Lady Wreckers get first win

The Staples girls swimming team got into the win column on Wednesday with a 101-82 victory at Norwalk (1-2) to raise its record to 1-2.

"It feels fantastic," Staples Coach Mike Laux said. "It was the biggest meet of the season for us because of all of the middle of the pack teams [Norwalk, Westhill and Ridgefield] in the FCIAC, Norwalk is the best team. This puts us in the right direction."

Lady Wreckers senior captain Molly Loftus said, "Norwalk gave us great competition and it felt really great to beat them this year and get our first win of the season. Everybody was feeding off of each other's energy and the team supporting each other and cheering each other on were the key to our success."

Depth propelled Staples to victory as it finished second and third or second and fourth in events it didn't win. Overall, the Lady Wreckers won seven events, including two relays. Sophomore Alexis Teixeira and freshmen Gabby LeBlanc, Verity Abel and junior Gabby Wimer carried the 200-yard medley relay team to victory with a time of 1:58.87 and Wimer, senior captain Stephanie Nussbaum, sophomore Sarah Cooperman and Loftus led the 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:47.65) to victory.

Abel won the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.28) and 100-yard backstroke (1:00.98). Teixeira took third in the 100-back (1:08.27), junior Caroline Valerio placed third in the 100-fly (1:08.1) and fourth in the 100-back (1:08.28) and sophomore Phoebe Corde was fifth in the 100-fly (1:15.56).

Senior captain Schaefer Andrews won diving with a personal-best 209.

"It's really exciting and I'm happy with how I did," Andrews said. "I knew the team needed me to do as well as I did, I worked hard for it and I'm glad I was able to do it."

Diving went well for Staples as junior Michelle Mastrianni (151) grabbed second and senior captain Margot Bruce (140) finished fourth.

The Lady Wreckers swept the 100-yard breaststroke with LeBlanc (1:14.78) reigning victorious. Sophomores Anita Voohra (1:17.75) and Patricia Maragos (1:20.19) took second and third, respectively.

Loftus led Staples in distance events by winning the 500-yard freestyle (5:24.12) and took second in the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.21). She won the 500-free by 12 seconds.

"Everybody was cheering us on, which helped me," Loftus said. "I lost in the 200 and I felt I had to redeem myself."

Nussbaum took third in the 200-free (2:20.89) and Cooperman placed third in the 500-free (5:49.04). Senior Caitlin Wiederecht was fourth in the 500-free (6:09.13).

Cooperman led the Lady Wreckers in the 200-yard individual medley (2:20.89) by powering her way into second place. LeBlanc (2:25.27) and Teixeira (2:35.52) were four-five in the 200-IM.

In sprinting events, Wimer led the way by taking second in the 50-yard freestyle (26.33) and in the 100-yard freestyle (57.57). Nussbaum took third in the 100-free (1:00.02) and sophomore Becca Rabb was fifth in the 50-free (28.78).

Norwalk won the 400-yard freestyle relay and Staples took second in it behind Nussbaum, Cooperman, Loftus and Abel (3:52.85).

The Lady Wreckers compete at Wilton today at 3:40 p.m. and face four teams at the Cheshire Invitational tomorrow at 3 p.m. For now, Staples is feeling good.

"It's a big win for us and it shows we have potential when we swim our best," Andrews said. "We did a very good job."