Farmingdale High School’s Girls Varsity Swimming and Diving Team opened their season in September. Despite losing 12 seniors and being unable to practice due to the unavailability of the pool, the team has gone on to a 3-3 record.
Coached by Ken Ilchuk, Randy Corcoran, assisted by Kelly Harris, Pat Algiers and J-Lynn Afonso, and led by Captains Sarahrose Hendrickson and Nora Reade, the team has had several very close and exciting meets.
The season started against the Conference I powerhouse Bellmore-Merrick. Sara Golshahr (JR) finished 1st in the 200 Free as did Sarah Hendrickson (SR) in Diving. Gina Riggio (SO) in the 50 free and Jasmine Rashid (FR) in the 100 Backstroke turned in strong swims. As always, the girls swam well in all relay events finishing 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay and 1st in both the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relays. Bellmore-Merrick was just too experienced and too deep as the Dalers fell 102-79.
Armed with their 15 freshmen, the Dalers went on to face County Champions Garden City. Overmatched, the girls swam well but came up short losing 102-78. Highlights of the meet included: a well fought 3rd place finish from the 200 Medley Relay team of Reade, Golshahr, Hendrickson and Lindsay Hemminger (FR); Golshahr finished 1st in the 50 Free and 2nd in the 100 Free; Hendrickson finished 1st in Diving and 2nd in the 100 Butterfly and the relay teams continued to impress and lose time. The 200 Free Relay team of Rashid, Hendrickson, Golshahr and Hemminger finished 1st, as did the 400 Free Relay team of Nicolette DeMartino(SO), Rashid, Jennifer Barnola(JR) and Reade.
Nice efforts were turned in by Danielle Flaterty (FR) in the 200 Individual Medley; Brittany Dolan (SO) in the 100 Breaststroke and Rashid and Reade in the 100 Backstroke.
The Dalers then welcomed in the team from North Shore, a small and new team. The Girls scored an easy win 99-61 for their first win of the season. Strong performances were turned in by Reade and Joanna Gazzo(FR) in the 200 Free; Golshahr in the 200 Individual Medley; Riggio in the 50 Free, Hemminger in the 100 Free; Rashid in the 100 Backstroke and Dolan in the 100 Breaststroke. The Dalers achieved a 1,2, 3 sweep in the 100 Butterfly thanks to Gazzo, Jenna Grasso(SR) and Victoria Russo(SO). As expected, Hendrickson won the Diving event scoring a season high 228.38.
The 200 Medley Relay team of Lindsay Gehlbach(SR), Golshahr, Hendrickson and Riggio impressed and finished 1st, as did the 200 Free Relay team of Golshahr, Riggio, Hemminger and Hendrickson.
Next up was the rival Massapequa Chiefs. Always a grudge match, the Dalers keep the meet tied until the last two events. This was your typical exciting Farmingdale versus Massapequa swim meet. Despite all of the good swims and enthusiasm, the Dalers fell short 99-87.
The meet started out well with 1st place finishes by the Medley Realy team of Rashid, Dolan, Hendrickson and Riggio. Other 1st place finishes were turned in by Riggio in the 50 Free; and the team of Golshahr, Hendrickson, Reade and Riggio in the 200 Free Relay. Hendrickson was a dual winner in Diving and the 100 Butterfly.
Strong and competitive swims were had by Reade in the 200 Free; Golshahr in the 200 IM; Riggio in the 100 Free; and Dolan in the 100 Breaststroke. She continues to lose time in this event. The Daler Backstrokers, Rashid, Reade and Courtney Sack (SO), finished 2,3,4 in their event that tied the meet with two events to go. Despite the crowd support the girls could not seal the deal.
The Dalers then went on to face Plainview in what was anticipated to be another nail biter, however, despite two questionable DQs in two separate relays, (where the Dalers finished 1st), Farmingdale easily prevailed winning 94-92.
Stellar performances were turned into 1st place finishes by Riggio in the 50 Free; Hendrickson in the 100 Fly; Golshahr in the 100 Free; and Dolan in the 100 Breast. The Dalers sweep the Diving event with Hendrickson, Courtney Ratner(JR) and Megan Barrow(JR). Reade and Golshahr finished 2nd in the 200 Free and 200IM respectively. This meet was especially significant as the Dalers suffered a horrific heartbreaking lose to Plainview last year. Thanks for the win, how sweet it is!
The Dalers evened their record for the season at 3-3 with another easy win against a young Cold Spring Harbor team. Farmingdale finished 1st in eight of the ten events and swam the last two events exhibition (not scored) to go onto a 97-84 victory.
Golshahr won the 100 Free and led another Daler sweep in the 200 Free followed by Reade and Hemminger. Despite some strong competition, Hendrickson finished 1st in diving. Dolan continued to shine in the 100 Breaststroke, while Reade and Rashid continue their own in house rivalry in the 100 Backstroke. This time Reade just finished ahead of Rashid. The 400 Freestyle Relay team of Jess Kalinowski(FR), Rachel Fishman(FR), Niamh Murphy(FR) and Liliana Kinney(SR) capped off the victory.
Four more meets to go. Follow your Lady Dalers on the web at Section 8 Swimming.com.
