Four new records set as Katonah Swim and Dive Team win their first meet of the season

The Katonah Swim and Dive Team (KSDT) kicked off its 2014 season on July 1st with a 286-246 victory over new-to-Division I Briarcliff Manor. Tightly-contested right up to the Freestyle events, the season-opening meet showcased four new records set for Katonah and four triple winners. Kerry Kelly broke not one but two records in backstroke and butterfly while winning every single one of her events.

“Kerry just moved up to the 15-18 year old age group,” said head swim coach Jessica Frank. “She broke a 7-year old record in back, an 8-year old record in fly, a terrific accomplishment at her age.”

Continuing where they left off last year, sisters Elodie and Inez Nix led the Katonah divers, with Elodie taking 1st in both the 13 & under and 18U & under events. Elodie’s total dive score of 120.00 shattered her own record of 111.10 set just last year. Inez took second in the 13 & under event, and 3rd in the 18 & under. Also earning points for Katonah were Dakota Adamec (4th, 18 & under) and Matt Dunworth(4th18 & under).

The swimmers headed into the water and the 8 & under swimmers put Katonah on the board right away in the backstroke. Jessica Crane and Lily O’Shaughnessy took 2nd and 3rd, while Michael O’Donnell and Luke Spieler finished 1-2 for the boys in the 8 & under event. Not to be out-done, the 10 and under girls also completed a 1-2 finish by Kate Buckley and Samantha Spieler. It would be the last first-place finish for Katonah until the boys 14 & under. Scott Esposito and Jeremy Kramer swam to second and third place for the boys 10 & under, Lily Buckley and Erin Wolter took 3rd and 4th for girls 12 & under, Kevin Crane earned 2nd in 12 & under, and Hailey Ivey and Molly Siegel secured 2nd and 4th place finishes.

The 14 &under boys started the first place run, with Sam Sweeney earning the top spot, with Brian Crane taking 3rd and Jack Buckley 4th. The 18 & under girls Kerry Kelly, Mary Helen Baudinet and Lauren Wolter put the first Katonah sweep of the day on the books, inspiring their male counterparts to quickly do the same. Michael Baudinet, Liam Hackett and Greg Markert finished 1-2-3 to cap off an exciting backstroke for Katonah.

The score remaining a mystery, the teams headed into Breaststroke. First places finishes were few for the Katonah team, with only Rowan Pedraza (8 & under) and Kate Buckley (10 & under) taking the precious points for first place. But second place can be special too, as Liam Hackett broke his own 
Katonah team record for boys 18 & under breast stroke with a 1:13.25 time in his second place finish.

Other swimmers earning points for Katonah in breast include Lily O’Shaughnessy (2nd), Elizabeth Gaza (4th) and Luke Spieler (2nd) for 8 & under, Jeremy Kramer (2nd) and Cody Siegel (3rd) for 10 & under, Linn Carbaugh (3rd), Maya Luongo (4th) and and Kevin Crane (2nd) for 12 & under, Hailey Ivey (2nd), Molly Siegel (3rd) and Jack Buckley (3rd) in 14 & under, and Rachel Bernheimer (4th) and Kaz Sampson (3rd) for 18 & under.

No score was announced, but Katonah knew they had to be behind with only two first-places in breast. Could they pull a little closer after butterfly? The 10 & under girls did their part, sweeping their event with a 1-2-3 by Allison Altholz, Claire Gaza and Samantha Spieler. The boys 8 & under Michael O’Donnell and Rowan Pedraza took 1-2, as did the 14 & under boys Sam Sweeney and Jack Buckley. But the highlight was 18 & under Kerry Kelly, who broke the third team record of the day with a 36.00 time, grabbing her second 1st place honor of the meet. Michael Baudinet and Greg Markert wrapped up the place honor of the meet. Michael Baudinet and Greg Markert wrapped up the butterfly event with a 1-2 finish for Katonah.

Freestyle started with the swimmers still unaware of the scores. Once again the 8 & under kids earned points for Katonah, with a 1-2 finish for Michael O’Donnell and Rowan Pedraza and a 1-3 finish for Jessica Crane and Lily O’Shaughnessy. That was Michael’s third 1st place of the meet. The 10 & under girls once again swept an event, with a 1-2-3 finish for Kate Buckley, Claire Gaza and Samantha Spieler – earning Kate Buckley triple-winner honors. The boys answered back with Scott Esposito and Jeremy Kramer claiming the 1st  and 2nd spots. Katonah could feel the tide change.  And FINALLY the score was announced: Katonah 208, Briarcliff 202. 

That’s all the 12 & under girls needed to hear. Lily Buckley, Erin Wolter and Maya Luongo swam to a 1-2-3 finish which the team knew gave them a little breathing room. And then every heat but one earned a first place finish for Katonah! Kevin Crane (12 & under), Sam Sweeny (14 & under), Kerry Kelly (18 & under) and Kaz Sampson (18& under) all grabbed first place. The 18 & under boys swept their second event of the meet with Liam Hackett (2nd) and Greg Markert (3rd) capping off the Freestyle event.

One of Katonah’s strengths is their relay teams, and tonight did not disappoint. All four Katonah relays earned first place, propelling the team to its first victory of the 2014 season. The winning relays were: Kate Buckley, Claire Gaza, Allie Driesen and Maya Lunogo (11 & under girls); Paul Esposito, Cody Siegel, Jeremy Kramer and Scott Esposito (11 & under boys); Hailey Ivey, Lauren Wolter, Lily Buckley and Kerry Kelly (15 & under girls); Brian Crane, Sam Sweeney, Jack Buckley and Kaz Sampson (15 & under boys). Jessica Crane, Allison Altholz, Lucy Durkin, Samantha Spieler (2nd, 11 & under girls) also posted points for Katonah.

“It was great to see all the swimmers and divers come together for the first meet of the season, said Coach Frank. “Watching everyone cheer on their teammates and show off their talents was great. I was impressed by our younger swimmers who performed very well in the meet overall."

The final score was Katonah 270, Briarcliff Manor 234.

Triple winners:
Kate Buckley: Backstroke, Breaststroke, Freestyle (10 & under)
Michael Baudinet: Backstroke, Butterfly, Freestyle (18 & under)
Kerry Kelly: Backstroke (record set), Butterfly (record set), Freestyle (18 & under)
Sam Sweeney: Backstroke, Butterfly, Freestyle (14 & under)
Michael O’Donnell : Backstroke, Butterfly, Free (8 & under)

Single winners:
Allison Altholz: Butterfly (10 & under)
Lily Buckley: Freestyle (12 & under)
Kevin Crane: Freestyle (12 & under)
Jessica Crane: Freestyle (8 & under)
Scott Esposito: Freestyle (10 & under)
Rowan Pedraza: Breaststroke (8 & under)
Kaz Sampson: Freestyle (18 & under)