Wildcats in a variety of events in their first season on the squad and have enabled the team to maintain its winning ways.
“We have a strong freshman class, they have helped fill in the void from the seniors, who were great for us for several seasons,” DiCaprio said. “Between Sophia and Katrine, they might set four team records in the postseason.”
Especially successful in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke events, Sophia Velleco has flourished in a variety of races for the Wildcats.
“She is a very versatile swimmer,” DiCaprio said of Velleco. “I can put her in any event and she can handle it. She knows what she has to do and understands that dual meets prepare you for the postseason meets — the NVL, states and State Open — she gets the big picture.”
Sophia Velleco’s older sister, Olivia is a junior on the squad, who has excelled in each event she’s competed in. Olivia Velleco holds the school record time of 1:08.50 in the 100 breaststroke.
“Olivia is a very intelligent athlete,” DiCaprio said. “She realized even before the year was over last year she would have some holes to fill in the butterfly and she worked on her butterfly during the summer. Her underwaters are fantastic and when she goes, the excitement level of the team skyrockets.”
Like Olivia, Sophia Velleco made the cut for state tournament (Class S) in all eight individual events. DiCaprio knows she’s primed for a productive postseason as a freshman.
“She has been around swimmer her entire life, so she understands that you may not have your best performance every time out there,” DiCaprio said. “Between her brother (a former swimmer at Seymour) and her sister, she has witnessed the NVL meet several times, so she knows what the enviornment is like. It is loud, noisy ane energized and I think she’s set up for great success.”
O’Leary has ignited the Wildcats in the sprint freestyle events and has also performed well in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly when called upon.
“I have yet to coach such a pure sprinter,” DiCaprio said of O’Leary. “She can kick a 25 in the pool faster than most girls — she moves water. She moves so fast and is putting up impressive times. The first meet of the season, she swam the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly and she put up times that would have won the NVL meet in both events.”
Last season saw Seymour finish first in the team standings at the NVL Championships for the first time since 2007, amassing 819.5 points. The Wildcats are seeking a repeat performance at next week’s NVL Championships.
“In all eight individual swimming events, we have at least two athletes seeded in the top heat,” DiCaprio said. “It should be a good meet for our team.”
Captained by seniors Jackie Pereira and Ashley Sirowich, both of whom have contributed in the relay races, the Wildcats have also been guided by juniors Kelti Johnson and Kaitlyn McCluskey and sophomores McKenna Haynes and Grace Parkosewich.
In 2018, Seymour placed third in the team standings at the CIAC Class S Championships and was 15th at the State Open Championships.
“With the makeup we have, this might end up being the highest ranked team at the State Open in our program’s history,” DiCaprio said. “I believe we have the potential to be a top10 team at the State Open.”
DARIEN CAPS UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON
Darien put the finishing touch on its undefeated dualmeet season with a 9575 win over visiting Fairfield Warde last week. The Blue Wave, who honored their 14 seniors during the meet, finished the regular season with a record of 90 for coach Marj Trifone.
Prior to defeating Warde, the Blue Wave topped Ridgefield, 10185, in one of its most competitive meets of the season.
Senior Julia Servas (238.30), freshman Lilly Wurm (226.35) and senior Emma Hunter (198.51) finished 123, respectively, for the Blue Wave on the 1meter diving board against Ridgefield.
Sophomore Maggie Sedlak posted a firstplace finish in the 100meter butterfly (1:08.39) and junior Olivia Golden took first in the 100 backstroke (1:06.39) for Darien, which also won the 200meter relay in 2:07.52.