CAMBRIDGE – It was an enormous day at MIT’s Zesiger Center for final yr’s runnerups within the Div. 2 state championship, as Marblehead surged within the remaining 4 occasions to swim away with their first title since 2016.
Marblehead jostled all through the occasion with the reigning champions, Amherst-Pelham.
The Magicians had been boosted by two first-place swims from senior Clementine Robins, who received the 200-yard free (1:52.58), and a coast-to-coast victory within the 500-yard free (5:06.08), after which Marblehead trailed Amherst-Pelham 131.5-122.
The victory within the 500-yard free spurred a comeback, as Marblehead leapt forward 156-131.5 after a second-place end within the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:41.21), with the staff of Robins, Song Waitekus, Cecelia Robbins and Sophia Weiner.
The 100-yard backstroke adopted, the place Amherst-Pelham had freshman Rowan Albertson place second (59.45), whereas teammate Deborah Wells positioned fifth (1:01.30), to assist shut the deficit to 168-162.5.
Marblehead would add to their lead as Bella Takata (1:07.25) positioned second within the 100-yard breaststroke, whereas teammate Song Waitekus (1:10.27) completed sixth, making it 201-162.5 heading into the ultimate occasion, the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Fittingly, Marblehead positioned first with a time of three:39.89, whereas Amherst-Pelham completed second (3:42.13), incomes Marblehead the state title with a rating of 241.
Robins was the anchor of the ultimate relay staff, making her a three-time winner on the occasion.
“We’ve been wanting to win that since I was a freshman,” Robins stated. “It was awesome, we were so excited last year to get second place… I’m so glad that we could come back and do this before I graduate.”
The Hurricanes completed second with 196.5, whereas Duxbury completed third with 184.
It’s the third championship for this system, which has been coached by Susan Guertin since 1989, nonetheless Guertin has been educating swimming on the Marblehead YMCA for 53 years.
“Going into the four-free relay, we’re saying ‘make no mistakes, just hold it where you are,’ and then they just blew it out of the water,” stated Guertin. “That’s what keeps you in it. All of these kids, for years and years, they work hard, they’re disciplined… I’m just so proud of them, you see them growing up, and it’s just such an honor.”
Marblehead led early on, however Amherst-Pelham surged forward within the 50-yard freestyle with the highest two instances from senior Lucy Smith (24.18) and Albertson (24.34), incomes 37 factors and leaping forward of Marblehead for the highest spot.
The Magicians additionally received the 200-yard medley relay staff, which posted a time of 1:50.89.
Source: www.bostonherald.com