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10/19/2013 12:00 AMThey were there to have fun while celebrating their seniors, they were there to tune up for the postseason, and the athletes on Branford’s girls’ swimming and diving team did both those things with charisma and class when hosting Amity on Oct. 18.
It was Senior Day for the Hornets at John R. O’Connor Pool and members of Branford’s underclass expressed some touching sentiments about each of the team’s 13 seniors in a pre-meet ceremony.
When the meet began, Amity showed why’s it’s one of the state’s top squads by winning 104-77. However, there were no somber faces amongst the Hornets, who viewed the meet as a chance to see how they shape up against a Class LL school in preparation for defense of their Class M state title.
“We wanted to have fun today and swim some best times,” said senior captain Christina Smith. “Swimming against Amity makes us better by pushing us to reach our full potential.”
Branford claimed victory in five events with sophomore Erika Maercklein prevailing in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:19.15, senior Jessica Beler winning the diving with 171 points, and sophomore Paige MacNeil taking first in the 100 butterfly (1:01.72). When the meet went exhibition, the 400 freestyle relay of junior Julia Dietz, senior Samantha Bailey-Loomis, freshman Isabel Albinger, and sophomore Caitlin Daley took first (4:01.66); and senior captain Lauren Rasile won the 100 breaststroke by going 1:23.99.
Rasile—who also took second in the 50 freestyle at 25.82—feels her squad has a solid shot at claiming state crown No. 11 in program history this year. Like everyone else on the Hornets, she was also feeling the emotions that always accompany Senior Day.
“It’s emotional, but it’s also exciting to be here one last time and have all our families here,” said Rasile, who captains Branford with Smith and fellow senior Paige Cacace. “Our focus all season has been on states and I think we’re on track. We’ve put in the hard work, we’ll get some rest before states, and it will pay off.”
In addition to its three captains, plus Beler and Bailey-Loomis, the rest of Branford’s senior class is comprised of Aaryne Antell, Megan Ferraro, Jocelyn Giordano, Gabby Onofrio, Elena Perito, Tally Sepot, Miriah Ventre, and Eden Wooster.
Coach Scott Butler let his senior swimmers pick their events for this meet and saw Bailey-Loomis (2:07.59) and Ventre (2:13.53) place fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 200 freestyle; along with Wooster taking fifth in the 50 free (27.49) and 500 free (5:49.60), Ventre placing fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:16.14), Perito finishing fifth in the 500 free (6:07.99), and Smith swimming to fifth in the 100 breaststroke at 1:24.02.
Butler spoke highly of the gutsy victories and season-best times put forth in the 200 IM by Maercklein (who was also second in the 100 free at 55.31) and in the butterfly by MacNeil (also third in the 100 backstroke at 1:06.03). He also praised Wooster for making states with her all-time best mark in the 500, an event she had not done this season.
Coach Butler then discussed the impact of his senior class and forecasted his team’s chances of again capturing state gold.
“Our seniors have pushed their teammates throughout the season and they all have the same philosophy that we’re here to have fun, but also win a state title,” said Butler, whose squad is 7-2. “Right now, Brookfield and Pomperaug are our biggest competition for states. Brookfield returned everyone from last year and we don’t know as much about Pomperaug because they came down from Class L. But in terms of our training and our attitude, we are in a prime spot to repeat.”
Last year, Branford was bolstered at states by scoring points in the diving and Beler was followed in first against Amity by Antell taking third with 141.75 points.
“Our divers are a really big part of our team and they killed it at this meet,” said Cacace.
The Hornets also saw some success in their relays with the 200 medley group of Dietz, Wooster, Rasile, and Smith placing third (2:02.16); and the quartet of junior Amanda Mauriello, Giordano, sophomore Leila Strebel, and Perito finishing fifth (2:17.55). Branford’s 200 freestyle relay of Rasile, Bailey-Loomis, Albinger, and Daley claimed second at 1:46.06 with the team of Ferraro, Giordano, Onofrio, and sophomore Maddie Paleski in fourth (2:01.81). The Hornets’ 400 freestyle relay unit of Wooster, Ventre, sophomore Gabriella DeBenedictis, and junior Sasha Shpitalnik finished fifth (4:35.04).