Kouznetsova, Soto-Garcia lead Northstars over Steinert
HAMILTON » When it was pointed out to Rachel Soto-Garcia that the Steinert girls swim team came up with seven firstplace finishes and still lost to her Nottingham squad, it didn’t faze the junior at all.
“First isn’t everything, it’s all about the little things,” Soto-Garcia said after the Northstars’ 94-76 victory at Steinert Thursday. “Everyone counts, everyone matters. That’s why swimming is so great, because everything does count. It’s not like, ‘Oh you have to be the fastest.’ It’s the second, third, the fourth, fifth, those things.”
And the Northstars got enough firsts from their standout senior, Nikita Kouznetsova, who won the 200 IM and 200 back while swimming in the winning 200 medley relay team along with Paige Rocco, Brianna Radke and Emily Hubbard.
Soto-Garcia was the only other Nottingham winner, taking the 200 freestyle to help the Northstars defeat Steinert for the first time in over a decade.
“When I heard that (Hamilton) West went against Steinert Tuesday and won we were all very excited,” Kouznetsova said. “We thought, ‘Hey maybe we do have a chance this season.’ We worked so hard and now we did it.”
The contributors were many as Kylie McGuire, Hazel Cox, Julianna Martinez, Samanta Bryk, Dasha Raywood, Valerie Cain, Soto-Garcia, Julianna Martinetti and Rocco all had top-three finishes in their individual events.
“It’s a credit to our depth,” said Kouznetsova, who will be one of the swimmers to watch at next week’s Mercer County meet.
Nottingham (5-8) needed its depth to hold off the Spartans’ triheaded monster of Jordyn Cascone, Samantha Woolf and Hannah Devine.
Devine was a four-time winner in the 500 freestyle, 100 breast and the 200 and 400 free relays. Woolf won three times in the 200 and 400 free relays and 100 freestyle, while Cascone was also a triple winner in the 50 free and the 200 and 400 relays.
Marissa Shiarappa, an improving sophomore who just came out for the team this year, won the 100 fly for Steinert (2-10) while Allison Barsoum was in the 200 free relay and Andie Bedford swam the 400 free relay.
“Marissa was phenomenal,” Steinert coach Emily Summers said. “She has been working so hard, and it’s so nice to see it finally coming together. I wish she would have come out last year as a freshman. I would love to see where she would be now.”
Despite the torrent of Spartan wins, the Northstars were fortunate enough to have one of the county’s best represent them in the victory circle enough times to pull out the victory.
“She’s incredible,” Soto-Garcia said of Kouznetsova. “She’s so nice, she’s really dedicated. She doesn’t swim with us a lot (due to club), but when she does she’s very open and friendly and welcoming. I just love her.”
Not to mention, she puts a lot of points on the Northstars’ side of the scoreboard.
“Yeah, Soto-Garcia said with a laugh. “She’s helpful with that too or we wouldn’t be here.”
FIRST-PLACE FINISHERS
200 medley relay: Nottingham (Rocco, Radke, Kouznetsova, Hubbard) 2:13.28 200 free: Soto-Garcia (N) 2:19.41
200 IM: Kouznetsova (N) 2:18.23
50 free: Cascone (S) 29.0
100 fly: Shiarappa (S) 1:32.35
100 free: Woolf (S) 59.53
400 free: Devine (S) 6:26.15
200 free relay: Steinert (Woolf, Barsoum, Cascone, Devine) 1:59.71
100 back: Kouznetsova (N) 1:01.37
100 breast: Devine (S) 1:20.96
400 free relay: Steinert (Woolf, Bedford, Cascone, Devine) 4:37.12
Follow Rich Fisher on twitter @fish4scores