The members of the Girls Swim team proved they are coming out strong this season, as they won their first meet against Morristown 112-58 on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
“With the team changing conferences, there is definitely a lot more pressure to overcome this year, but I have faith in the team,” senior co-captain Livia Fontes said.
The Rams started off strong with a win in the 200-medley relay. Senior captain Ana Saguillo Leppanen, sophomore Alba Noora Saguillo Leppanen and juniors Peyton Enama and Alivia Wright were able to make this win happen.
Wright also went back-to-back and got another win in the 200 freestyle. Freshman Taylor Holzman went 1-2 and got second place, helping to gain more points for the team.
Freshman Julianna Young and Ana Saguillo Leppanen went 1-2 in the 200 individual medley (IM), out-touching Morristown with times of 2:39.38 and 2:41.69 (meters).
The girls finished the first half with an exciting 50 free. Junior Sydney Wright got first with a 28.91, freshman Ashley McDonnell got third with a time of 29.86 and freshman Ateesa Mulondo came in with a close fourth. The Rams were now speeding into the second half of the meet with a lead.
“I feel like it took a while for everyone to familiarize themselves, but we have all been able to bond over the sport and support each other,” Fontes said.
The girls moved into a nail-biting 100 free, with S. Wright, McDonnell and freshman Reese Nelson going 1-2-3 in the event.
Moving into the relays, Ana Saguillo Leppanen, Young, A. Wright and S. Wright got first in the 200 free relay; while freshman Angelica Sandoval, senior co-captain Kisa Mulondo, Nelson and McDonnell placed third.
The team saw dominant performances in the 100 backstroke from Ana Saguillo Leppanen, with a time of 1:14.17, and 100 breaststroke from Young, getting a time of 1:20.27.
“The energy increased, with everyone cheering louder and motivating each other throughout the meet,” Ana Saguillo Leppanen said.
The Rams finished the meet with the 400 free relay. McDonnell, Enama, Young and Wright got an easy win, proving the Rams dominance. Freshman Emily Dalton, A. Mulondo, Holtzman and Ana Saguillo Leppanen came in behind to get second. The final young relay team of freshman Amelia Williams, Sandoval, K Mulondo, and freshman Einav Knollcame in fourth.
“Our next goals are to improve personal bests, strengthen the team bond and make it further into our championship season than we did last year,” Ana Saguillo Leppanen said.
Come support Girls Swim at the team’s next meet against Morris Knolls today, Wednesday, Dec. 18.
