Bethel Swim Team Drop First Meet, 97-82

The Bethel High Swim team opened their 2011-12 season with a 97-82 loss to the Green Wave of New Milford. Coach Katie McGowan has 36 swimmers on the roster this year; 11 boys and 25 girls; competing in one of the top conferences in Connecticut.

Despite the first meet setback, six swimmers have qualified for 11 events in the SWC Championships in March and four girls qualified for the Splash Classic in late February. The Splash Classic is a state meet for the top female swimmers competing in the Boys season.

Senior captain Kevin Gallagher started off the season with a strong first place finish in the 100 freestyle with a :57.92 time. He also gathered a second place finish in the 200 freestyle. Tucker Bjornson, a sophomore who placed 11th in the state last year finished first place in the 100 backstroke with an excellent 1:03.50 and gathered a second place in the 200 IM.

Scoring points for the Wildcats were Olivia Wootton, an outstanding freshman who took 2nd in the 100 Back and a 3rd in 200 free; Sarah Whalen, who just finished a state open qualifying cross country season, added a pair of 3rd places in the 200 IM and 500 free; junior Kenny Darrah finished 2nd in the 500 free and sophomore James Canfield collected a 3rd place in the 100 fly. Senior captain Katie Bozzuti also added a pair of 5th places in the 200 and 500 free.

The next meet is Tuesday, Dec. 20 at New Fairfield. The new 46 page 2012 BHS Swimming & Diving Info books are almost complete, anyone interested in all the history, photos and everything BHS Swimming, they will be available at all meets. Any donations for the books go to the alumni meet as well as the post-season Zowine Award donation to the Children’s Tumor Foundation. 

Note: The BHS Alumni meet has been changed to Friday, Dec. 30 at WCSU starting at 5 p.m. All BHS alumni are invited to swim, please contact Bob Rogers at boorogers@att.net to RSVP.