Madison High School Girls Swimming Falls To Roxbury

RANDOLPH – Caroline Brennan and Courtney McKinnon each won two individual events, but it wasn't enough for the Madison High School girls swim team against Roxbury Wednesday afternoon.

The Gaels won, 94-76, in the NJAC-Southern I Division meet at the West Morris Area YMCA.

Roxbury took control in the early races, jumping out to a 29-17 lead after three events. The Gaels took first and third in the 200-meter medley relay, and Ashley Singewald won the 200-meter freestyle in comfortable fashion (2 minutes, 27.96 seconds) over Courtney Halgren, who finished second in 2:42.39.

Madison head coach Al Ledgin attributed part of his team's slow start to confusion as to the start time of the 3 p.m. meet.

"I'm on a little bit of a rampage," Ledgin said. "We thought the meet started at 2:30, and were sitting around. We only got to warm up for 15 minutes, and you need at least a half-hour. I think it affected us at the start."

The Dodgers (0-3) picked up their first winners in the 200-meter individual medley – McKinnon in 2:37.39 – and the 100-meter butterfly – Brennan in 1:11.20. But Roxbury's depth allowed them to maintain their overall team lead, 45-33, through five events.

"We should've been closer early on," Ledgin said. "There were a number of places we could've gotten points. We lost a lot of close races in the first half of the meet."

Roxbury's lead stretched to 56-38 after placing first, third and fourth in the 100-meter freestyle before McKinnon, a senior, and Brennan, a junior, took over the second half of the meet.

"Caroline and Courtney did what we expect of them," Ledgin said. "They didn't swim their best times today, but they didn't need to. They swam fast enough to win."

McKinnon won the 400-meter freestyle in 4:55.82, edging out Singewald by two seconds. After the Dodgers took first place in the 200-meter freestyle relay, Brennan earned a win in the 100-meter backstroke (1:13.35). Madison also took third place in each of those races, bringing them within 72-68 with two races to go. But the comeback was not to be.

"We've got two year-round swimmers, which makes it tough for us," Ledgin said. "But they do what we ask of them. They try hard, they want to win and they give their best effort."

Roxbury's Alexa Mignon won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:28.75, and Taylor McEwan effectively ended Madison's hopes of winning by finishing second. The 1-2 finish gave Roxbury a near-unassailable 84-72 lead. The Gaels also won the 400-meter freestyle relay to provide the final margin of victory.

ROXBURY 94, MADISON 76

200 Medley Relay- 1. Roxbury, 2:21.50 / Roxbury 10, Madison 4

200 Freestyle- 1. Ashley Singewald (Roxbury), 2:27.96 / Roxbury 20, Madison 10

200 Individual Medley- 1. Courtney McKinnon (Madison), 2:37.39 / Roxbury 29, Madison 17

50 Freestyle- 1. Torie Miller (Roxbury), 30.40 / Roxbury 37, Madison 25

100 Butterfly- 1. Caroline Brennan (Madison), 1:11.20 / Roxbury 45, Madison 33

100 Freestyle- 1. Miller (Roxbury), 1:08.44 / Roxbury 56, Madison 38

400 Freestyle- 1. McKinnon (Madison), 4:55.82 / Roxbury 61, Madison 49

200 Freestyle Relay- 1. Madison (Brennan, Casey Reeve, Brenna Anderson, McKinnon), 2:11.37 / Roxbury 65, Madison 59

100 Backstroke- 1. Brennan, 1:13.35 / Roxbury 72, Madison 68

100 Breaststroke- 1. Alexa Mignon (Roxbury), 1:28.75 / Roxbury 84, Madison 72

400 Freestyle Relay- 1. Roxbury, 4:36.09 / Roxbury 94, Madison 76