Trumbull splashes Lady Wreckers

Despite falling short on the scoreboard at Trumbull Friday, the Staples girls swimming team has its heads held high.

Staples ended its dual meet season with a 117-69 loss and finished the dual meet season at 3-7. The Lady Wreckers fell short because Trumbull is deeper and they accrued their record because they swim in the most competitive conference in the state (five to eight FCIAC teams are expected to place in the top 10 at State Open).

"We swam well and we had some good races," Staples coach Mike Laux said.

Lady Wreckers senior captain Caroline Valerio said, "It was a good effort. As Laux said, we have a difficult schedule and our team did the best we could. We did a good job overall."

Sophomore Verity Abel won two events for Staples and her victories were the team's only first-place finishes.

"That was exciting," Abel said. "I was happy with what I achieved in both races."

Abel's first victory came in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:58.

"I just tried to pace myself and not go too fast [for the first 150 yards], but in the final 50, I tried to bring it hard and go as fast as I could," Abel said.

Her other victory was in the 500-yard freestyle (5:15).

`I tried to keep my strokes long and have a regular breathing pattern, but at the same time, not take it too easy," Abel said.

Junior Sarah Cooperman took third in the 500-free (5:40) and fourth in the 200-free (2:05.8).

The Lady Wreckers started the meet well by taking second and third in the 200-yard medley relay. Junior Alexis Teixeira, sophomore Gabbie LeBlanc, Valerio and junior Rebecca Raab took second (2:01) in the 200-medley relay, while freshman Stacy Kaneko, junior Anita Vohra, freshman Jordan Santarella and senior Gabby Wimer finished third.

Wimer placed second in the 50-yard freestyle (26.4) and 100-yard freestyle (57.5). Raab was fourth (27.6) in the 50-free and Kaneko took fourth in the 100-free (59.4).

The Lady Eagles swept the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly. LeBlanc (2:25) and Santarella (2:27) were four-five in the 200-IM. Valerio (1:05) and Santarella (1:07) were four-five in the 100-fly.

Senior captain Michelle Mastrianni took second in diving (159.7). Mastrianni is pleased with how the two rookie divers have done all year and freshman Olivia Crosby (147.2) and sophomore Anna Violette (144) were four-five against Trumbull.

"I was happy with myself and feel the divers came a long way and wowed everyone," Mastrianni said.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Raab, Kaneko, Santarella and Abel took second (1:48). Wimer, Kaneko, Cooperman and Abel placed second in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:50).

Kaneko (1:07), Teixeira (1:08.2) and Valerio (1:08.2) took second, fourth and fifth, respectively in the 100-yard backstroke. LeBlanc (1:16), Vohra (1:17) and junior Patricia Maragos (1:18) were three-four-five in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Next up for Staples is the FCIAC championship meet. Trials are tomorrow and finals are Saturday at Greenwich.

"It's an exciting part of the year," Laux said. "We will be ready for trials. We hope to finish in the top 10 because there are a lot of teams that are strong."

Mastrianni said, "I just want to place well and do better than I did in previous years. I hope the other divers do well."

Valerio said, "Championships is promising and I'm looking forward to trials."