By Joe Lennon, Varsity Swim Team Coach
The Schreiber High School Girls Varsity swim team did not stall and picked up right where it left off last season. Carrying 37 girls, this was the largest team Schreiber ever had and saw every athlete make progress. Some improved on existing events and others broadened themselves and tried new events.
We are a team others are taking notice of, both in town and out, for our growing success, for our senior leadership, and for the youth coming into the program. That is directly attributed to our seniors and captains, who helped grow and now lead this team with pride and dedication. The team was led by senior/captains Kimberly Byrne, Isabelle Fagen, Sarah Maley, and Catherine Tasnady.
Defending a 16-1-1 record and two conference championships, we pressed on into a competitive schedule for 2013. The team participated in the seventh annual Joe Farrell Invitational, finishing second (ending a three year drought of finishing fourth), and the Long Beach Invitational, finishing second. The team finished the season with an overall record of 8-1.
We won many meets by large margins. Port Washington took home the Conference 2 title, the fifth in team history, and the third consecutive title. The team has improved from a county ranking of 24 three years ago to finishing twelfth this season to looking ahead to a top 10 rank going into next season.
As we moved toward the championship portion of our season, we competed in the Division A Championship, and the team finished in third place. Next, the team faced new and much faster county qualifying times. Port Washington had nine girls compete individually in the Section 8 Team Championship, including three relays qualifying for the finals.
Annabelle Corcoran (200 and 500 freestyles), Isabelle Fagen (50 and 100 freestyles), Corrine Hall (500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke), Sarah Maley (500 freestyle), Molly McLoughlin (200 IM and 500 Freestyle), Delia Rush (50 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Carter Shields (100 Backstroke), Catherine Tasnady (50 freestyle and 1-meter dive), and Ashley Ye (50 and 100 freestyle).
The team placed twelfth out of 31 teams in Nassau County and had several girls recognized for post-season awards: Annabelle Corcoran was recognized as All-Conference and All-Division for her swims in the 200 and 500 yard freestyles. Ashley Ye was also recognized as All-Conference for her swim in the 50-yard freestyle. The 400-yard freestyle relay of Isabelle Fagen, Ashley Ye, Molly McLoughlin, and Annabelle Corcoran was also recognized as All-Division for their third place finish at the Division A Championships this season.
We also had several records fall: Senior and captain, Catherine Tasnady broke the school record for the one-meter dive (six-dives); Ashley Ye and then Annebelle Corcoran broke the school record in the 50-yard freestyle; Annabelle Corcoran also set the record for the 100-yard backstroke; the 200 Freestyle Relay was reset five times this season by Ashley Ye, Isabelle Fagen, Catherine Tasnady, and Annebelle Corcoran. After successfully capturing conference titles in Conference 4, 3, and 2, the team looks forward to next season and a Conference 1 ranking of seventh in Nassau County.
