Halfway through the season and the Brookfield Girls Swimming and Diving team holds an impressive 6-1 record. After a close and tough loss to Weston, the team bounced back aggressively with recent victories against Bunnell, Masuk and a historic win over SWC rival Pomperaug.
The team continues to look sharp and remains focused on their 2012 goals. Although one of the smallest teams in the conference by numbers (just 20 swimmers and divers combined), the Lady Bobcats have seen across the board team contributions in all their dual meets thus far, particularly with strong swims highlighted by their upperclassmen.
Last Tuesday, October 2, in a key SWC match up, Brookfield took on Pomperaug in what is always an exciting rivalry. Brookfield took the lead from the very first event and never looked back — winning 101-85. The win continues to position Brookfield for what could be a special season.
It was clear from the start of the meet that the Brookfield team was on a mission. The Lady Bobcats started off strong with a big win in the 200 Medley Relay with the team of Anna Brown, Maddy Smart, Rachel Brown and Katie Dixon placing first, while the team of Megan Contarino, Ali Bowers, Anna Fernandez and Sam Russo came in third. Next in the 200 Free, Steph Ferrarie placed first with teammates Andrea Jelaska and Kelly Lappin finishing off the event by taking fourth and fifth. In the 200 IM, Brookfield continued to rack up the points with Smart taking first, Sam Palicz third, and Jackie Letezia taking fifth. In a nail biting 50 Free, Rachel Brown fought for first as Dixon and Russo placed third and sixth.
Pomperaug was feeling the pressure of the Lady Bobcats going into the Diving events. Anna Kavanaugh and Dana Sherr, both just freshmen, dove well taking fourth and fifth places respectively.
At the conclusion of the Diving the score was Brookfield 41 - Pomperaug 37. Next, just being out touched, R. Brown came in second in the 100 Butterfly, followed by great swims from Fernandez for fourth and Contarino for fifth. Brookfield then flexed its strength in the 100 Free with Smart taking first, A. Brown third and Dixon fourth.
It was Brookfield 59 - Pomperaug 51 going into the 500 Freestlyle. In one of the exciting match ups of the night, Palicz went the distance battling through a close race and finishing second. Brookfield closed the event with Ferrarie taking third, and Jelaska fifth earning more key points for the team. In the 200 Free Relay, Dixon, Ferrarie, Smart and Palicz came together and rallied taking first, increasing the Bobcats lead even further. The Bobcats then shut down Pomperaug in the 100 Back with A. Brown taking first, Contarino second and LeAnna Murphy sixth. In the 100 Breast Ali Bowers was key taking second, followed by Letizia in fourth, and C Palicz in sixth.
The first place 400 Free Relay team of R Brown, Ferrarie, A Brown and Palicz and the third place team of Lappin, Jelaska, Contarino and Letizia sealed the victory for the Bobcats.
Coach Nigro’s strategy of focusing on event match ups where Brookfield could maximize point scoring along with the girls sweeping all three relays proved too much for the Panthers. The win was the team’s first ever victory over Pomperaug and was the first time Pomperaug had lost a dual meet in years. Smiles were everywhere as a packed house cheered their accomplishment. The team appears ready to embrace their goal this year-an SWC Championship.
The Lady Bobcats take on another big rival in undefeated Laurelton Hall Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Western CT State University. Come out and support these outstanding student athletes in what is shaping up to be an exciting BHS Girls swim season.
