This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Mystic Valley Girls Win CAC Swim Championship

swim

Mystic Valley Girls Swimmers Win Sixth Straight CAC Championship

 

Throughout the 2012-2013 season, two themes reverberated through the walls of the home of the Mystic Valley Varsity Swim Team, the Bayrd Natatorium: unity and selflessness. These qualities seemed to sink in at the ideal time last week, as the Eagles swam to their sixth consecutive team Commonwealth Athletic Conference League Meet championship.

Find out what's happening in Maldenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

The girls’ team capitalized on individual and relay opportunities throughout the meet, defeating its closest opponent, Shawsheen Tech, by more than 100 points.

Find out what's happening in Maldenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Two out of three of the relay teams—the 200 and 400 freestyle teams—achieved the season-long goal of qualifying for the MIAA Division 2 State meet, and a third—the 200 medley relay team—was just over one second off the mark. The 200 freestyle relay team is composed of Emily Williams, Caroline Williams, Ava Asai-Sarris, and Maaya Alagappan. The two Williams sisters and Alagappan were joined by Elizabeth Callahan in the 400 freestyle relay. The 200 medley relay team, composed of Maggie Finn, Asai-Sarris, Jessica Lieu, and Callahan, will have one more opportunity to qualify for States on February10, when they compete in the MIAA North Sectional meet.

 

Individually, the girls outperformed expectations. Junior Emily Williams won the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:10.30, fast enough to qualify her for Sectionals. Her sister, freshman Caroline Williams, was able to improve her Sectionals seed times in her two events, the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Sophomore Ava Asai-Sarris won the 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:17.32, her personal best. She will also swim this event in both Sectionals and States.

 

Several of the meet’s highlights came courtesy of Mystic Valley swimmers. Freshman Victoria Mail and seventh grader Maggie Finn finished in second and third, respectively, in the 100 backstroke. Junior Maaya Alagappan battled through knee pain to win both of her events, the 500 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. Lastly, Freshman Colleen McGlynn finished second in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 100 butterfly.

 

In total, Mystic Valley girls finished first in all but two individual events and with three of the top five finishes in all but one.

 

Eagles prepare for Sectionals and States

 

All told, the 2013 CAC Championship Meet was a resounding success for the Eagles. Based partially on their strong performances at CACs, the girls’ team will be well represented at Sectionals and States. Eight of the 14 Mystic Valley girls have qualified, individually or in relays, to compete in state championship meets.

           

Sectionals will be held on Saturday, February 9 at MIT and States is scheduled for Saturday, February 16 at Springfield College.

 

                                                                                                                        

In their own words

Compiled by Emily Williams

 

“This meet inspired the team, as the majority of swimmers hit their tapers and achieved their goals. There were also many unexpected surprises, which were astounding.”

- Emily Williams, grade 11

 

“History wasn’t just made in the pool, but in the friendships.”           

- Colleen McGlynn, grade 9

 

“Our team trains extremely hard to get where we are and we are so happy to see our hard work pay off.”

            - Ava Asai-Sarris, grade 10

 

 

“The day of a big meet is always nerve wracking, especially when you’ve lost seven seniors the previous year. But we went in ready to represent our school, ready to execute on what we put so much effort, determination, and heart into, and we came out with a great feeling of success.”

            - Fayrouz Farhane, grade 10

 

“I think it went really well and I’m so proud of everyone who made sectionals and states! The team worked really hard during the last couple weeks at practice and it really paid off.”

            - Victoria Mail, grade 9

 


 

2013 CAC League Meet Statistics and Top Three Finishes

 

                                    1st Place                       2nd Place                     3rd Place

 

200 Medley Relay       *Finn                           Shawsheen Tech          Farhane

                                    *Asai-Sarris                                                     Antonucci

                                    *Lieu                                                               McGlynn

                                    *Callahan                                                        Mail

 

200 Freestyle              *E. Williams                Shawsheen Tech          Callahan

 

200 IM                                    Asai-Sarris                   Shawsheen Tech          Shawsheen Tech

 

50 Free                                    *C. Williams                Minuteman Tech          Shawsheen Tech

 

100 Butterfly              Minuteman Tech          *C. Williams                Lieu

 

100 Freestyle              Alagappan                   Callahan                      Shawsheen Tech

 

500 Freestyle              Alagappan                   E. Williams                  Shawsheen Tech

 

200 Free Relay                       *Asai-Sarris                 Lieu                             Shawsheen Tech

                                    *Alagappan                 Farhane

                                    *E. Williams                Mail

                                    *C. Williams                Finn

 

100 Backstroke           Shawsheen Tech          Mail                             Finn

 

100 Breaststroke        *Asai-Sarris                 McGlynn                     Antonucci

 

400 Free Relay                       *C. Williams                Shawsheen Tech          Thistle

                                    *Callahan                                                        Alam

                                    *Alagappan                                                     McGlynn

                                    *E. Williams                                                    Tully

 

 

*          Denotes Sectionals and/or States Qualifying Time

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?