Sports
Holliston Swimming Defeated by Norton High
The Panthers fell to the Lancers 102-84 in a Tri-Valley League matchup.
It was a day of firsts and new records for the Norton Lancers in their meet against . Getting two new school records and winning two meets in a row for the first time in team history, the Lancers defeated the Holliston Panthers for the first time ever 102-84.
Olivia Karcis continued to play a major role for the Lancers as the junior swam to victory in the 100 yard backstroke (1:07.20), and was a part of the school record-breaking 200 yard medley (1:59.15). The team also included Anthony Kennedy, Alex Belinsky and Spencer Schute.
Nina Sparre was able to get a win for Holliston in the 200 freestyle (1:08.94) beating out Norton standout Maddie Thomson (2:12.73). Sparr also picked up a second place finish in the 100 butterfly (1:10.10).
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“She’s (Sparre) been training really hard. She’s first in the pool last out and its really paying off,” Holliston head coach Charlotte Rea said.
Belinsky defeated Sparr with a time of 2:02.21 to get the win for the Lancers' in the 100 butterfly.
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“He’s (Belinsky) a very strong swimmer with a big future ahead,” said Norton head coach Kim Bray.
Danielle Potemri won the 500 freestyle (6:28.59) for the Panthers but the big news from the race was the new school record for Norton's Eric Sanford. Despite a second place finish, Sanford’s time of 6:43.27 was good enough to break the previous record.
The Lancers’ diving team continued to make progress as David Aranjo placed second in the one meter dive with 148.55 points.
“These kids (diving team) have worked very very hard. I’m thrilled,” Bray said.
With last minute changes in the Holliston lineup placing swimmers in unfamillar events, the Panthers were still able to force a 63-63 tie late in the meet. With only four events to go, a victory in the 200 freestyle relay from the team of Shute, Karcis, Thomson, and Belinsky (1:50.63), Karcis' 100 backstroke win, and a first place by Kennedy in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:16.14) locked up the meet going into the final event.
The Panthers’s relay team of Ryan McGee, Coen, Rachel Dinehart and Sparre took the 400 freestyle relay (4:07.15) to wrap up the meet, but it was not enough to overcome the Lancers’ rally.
The Lancers will be back in the pool on Monday, Dec. 9 at Taunton High School while the Panthers will host Dover-Sherborn Regional High School Friday, Jan. 13.