Katonah Swim and Dive Completes Undefeated Year

The Katonah Swim and Dive Team just completed an undefeated season in the Northern Westchester Swim Conference.

Katonah went 5-0 in Division II, defeating opponents A.L. Ehrman, Briarcliff Manor, Lakeside, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge.

The team was led by its youngest members. The 8-and-under girls of by  Lily Buckley, Lynn Carbaugh, Erin Walter, Elodie Nix and Morgan Fost often swept the top three spots in every single stroke.

Katonah also got strong performances from the 14-and-under boys, including Michael Baudinet, one of the area's top backstrokers; Lia Hackett, a standout in the breaststroke; and Greg Markert, who consistently scored a lot of points.

Carrie Kelly was often a triple winner in the 12-and-under age group, and Kaz Sampson and Georgetown-bound swimmer Betsy Weston were also phenomenal.

Because it won Division II, Katonah will be moved up to Division I, the top league in the NWSC, next summer.

The team is coached by former John Jay High School swimmer Katie LeWinter, who just graduated from Southern Cal and is planning to become a pediatrician.

LeWinter swam for the Katonah Swim and Dive Team in the 90's when there were 60-65 children in the program. This year there are approximately 135 swimmers and divers, ranging in age from 5-18.

LeWinter credits the continuity of the coaching staff and PR-savvy parents for helping people find out about the program and increasing the numbers.

"We got a lot of new, very talented kids," LeWinter said, leading to the undefeated season.

LeWinter said that Katonah was an ideal neighborhood-oriented swim program.

"The goal for the younger kids is to help them gain a love for the sport, and introduce them to competition and team spirit," LeWinter said. "And the older kids, we want to provide competition so they can prepare for the winter."