Lincoln-Sudbury Swim Teams Sweep Concord-Carlisle

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was submitted to Sudbury Patch.)

On December 7th, the Lincoln-Sudbury boys and girls swim and dive team had its first meet together against Concord-Carlisle.

There were some great swims by the boys in their first meet of the season.  Dylan Brown, Taylor Brown, Ricky Billig, Tom Edwards, Jake Hogan, Andrei Rakitin, and Chris Wilkins all qualified for the post-season in their individual events.  Kevin Henderson continues to improve in diving; taking second place only two points behind the winner.

The best event for the boys came in the 100 freestyle.  Billig, Rakitin, Chris Knightly and Jack Walker took first through fourth.  They swam impressive times of 51.01, 51.18, 55.33 and 57.37 respectively.

The girls swam fast times throughout the meet.  Many swimmers qualified for the postseason in their individual events for the first time, including Michela Eckhouse, Jenny Genovese, Caroline Goswami, Caroline Hultin and Leah McCabe.  Divers Emma Jarczyk, Kim Yang and Clara Shealy swept the diving portion of the meet.

The highlight of the girls meet came in the 100 yard breaststroke.  Sophomore Ansley Baker proved last year that she was a force to be reckoned with in this event.  She has been chasing the L-S record in this event and in the previous meet she missed it by just .2 seconds.  Baker finally broke the seven year old record by one and a half seconds, posting a very a fast time of 107.71.

Both the boys and girls team won, swimming very impressive, and record breaking, times throughout the meet.

On Tuesday December 11, the LS boys and girls team hosted the Waltham Hawks at Atkinson Pool.  The boys won 90-65 and the girls won 94-69.  

Ricky Billig, Jake Hogan and Nate Thomas placed first second and third in the 200 freestyle race.  Billig's time qualifies him for the state tournament. 

Chris Wilkins and Dylan Brown came in first and second respectively and both earned spots on the state roster for the 200 IM.  Tom Edwards, Chris Knightly and Matt Shelley swept the 50 freestyle race and Edwards time earned him a spot in the state tourmament.  

Billig and Alex Yamron were first and third in the 100 butterfly.  Andrei Rakitin and Taylor Brown took the 1 and 2 spot in the 100 freestyle race.  Edwards and Dylan Brown placed first and second in the 500 freestyle.  

Wilkins, Knightly and Shelley swept the 100 backstroke.  Hogan, Anthony Foscolos and Kevin Kennedy were the first three in for the 100 breaststroke race.  Kevin Henderson continues to dive well.

The girls team started off with a powerful swim in the 200 medley relay by the team of Catherine MacKeen, Ansley Baker, Alicia Perry and Katherine O'Shea who were untouchable.  

Jenny Genovese was victorious in the 200 freestyle race with a sectional qualifying time.  Next in was Michaela Eckhouse who also made a sectional cut in this race.  O'Shea owned the 200 individual medley and will be able to swim this event at the state meet.  

Caroline Hutlin made a sectional cut and won the 50 freestyle race.  Michelle Iskander came in a close second place in the 50 yard sprint. Kim Yang, Emma Jarczyk and Clara Shealy continue to impress the field with their dives. each scoring points to earn them a spot at the state meet.  

The 100 butterfly race requiring tremendous coordination and strength looked easy as MacKeen placed first and Eckhouse placed second. Leah McCabe, Jenny Genovese and Shannon Johnson hit the wall right in a row for an LS sweep in the 100 freestyle race.  

In the 500 yard freestyle, the longest swim in the competition Ansley Baker, Lexi Barrera, Eugenia Almondoz and Nicole Kerrigan all performed well and finished with impressive times.  

The girls 100 backstroke was also a sweep for LS with MacKeen, Caroline Goswami and Bella Borg finishing in the top three spots.  The 100 breaststroke winner was a Waltham swimmer coming in second was Mary Jo Samojla and third was Ruiyi Gao.

The LS swim team traveled to Newton on Friday 12/14 and has a busy week ahead.  On Tuesday they will travel to Westford, the home of the Grey Ghosts, in what will be  a fierce competition then will be at home on Friday 12/21 against Lexington and Tyngsboro.