Fourth doesnt cast a shadow on Generals NEAC performance
Brian Questel
January 11, 2011
310
011711 NEACgirls
Promo: Fourth, but plenty of positives for Wooster swimmers
Fourth doesnt cast a shadow on Generals NEAC performance
By Brian Questel
Wooster High girls swim coach Chris Matthew knew that the Northeast Aquatic Conference was going to be close and she was spot on with that observation.
But, rather than worry about where her team would place, Matthew was hoping for her team to regroup and compete, and that was what was delivered during the NEAC Swimming and Diving Championships at Wooster last Friday and Saturday.
Canfield blitzed the field Friday night during the diving competition and made that early lead stand en route to 350.5 points and a 20-point win over GlenOak. The Golden Eagles edged Boardman (322) and the fourth-place Generals, who closed with 310.5 points. Kent Roosevelt had 294, followed by Perry (179), Massillon (170) and Warren Harding (104).
It was exactly what I thought it would be, said Matthew. Give me one more diver, and take away Madison Gingerys false start 200 free, and I think we could have been second. Kara Dagley is going on (the Wooster) Rotary trip and they had a function. That was 25 points right there, so I think we could have been second. I dont think we could have beaten Canfield. They got 48 points in diving; they went 1-2, with a freshman winning, and fifth. That was 20, 16 and 12 points to our nine. I dont think anyone could have beaten them.
We swam extremely well though, praised Matthew. Madison dropped almost three seconds (in her 200 free race in which she was disqualified). She works hard and the girls across board swam great. They were pumped up and we improved on a lot of things. We raced. Our relays were solid, now we just have to get our medley all swimming well on the same day. On Saturday our first two legs were fast and our second two were not. Hopefully well get all four swimming fast on the same day and that will happen soon.
Woosters best showings on the day were a pair of seconds, the first belonging to Kate Persinger in the 50 free (26.40) and the 200 free relay of Jillian Perry, Kim Sibilia, Persinger and Gabrielle Sibilia as they churned to a 1:45.72.
That 200 free relay was our best time of the season with Perry, Persinger, Gabby and Kim, said Matthew. That relay has a lot of potential. Kate Persinger had a great meet, Jillian had a great meet, Madison was excellent, Kylie McMichael had one of her best times and Lauren Miller had a breakout 100 fly, which fun to see. Shes gone faster in her breast, but that time is coming on.
The Generals logged fourths in the 200 medley relay with a 2:00.49 behind the relay of Gabby Sibilia, Emily Cornelius, Michelle Sczpanski and Persinger, and the 400 relay of Kim Sibilia, Sczpanski, Perry and Gingery (4:01.99). Sczpanski was also fourth in the 500 (5:42.16) and sixth in the 200 free (2:07.32), which were both season-best times for her.
Fifths went to Perry in the 50 (26.85), Kim Sibilia in the 100 free (58.49) and Gabby Sibilia in the 100 back (1:07.59). Wooster had two placers in the 100 breast as Cornelius was sixth (1:15.72) and Tooley seventh (1:16.22), while Cornelius was also eighth in the 200 IM.
Michelle Sczpanski was sick two days with a fever and she pops two season-best times, said Matthew. Her fourth was her highest ever place in the NEAC meet. Thats fun for a senior. Shes our only senior so that bodes well for next year.
Matthew spent time getting her squad regrouped for this meet.
They had great swims, said Matthew, who noted a number of personal-bests. I got them pumped up and talked to them about the fact they were all capable of swimming better. We had a team meeting, watched diving and hung out and got pumped.
Everyone of our kids are already thinking about the OCC. Showed up and used work theyve done, day-in and day-out, and were focused. They really cheered each other on. With a small team, if were not cheering, no ones cheering. We were a unified team on Saturday.
Across the board, we swam well. I was pleased.
The OCC diving was held at Wooster Friday night, with swimming beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mansfield Malabar.
