Bulldog swim teams pressing on despite tough start

A combination of illness, inexperience, and scheduling limitations have led to a slower than normal start for Canton High’s swim teams this winter as both squads remain stuck on one win at the midway point of the regular season.

“They’re working hard, but we have a young team this year with a lot of new kids,” noted head coach Cheryl Cavanaugh, who is back for a fifth season leading both the boys and girls teams.

Senior Brianna Gilchrist (Mike Barucci photo)

In her first four seasons, Cavanaugh led the Bulldogs to a combined record of 55-29-1 and a pair of division titles — one each for the boys (2017) and girls (2019). So far this year, both teams are 1-4, but Cavanaugh remains upbeat as she continues to focus on individual improvement and getting more meet experience for her younger swimmers while helping some of the stronger team members qualify for the postseason.

Already, a number of CHS swimmers have qualified for sectionals or states, led by freshman Shauna Harney, who has made the cut in six different events: 200 IM (states), 100 backstroke (states), and all four freestyle distances (sectionals).

Meanwhile, junior Jessica Hart will be heading back to sectionals and states in the 100-yard breaststroke and recently knocked two seconds off her best time in a meet against Oliver Ames. Hart, who had a strong showing in the event at both postseason meets last season, is also hoping to qualify in the 200 IM and has been a part of three qualifying relays.

One of those relays, the 200 medley, has posted a state-qualifying time with the foursome of Hart, Harney, Matigan O’Brien and Maddie Rousseau, while the 200 freestyle relay of Brianna Gilchrist, Rousseau, Harney and Hart has qualified for sectionals and is only one second off the state cut time. The 400 free relay of Harney, Rousseau, O’Brien and Hart has also qualified for sectionals.

On the boys’ side, the 200 medley team of Matt Thompson, Brendan Mitchell, Eric Pham and Javier Ferstler have qualified for sectionals and is less than a second away from the state cut time.

Cavanaugh added that Thompson, who has missed some time recently with an injury, is close to qualifying in the 200 free and 100 breaststroke, as is the boys’ top 200 free relay team. Several swimmers on both the boys and girls teams are also within striking distance of sectionals in the 50 free.

In recent team competition, the boys picked up their first win of the season with a strong showing against Oliver Ames last week at Massasoit. Ferstler was the star of the meet, placing first in the 100 free and 100 backstroke while also contributing to two winning relays: the 200 medley along with Austin Lee, Mitchell and Eric Pham, and the 200 free relay along with Ben Guerini, Jabari Richelieu and Pham. Guerini added a second-place finish in the 100 free while Lee took the runner-up spot in the 100 back.

The girls team also competed against OA but were outscored 95-73 as several swimmers missed the meet with the flu. Individual winners for the Bulldogs included Hart in the breaststroke, Brianna Gilchrist in the 200 free, Harney in the 50 free, and the 400 free relay team of Abby Gilchrist, Brianna Gilchrist, Corinne Campbell and O’Brien. Harney also placed second in the 200 IM and Rousseau took second in the 200 free.

This week, both teams were due to visit Dedham on Monday and will travel to the Hockomock YMCA on Friday to take on North Attleboro. The teams then head back to Randolph High School — their temporary home until the Blue Hills Regional School renovation is completed —for a meet against Stoughton on January 17.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=63644

Posted by Jay Turner on Jan 9 2020. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.