Printer Friendly Version - Growing Branford Girls’ Swimming and Diving Looking to Make States Splash

Kylie Acquarulo-Savastano and Erin Newlan are senior captains for the Branford girls’ swimming and diving squad this fall, as they look to lead a young group in helping to gain personal progress and experience. Photo courtesy of Sally Noel

Pictured from the Branford girls’ swimming and diving team are Abigail Talalas, Audrey Henkel, Audrina Pham, Ellie Brown, Bidhee Thapa, Summer Sabatino, Erin Newlan, Kylie Acquarulo Savastano, Helen Abbott, Sophia Villafuerte, Kaila Jones, and Sarah Villafuerte at a recent car wash for the squad. Photo courtesy of Sally Noel

The Branford girls’ swimming and diving team sports a squad that houses some seasoned veterans, along with a great deal of newcomers to the lanes. Yet regardless of background or experience, each member has the attributes and intangibles to keep the program swimming upstream.

For 2023, Branford finished 15th with 772 points at the SCC Championship on Nov. 1 at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Then, at the Class M State Championships on Nov. 14 at that same SCSU venue, Branford was 17th out of 18 schools with 95 points.

Head Coach Sally Noel and the Hornets have yet to claim their first victory of the dual meet season through four matchups. Yet as is the case with high school swimming, the standings of wins and losses are not so much paramount because it is more about building the individual skill sets towards helping a team achieve its max potential.

“Team goals are always hitting personal bests and meeting the challenges that come from dedication and competition, which we nurture in the pool and take them with us out into the world,” said Noel. “When it's just you and the clock, this sport can get very personal, so letting go and moving on with our heads held high is important. We'd also like to bring more to the state meet this year. We are a growing program with a lot of newcomers to the team, so our focus is achieving personal best times, strong practices, and developing resilient athletes as well as people.”

Seniors Erin Newlan and Kylie Acquarulo-Savastano are the Hornets’ captains this year. Synonymous with Noel since she first stepped into the position, they have become pillars of the program. Newlan swims the 200 and 500 freestyle, as well as the 100 meter butterfly. Acquarulo-Savastano swims all the freestyle heats, as well as the 100 backstroke.

“They were freshmen when I came on as assistant coach, so it's been a pleasure to watch them grow and develop competitively as leaders on this team,” said Noel. “Both Erin and Kylie are approachable, kind, and team-minded, which makes them invaluable as a new coach to keep our team culture strong. They both swim distance free during our dual meet season and have competed at the state level. We expect great things at the Class S State Championships this year from both young women. Both have impressive goals in mind as they navigate senior year and beyond, and I have every confidence they will do and explore great things.”

The lone remaining senior and only representative of the diving portion of the roster is Emerson Shuff. Shuff made the switch from cheerleading and gymnastics a year ago to diving. Junior Summer Sabatino has also shaved seconds off her previous personal bests from 2023.

“Emerson made states last year and has already made the score to compete in the championships this year. Emerson is another who is a coach's dream to have on the team; inclusive, kind, supportive, and a hard worker,” said Noel. “As a junior, she has made huge strides the last two years in the pool, and this year predicts to be no different. Summer is well on her way to being a competitive force at the Class S championships. She brings energy and realness to our team in a way that puts others at ease.”

Looking to the underclass, Audrina Pham is a sophomore this year and returns after making it all the way to state finals last year in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley (IM). Audrey Henkel is a freshman, though she brings a plethora of experience in the pool prior to entering Branford High School (BHS). She takes part in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events, as well as the 100 backstroke.

“Audrina is a dedicated athlete and one all members look up to with her amazing performances in the pool, helping us stay competitive and positive,” said Noel. “Audrey has competed at a very high level before joining the team. Having won every individual event she has entered in, look for her in the top 10 in our championship season this year.”

Additional standouts include junior Abigail Talalas in the 100 fly and 100 back events, sophomore Ellie Brown in both the freestyle events and 100 breaststroke, Bidhee Thapa as a junior in the freestyle races, and freshmen Kaila Jones and Danielle Mayne, both in freestyle events.

For the here and now, Noel and the Hornets are locked in on getting the youth of the team acclimated to the culture and lifestyle of competitive high school waters. But she is also very mindful of the bigger future picture going forward, and she knows that her current crop of swimmers have an obligation to help generate interest in the sport among the middle school and junior high ranks.

“Our team is in a building period, so engaging them with good practice habits and focus for meets while keeping their personal goals in mind will be a win,” said Noel. “Learning mental toughness, along with the ability to stay human and kind, is key. Because we are building the next generation of swimmers, they do have the opportunity to help and take part in the community local outreach swim programs we've started at Walsh Intermediate School for grades 3-8. Being on a swim team, it is a responsibility to pass on swim education to others where and when we can, not only for safety, but also further with the opportunity of growing into a competitive swimmer. It all starts with swimming lessons.”

Noel is in her third year as head coach. She joined Branford midway through the 2021 season as an assistant and later assumed the head role. Ashley Jones, a BHS math teacher, is her assistant coach this fall.

The 2024 Hornets’ roster is comprised of seniors Shuff, Acquarulo-Savastano, Newlan; juniors Sabatino, Talalas, Thapa; sophomores Brown, Pham, Gabriela Silva; plus freshmen Helen Abbott, Tasia Emmons, Henkel, Jones, Mayne, Claire Newlan, Sarah Villafuerte, and Sophia Villafuerte.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: at Sacred Heart Academy-East Haven-Cross-Hillhouse at Albertus Magnus College at 4 p.m.