Swimmers impress despite double-loss to KP

Although neither team came away with the victory, the Canton High boys’ and girls’ swim teams both turned in one of their strongest performances of the season in a home meet last Friday against the formidable King Philip Warriors.

“Friday was a fantastic meet,” said head coach Lori Mooney, whose teams are now a combined 5-5 with five meets remaining before the league championships.

The girls’ competition was especially close, with the Bulldogs holding the lead through several events before KP pulled away in the breaststroke and backstroke for a 92-78 win.

Mooney was nevertheless thrilled with the performance of her swimmers, who once again flashed their depth with several top finishes — including the top four spots in the 200-yard freestyle.

Freshman Shannon McLaughlin led the way in that event, finishing first while nearly qualifying for states with a time of 2:10.11. Fellow freshman Amanda Walsh finished next, followed by teammates Julia Guerini and Shay Connolly in third and fourth place, respectively.

Walsh also continued her dominance in the 100-yard breaststroke, winning the event with a time of 1:15.61. In addition, Walsh teamed with McLaughlin, Alison McHugh and Kim Frazier to win the 200 IM relay (2:05.85), while another Canton group — featuring Guerini, Brianna Duserick, Abbey Willis, and Emily Breviglia — came in second with a time of 2:11.90.

The Bulldogs also showed their depth in the 100-yard butterfly, as McLaughlin, Willis, and Felicia Lee placed second, third, and fourth.

Other notable performances included a second-place finish by Guerini in the 100 free (1:02.71), and a very close second in the 50 free by Frazier — one of the team’s most dependable swimmers, according to Mooney.

Meanwhile, on the boys’ side, the Bulldogs had the unenviable task of facing the defending state champions, whose collective talent won out in a 95-70 final.

Despite the final score, several Canton swimmers delivered impressive times, led by the 200 IM relay team of Scott Buresh, James Frazier, Eric Newton and John Whittemore, who finished second with a time of 1:58.74.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Frazier, Yanni Papadopoulos, Newton, and Buresh also placed second and nearly qualified for sectionals with a time of 1:45.00.

Other top performances were turned in by Kevin Wing, who swam the 200 freestyle for the first time and came in first, and Newton, who finished second in a photo finish in the 100 fly with a personal-best time of 1:05.62. Strong times were also posted by Papadopoulos in the 50 free, Kyle Hanscom in the 100 free, and Scott Rosenblatt in the 500 free.

This week the Bulldogs were due to face two tough opponents: at Sharon on Wednesday and home versus Franklin on Friday at 3 p.m.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Jan 18 2012. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.