Generals rally back, but finish second in NEAC Championships

  • brian questel
  • January 12, 2012
  • 311
                        
011612 NEACgirls Promo: DQ proves costly as Wooster places second in NEAC Championships Generals rally back, but finish second in NEAC Championships By Brian Questel What the Northeast Aquatic Conference giveth, the NEAC taketh away. Boardman was the beneficiary of a Wooster false start Saturday (Jan. 7) and the Spartans rode that call to a narrow decision over the Wooster High girls’ swim team to win the 2012 NEAC title at Wooster’s Ellen Shapiro Natatorium. Two years ago, a Canfield false start in a relay paved the way for a victory for the Wooster boys, but the shoe was on the other foot for the General girls this season. That’s small measure to girls’ coach Chris Matthew, whose team lost the title by a single point two years ago and by 13 a year ago. With the loss of 32 points from the meet-opening 200-yard medley relay, the Generals tried hard but couldn’t overcome that loss of points. “We shoulda won the meet,” said Matthew. “I’m starting think we’re jinxed with this meet. I can’t be disappointed with how we swam, but we shoulda won. You can’t dwell on it.” Boardman won the meet with 393 points, followed by Wooster with 380. That was nearly 100 points more than Canfield in what turned out to be a two-team race, which had 286 points. Perry was fourth with 233, followed by Kent Roosevelt (215), Warren Harding (212), GlenOak (199) and Massillon (113) in the 8-team race. “The medley relay that was disqualified, that was their best time of season,” said Matthew of the 1:58.8, third-place clocking that was swept away. “Their splits were great (1:58.8) … and they nearly came back (to win the meet). The seniors were upset, but I told them, ‘Forget it and let’s move on.’” Wooster got off to a good start Friday evening when the Generals’ trio of divers all broke into the top 10. Senior Kate Persinger was fourth with a score of 257.80, while Lizzie Wagoner (210.50) and Nicki McElroy 200.40 placed seventh and eighth. “We got 38 diving points, which was great,” said Matthew. “Diving set us up. All three divers made all 11 dives and didn’t foul any. All three are new. I recruited two sophomores and Persinger is a beautiful diver, but she’s a totally new diver this year.” In the pool Saturday, Wooster won a pair of events event, with the first coming from sophomore Gabrielle Sibilia with her 25.76 effort in the 50 sprint. She contributed to the second win, with that coming in the 200 free relay as she joined Sydney Wenger, Persinger and Emily Cornelius with their 1:43.99 showing. “I was seeded first – I thought I could win,” said Sibilia, who has had a slow start this season due to a shoulder injury. “There were a lot of girls with 26s. (That 25.76) was my season best, but I haven’t done my best time yet (25.2). I think since I’m coming back from an injury, I’m happy with my time. Hopefully I’ll be back to 100 percent by the end of the season. “I had a decent time in the 200 free relay – I think I went 25-low and in the 100 backstroke I was seventh with a 1:05. That’s not my best, but I’ve been getting better. I’m up to 2,000 yards (training a day now) and I started at zero at the beginning of the season.” The 400 relay posted a second-place showing as freshmen Anna Tieche, Allyson Amstutz, Wenger and sophomore Madison Gingery sprinted to a 3:58.79 clocking. Cornelius’s 2:24.08 was good for the runner-up spot in the 200 IM, while Wenger claimed silver with her 56.96 clocking in the 100 free. In the 200 free, Wenger had a third in the 200 free (2:07.71) to cap Wooster’s medal showing. Cornelius’s runner-up spot in the IM continued a strong start to her season. She was also fourth in the breaststroke, dropping over a second off her previous best time and ending with a time of 1:11.04. She also had a PB split in the relay. “I think the swim program I did over the summer and the practices this year have helped,” said Cornelius, who said she put more work in over the summer as well. “It’s the same thing we’ve been doing. I’m (physically) catching up to the work I’ve done the past three years. We’ve done more dry-land (workouts) and muscle-wise it’s helped. You can do only so much with (improved) technique … that strength has helped me drop time.” She was happy with her breaststroke time, saying, “I had good competition and that helps you race. We were all in a good mindset. This is one of those meets you get psyched up for. I usually hit good times at NEACs. I’m excited for sectionals and districts. With a taper, I’m hoping to do really well. That’s what we train for all year.” Amstutz picked up a pair of fourths to help highlight the freshman’s day, turning a 2:08.95 in the 200 free and going a PB 5:40.89 in the 500. “It’s definitely different going from the Y to high school because it’s more of a team sport and you’re trying to win for the team,” said Amstutz. “(The upperclassmen) are all supportive and we support each other because we’re trying to get the most points for the team. That makes me a better swimmer. “I’m never happy because I know I can be a lot better, but overall those are decent times. It feels good to get fourths. I’d rather have firsts, but as a freshman I’m pleased with how I did.” Sibilia added a seventh to her day’s work in the 100 back (1:05.73), while freshman Lindsay McMichael turned in a time of 5:50.51 for seventh in the 500. The Generals added a handful of eighths to the scoring column as Jillian Perry had a 26.88 in the 50; Lauren Miller went 1:08.91 in the 100 fly, Tieche nearly broke one minute in the 100 free (1:00.69) and Danielle Tooley turned in a time of 1:15.32 in the 100 breast. Despite a number of solid performances, the one win the eluded the Generals put a damper on that. “They felt bad about that,” said Matthew, but also noted the attention now turns to this weekend’s OCC meet that will also be held in Wooster. “When you look at our top scorers, it was basically freshman,” she said. “Freshmen were the bulk of our relays and they stepped up and did well. Emily Cornelius continued her strong start in the IM and her breaststroke time was a great time. Gab’s had a 25.7 (in the 50) from a flat start and (sophomore) Madison Gingery swam well. “We’re still a young team. Kate Persinger did a great job diving, but we only have three seniors, which means next year we’ll only continue to get better because we’re young.”


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