New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Sophomore Murphy stepped up for Rams
Throughout her girls swimming career, Cheshire sophomore Sophie Murphy has never felt any outside pressure from coaches or teammates to succeed.
“There has never been any outside pressure, only the pressure I put on myself to succeed,” Murphy said. “It helps me do better. I’m always working hard to improve my times. Coming into this season we lost so many seniors from last year to graduation we knew the season would be a challenge.
“I worked hard to improve myself in my individual events, to do my best in the relays and contribute to the team at
states (CIAC Class L and State Open meets).”
The hard work and selfimposed pressure paid off.
In the postseason, she won the 50 freestyle (23.51 seconds, school record) and 100 freestyle (51.36) at the State Open. Her time in the 50 freestyle earned her All-American consideration. At the Class L meet she won 50 freestyle (24.14) and 100 freestyle (51.44) and at the Southern Connecticut Conference meet she won the 200 freestyle (51.36). She was unbeaten this season in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle.
As a result, she accomplished her goal of contributing to her team’s success. The Rams were 11-0 in the dual meet season, they won the SCC swim meet team title (1,489 points) and won the Class L title (829.5 points). The Rams finished second in the State Open (439 points).
For her effort, Murphy has been selected the Register All-Area Girls Swimming most valuable player.
In addition to the challenge of losing a strong senior class from the 2017 season, this season the Rams also had the challenge of having a new coach. In the offseason Dan Mascolo strepped down as coach and Dave Modzelewski was hired.
Modzelewski is a longtime youth swimming coach and coached many of the Cheshire swimmers on travel teams on the youth level.
“We worked harder with a new coach coming in, to show him what we are capable of,” Murphy said. “I knew Dave. A lot of people never heard of Dave before, but when I was 10, he coached our club team and he coached the team at the USA Swimming Eastern Zones.
“A lot of people were on edge with a new coach but that feeling quickly went away. He encouraged us as a team and made us all feel we were part a family. It was a smooth transition.”
Murphy is a two-time Register All-Area selection and was selected All-SCC and All-State. She was named to the SCC AllScholastic team and has an artistic side, playing violin in the school orchestra.
“Last year as a freshman there was some outstanding competition that beat Sophie in the postseason, especially at the State Open,” Modzelewski said. He has been selected this season’s Register All-Area Girls Swimming coach of the year. “This year, she is older, wiser and faster. Her biggest strength in the pool is her love of the sport and her willingness to compete at a high level. She also has strong competition on our team and in the SCC that help push her and make her better.
“I’ve known Sophie since she was 10. It’s so nice to see someone compete at a young age and then go on to be successful at an older age.”
Murphy wants to take her swimming to another level after high school and swim at a yet-to-be-determined college.
“Last year as a freshman, the season was intimidating, especially with the strong senior class we had,” Murphy said. “This year, I focused on improving myself. This season was amazing and most of all it felt great to contribute to the team’s success.
“I like to do well because it helps make everyone improve and do well too. When I graduate I want to swim in college because I like the competitiveness of the sport.”