Young Girls Swim Team Has a Tough Act to Follow

With a dozen swimmers having graduated since the Blue Wave's 2009 FCIAC and state championship season, the girls swim team has had a lot of roster spots to fill this fall.

Into that wake have stepped 13 first-years and one sophomore, resulting in a varsity squad with the highest number of freshmen Coach Marj Trifone could recall.

"We lost just about half the team, and while this year's team has more depth, it won't have as many front-line swimmers," Trifone said.

Those freshmen bring talent and a work ethic that will serve them well in dual meets, Trifone said, but that might not carry them through post-season competition.

"They're just about at the same level as our seniors were in their freshman year," Trifone added. 

As if winning two championships weren't enough, 2009 also marked the first time Darien had beaten Greenwich in 35 years. But last year's accomplishments are in the scrapbook, and the Wave will be hard-pressed to repeat.

"We've always been strong in the free-style events and weaker in the breast stroke," co-captain Catherine Treesh, a free-styler, said. "This year will be different, where our strength should be in the breast stroke. We should also be strong in the [individual medleys]."

"It's more important to be strong in the free, because six of the 12 events are freestyle," co-captain Lindsay Tyler added.

Co-captain said Amy Sanborn said she "definitely feel[s] stronger after lifting all spring and summer" and spending many hours in the pool on the off-season.

In addition to its four co-captains—Adrianna Baker being the fourth—the team will draw strength from senior Caitlin Shea; juniors Caroline Kearney, Rebecca Liu, Cammie Kirby, and Chapin Tricarico; and sophomores Olivia Leunis, and Caroline Orem.

The diving program lost Class M champion Lexi Leinroth to graduation, but the squad remains strong with the help of senior Lexi Ashcraft, sophomore—and Lexi's sister—Caroline Ashcraft, and Baker. Trifone said she thinks her divers will be one of the stronger teams in the FCIAC.

Trifone and her captains said they expect the major competition this year to come from Greenwich, New Canaan, Wilton, and Cheshire. Darien (8-1 last season) opens at Fairfield Warde on Wednesday.

Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified Caitlin Shea as a junior. She is in fact a senior. Patch regrets the error.