Mount St. Dominic swimming team rides the wave to end 25-26 season

The Mount St. Dominic girls swimming team finished the season on a high note.

After falling in the Non Public North state tournament, the Lions defeated Glen Ridge, 104-66, on Feb. 4 at the Boys and Girls Club in Clifton.

Mount St. Dominic finished the season with a 3-6 dual match record.

The Lions top-heavy lineup won nine of the 11 events against the Ridgers.

Lions head coach Jane Sungorov said that she was impressed on how her team rebounded after the 98-72 defeat at Mount St. Mary in the state tournament opener.

"Against Glen Ridge the girls swam much better," said Sungorov. "They were more determined and also it was our senior day. We had more second, third and fourth place finishes which helped."

Individually it was freshman duo of Noelle Rivera-Castro and Ashlyn Reeber, both brought home first place finishes in their top events. Reeber, who is a DePaul student and swims for Mount St. Dominic, took home gold in the match at 100 backstroke (1:04.12) and 100 butterfly (1:01.22). And Rivera-Castro grabbed first in the 200 individual medley (2:22.45) and the 500 freestyle (5:46.01).

In addition junior Alexa Whitworth and Sonia Jagen took the sprints with wins in the 50 meter (28.68) and 100 meter (59.77) freestyle races respectively.

The Lions also did very well in the relays. The team of junior Sonia Jagen, Rivera-Castro, junior Leila Colon and Reeber started the match very well in winning the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:00.32. Mount St. Dominic added the group of River-Castro, Whitworth, Jagen and Reeber in taking the 200 freestyle relay with a mark of 1:58.10.

Rivera-Castro and Reeber were invited to the NJSIAA Individual State Meet of Champions.