On Tuesday, November 5, at the FCIAC Girls Swimming Championships, DHS swimmers and divers captured a title that has eluded the team since 2014 – FCIAC Champion. 2019 marks only the fifth time that DHS has earned the top spot in Fairfield County (2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014).
The Blue Wave (335 points) beat its closest competitors – Greenwich (303) and Staples (288) - by a large margin and the victory was truly a team effort. Lexi Punishill led her team with a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle. Punishill also delivered for the Blue Wave as a member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. DHS finished first in both events.
Following the competition, six Blue Wave swimmers were named to the All-FCIAC Team including Lily Bradbury, Natalia Ferranto, Olivia Golden, Kendall Luecke, Lexi Punishill and Maggie Sedlak. Darien also received the award for FCIAC East Division champion in recognition of an undefeated regular season.
The Post-season continues for the Blue Wave Team at the Class L Diving Championships (Nov. 14, Middletown, 5:30pm); the Class L Swimming Trials (Nov. 16, West Hartford, 3:15pm) and at the Class L Swimming Championships (Nov. 20, Wesleyan, 7pm). The season concludes with the State Open Diving Championships (Nov. 21, Middletown, 5:30pm) and the State Open Swimming Championships (Nov. 24, Yale, 2pm).
Photo #1: DHS Swim and Dive Team Celebrates after being named 2019 FCIAC Champions (credit: Lauren Spataro)
Photo #2: DHS placed six swimmers on the All-FCIAC team including (L to R) Natalia Ferranto, Maggie Sedlak, Lexi Punishill, Lily Bradbury, Kendall Luecke, and Olivia Golden (credit: Julie Punishill)
FCIAC GIRLS SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team standings
1. Darien 335 points
2. Greenwich 303
3. Staples 288
4. New Canaan 241
5. Wilton 229
6. Ridgefield 227
7. Trumbull 202
8. Norwalk-McMahon 122.50
10. Westhill-Stamford 88
11. Fairfield Ludlowe 80
12. St. Joseph 59
Individual Results: (Championship Heat #1 - #8; Consolation Heat #9 – #16)
200-yard medley relay:
5. Olivia Golden, Emma Mansourian, Hope Murray, Natalia Ferranto, 1:49.76
200-yard freestyle:
3. Kendall Luecke, 1:54.67
6. Golden, 1:57.47
10. Sedlak, 1:56.93
200-yard individual medley:
7. Mansourian, 2:14.80
10. Meg Erickson, 2:15.06
13. Gracie Spataro, 2:17.00
50 freestyle:
2. Ferranto, 24.22
3. Lexi Punishill, 24.23
10. Lily Bradbury, 24.89
15. Sloane Latimer, 25.39
1-Meter Diving: (contested on Monday, November 4 at the New Canaan YMCA)
5. Lilly Wurm (408.10)
13. Lana Schmidt (374.50)
16. Emma Hunter (355.20)
100 butterfly:
10. Murray, 59.58
12. Sedlak, 1:00.11
100 freestyle:
1. Punishill, 52.82
10. Bradbury, 54.67
12. Ferranto, 55.14
13. Latimer, 55.25
500 freestyle:
6. Spataro, 5:15.73
9. Luecke, 5:15.61
10. Erickson, 5:17.83
12. Murray, 5:21.83
200 freestyle relay:
1. Punishill, Bradbury, Ferranto, Luecke, 1:37.28
100 backstroke: 5. Golden, 58.01
100 breaststroke: 8. Mansourian, 1:08.87
400 freestyle relay:
1. Punishill, Sedlak, Golden, Luecke, 3:33.45