CAMBRIDGE — Depth has been the calling card for the Wellesley ladies swimming and diving workforce over its current stretch of dominance, however on the largest stage, the celebs made positive to go away their mark for one more state title Saturday morning.
The Raiders took gold in six occasions and silver in three extra within the Div. 2 state championships at MIT, pacing 426 factors they used to win a 3rd straight state title — their fourth in 5 seasons. Runner-up Chelmsford completed with 229.5.
Anna McGrew led the way in which as a double-winner within the 50-yard freestyle (23.58 seconds) and 100-yard freestyle (51.53) particular person occasions, and competed on the 200-yard freestyle (1:40.44) and 400-yard freestyle (3:42.00) relay groups that additionally took gold. Add the 200-yard medley workforce’s profitable time of 1:51.59 to mark a sweep within the relays for a second straight yr, and Elena Dudkina’s win within the 200-yard particular person medley (2:13.34) rounded out this system’s prime finishes.
Wakefield took third with 219 factors, Belmont was fourth with 195 factors, and North Andover (184) positioned fifth.
“When you have combined depth and star power, it’s a pretty lethal force — especially with the relays,” mentioned Wellesley coach Doug Curtin, who credit the construct of this system to former longtime coach Jen Dutton. “(Sweeping the relays) is a huge deal for points and everything else like that. And we have seniors leading the charge. We have a couple freshmen, sophomores, juniors that are first time in the spotlight, but they know they’ve got the seniors to have their backs. It’s a team effort.”
“Just coming here with the support of my team, it made (another title) really special,” McGrew added. “We’re just so proud of each other.”
In Dutton’s closing yr (2021), the Raiders wanted only one occasion crown to take the state title due to a bevy of top-five finishes. Every relay workforce soared to wins in final yr’s championship, although, whereas Naomi Boegholm stole the present as a senior double-winner.
That paved the way in which for McGrew to see what’s doable, and he or she ran away with it for her first particular person championships to set one other instance of how success is handed on by the Raiders program.
“There are girls who are working day in and day out to be the best,” she mentioned. “Having people like Naomi on the team has at least shown me the possibilities of this sport when you apply yourself. Being on a team with (this) depth, it shows girls who might not have thought of themselves as athletes … to be able to do something if they work hard.”
The solely different double-winner of the women’ meet was North Andover’s Hannah Wieczorek, who took the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.76) and the 100-yard backstroke (56.17). She gained the occasions in 2021 as nicely, however took final yr off through the recruitment course of.
“Coming back as a senior is a different perspective, but it’s really exciting,” she mentioned. “I was just trying to have fun, mainly.”
The Milton boys gained their first title in the identical meet with 225 factors, edging North Andover’s 184 factors. Jackson Wagner was a double-winner within the 100-yard freestyle (48.06) and the 100-yard backstroke (56.47).
Source: www.bostonherald.com
