In AB’s first unfortunate loss of the season to the Needham Swim Team, AB lost 78.5 to 105.5. The team fought hard, down to the last event, putting up a good fight against a good team.
To kick off the meet, divers Kimaya Gazula, Shruthika Muthukumar Veena, Zoey Jin, Aarushi Khatri, Darcy Lillie and Sofia Manfrim performed extremely well against Needham’s lineup. Newcomer Darcy Lillie got a state and sectionals cut for the first time with a 190.42. Senior and newcomer Zoey Jin showed extraordinary determination and resolve after a low-scoring dive, getting just short of the sectionals cut with a 175.35. Although the Needham divers brought their best, the AB divers and their drive instilled a sense of pride in their team before the swimming events started.
Setting a season record, Junior Caroline Tyrell, Senior Katie Crowley, Junior Isabela Teixeira, and Junior Katie Baxter swam 1:55.76 in the 200 Medley Relay. After this fast-paced event, Junior Isabela Teixeira delivered a speedy 200 FR time, comfortably making states with a 1:56.00. Against a tough 200 IM lineup, Junior Caroline Tyrell pulled through with a 2:20.55, even after ending the first lap behind. Senior Katie Crowley swam a sectional cut of 27.06 in the 50 FR, while Seniors Chloe Palashis and Vibha Iyer, Junior Mariel Tan, Sophomore Bhumi Mishra, and Freshman Aarya Chauhan all swam season’s bests. After a 5-minute break, the 100 FR event began, where Senior Caterina Nicu and Sophomore Michelle Sun both swam season’s bests. Junior Mariel Tan got a season’s best in the 500 FR, swimming a solid 5:57.19 and making the sectionals cut yet again. Sophomore Kira Kozhemiakina held true to her tradition of crushing this event, swimming a 5:47.72, yet again making the state cut. For the 100 BK, state qualifiers Chelsea Zhou, Caroline Tyrell and Katie Baxter swam state times yet again, all swimming season’s bests. Right afterwards, Junior Saanvi Rai and Freshman Cassandra Bellora swam season’s best, both in their first year of high school swim. Finally, even after the team knew they couldn’t get a win, ABGSD pulled out all the stops, fighting until the very last stroke in the 400 FR Relay.