The Fenwick High School girls swimming team placed third at the Fenwick Relays, Sept. 14, with 424 points. The Friars were victorious in one individual event and two relays.
Senior Anna Doherty, who last year established a new school record in the 500 freestyle, won the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:55.70. She also competed in the 500 and was runner-up in a time of 5:11.74.
Fenwick’s 200 medley relay unit of freshman Samantha Stowe, sophomore Maggie Raniere, Doherty, and senior Evelyn Mulvihill won in a time of 1:50.95, while the 400 freestyle relay of Doherty, Raniere, sophomore Maeve Ryan, and Mulvihill prevailed in 3:37.97.
Doherty, Mulvihill, Raniere, and Ryan are four of Fenwick’s six returning state qualifiers, with the others being junior Claire Wood and senior Viktoria Castillo. Other returning varsity swimmers are sophomores Jill Peele and Sammie Reiss along with junior Regan McDonald. Stowe, along with classmate Audrey Munley, are the Friars’ top newcomers.
“The strengths of the team are the backstroke and breaststroke, and the rapid improvement of the freshmen,” said second-year Fenwick coach Ben Munster. “Our team objectives are to win the relays at the sectional meet and get to the ‘A’ final at the state meet.”
Munster added that Fenwick’s other season goals are supporting the development of the program’s younger swimmers and get them to swim faster and win races at dual meets.
Trinity
Trinity High School also competed at the Fenwick Relays and finished sixth with 69 points. Senior Sarah Falkenholm, one of six returning varsity swimmers, posted the Blazers’ best individual finish, placing eighth in the 50 freestyle in a time of 26.27 seconds. She also finished 11th in the 100 freestyle in 59.19.
Other top returnees are seniors Avril Ruiz (100 butterfly), Emma Steadman and Mia Sznewajs (both distance freestyle). Newcomers include sophomore Theresa Olson in the 100 breaststroke and junior Eve Patrickus in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
“I love how our team is performing so far this year,” said sixth-year Trinity coach Mary Gibson. “With our senior leadership and how hard the swimmers are training, our goal is to swim our fastest at the end of the season.”
Gibson adds that the Blazers always look forward to the Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference meet because the quality of competition there serves as good preparation for the sectional.
“The key to our success is working on the little things all season long so that when we are at sectionals, we will be able to race at our highest potential,” Gibson stated. “I feel that we have a great school and a great team that works hard, always tries its best, and improves over the course of the whole season.”