Lincoln-Sudbury Girls Swim Team Starts New Season With a Victory

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was submitted to Sudbury Patch.)

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Atkinson Pool, the LS girls swim team kicked off their 2012-2013 season with a win against The Winsor Wildcats 87-71.  The LS girls showed their depth and talents by winning first and second place in the 200 medley relay.  The relay team of Leah McCabe, freshman Catherine Thomas, Ansely Baker and freshman Katherine O'Shea came in first with a state qualifying time of 2:02.59.  Coming in second with a sectionals qualifying time of 2:08.47 was Ann-Marie Billig, Caroline Hutlin, and freshmen Shannon Johnson and Michela Eckhouse.

Catherine MacKeen owned the 200 freestyle race and opened up her senior year season with a win and a state qualifying time of 2:09.15.  Eckhouse a new freshman swimmer placed second with the time of 2:16.52.

Alicia Perry swam the 200 yard individual medley with a decisive win,  also, kicking off her season with a state qualifying time of 2:21.71.  Coming in second was Emily Huang and third was Shannon Johnson providing LS with a sweep of this event.

Katherine O'Shea is the one to watch, she was the clear winner of the 50 yard freestyle race and earned a state qualifying time of 25.45, a great accomplishment for a freshman swimmer.  Caroline Thomas, also a freshman placed third in this event.

Kim Yang, Clara Shealy and Emma Jarczyk all put up some great scores in the diving competition.

Alicia Perry won the 100 butterfly race with a sectional qualifying time of 1:08.05 followed by Michela Eckhouse placing second with the time of 1:11.78.

Ansley Baker won the 100 freestyle swim with an impressive state qualifying time of 57.04 followed by Ann-Marie Billig who had a great swim in this event.

Jenny Genovese won the grueling 500 yard freestyle race.  Sammi Alarie, Lexi Barrera and Bella Borg also swam this most challenging race and finished with impressive times.

The girls 200 freestyle relay team of MacKeen, McCabe, O'Shea and Perry were powerful in the water.  They made a state qualifying time and are determined to improve each week in this event.
Emily Huang, Caroline Hutlin, Ingrid Hjerpe and Danielle Gyory all swam well and placed third in this event.

O'Shea easily swam the 100 backstroke way ahead of the pack and for the third time made a state qualifying time cut with the time of 1:03.17.  Ann-Marie Billig placed third and made the sectional cut with the time of 1:09.67.

Ansley Baker, an impressive breaststroker, was the clear winner coming close to breaking the LS girls record in this event, and earning her third state qualifying time in her first meet of the season with a time of 1:09.24.  Jillian Rastinejad placed third.

The final event of the day was the 400 freestyle relay.  The team of Thomas, Baker, Perry and MacKeen were the clear winners and again earned a state qualifying time of 4:05.84.  Huang, eckhouse, Barrera and Genovese came in second with a state qualifying time as well.

The LS girls will travel with the boys team on Friday, Dec. 7, at 7 pm to face the Concord Carlisle Patriots.