Storm swimmers win IAC championship
WATKINS GLEN, Oct. 22, 2022 -- The Schuyler Storm girls varsity swim team cruised to victory Saturday in the Interscholastic Athletic Conference Swimming Championships in the Watkins Glen High School pool.
The Storm, a combined team of Watkins Glen and Odessa-Montour high school athletes, amassed 484 points, well ahead of runnerup Dryden's 349. They were followed by Lansing (283), Waverly (268), Southern Cayuga (232), Elmira Notre Dame (185), and Whitney Point (2).
Storm junior Thalia Marquez led the way with four victories -- in the 200 Free, 100 Free, 200 Medley Relay and 200 Free Relay. The victories for the Storm included:
200 Medley Relay: Alannah Klemann, Faye Mooney, Emily Melveney, Thalia Marquez, 1:53.71 200 Free: Thalia Marquez, 1:57.49 200 Individual Medley: Alannah Klemann, 2:16.74 50 Free: Faye Mooney, 25.17 100 Free: Thalia Marquez, 54.59 200 Free Relay: Faye Mooney, Kendra Fish, Alannah Klemann, Thalia Marquez, 1:41.87 400 Free Relay: Emily Melveney, Malina Butler, Kendra Fish, Aubrey Klemann, 4:01.01
Second-place finishes were posted by Aubrey Klemann in the 200 Free, Emily Melveney in the 100 Fly, Faye Mooney in the 100 Free, Cara Reynolds in the 500 Free, and Alannah Klemann in the 100 Back.
"It was an outstanding meet for us as a team," said Storm Coach Jason Westervelt. "The meet was highlighted with numerous PR's (Personal Records) and a huge number of athletes moving up in the rankings to score the team extra points.
"We started off the meet very strong, winning the first four events and placing first, second and third in the 200 Freestyle. The first half of the meet was highlighted by Thalia Marquez (1:57.49), Aubrey Klemann (2:12.28) and Cara Reynolds (2:14.88) sweeping the 200 Free, backed up with Alannah Klemann's lifetime best swim in the 200 IM (2:16.74), taking the win for the Storm.
"Hannah Hollenbeck, Kailyn Smith, Skye Cummings, LIzzi Fitzwater, Emily Melveney, and Caelyn Baker all swam to top 16 finishes in their first-half events.
"We started the second half of the meet strong with Emily Melveney's second-place finish and lifetime best time in the 100 Butterfly (1:07.92), followed by a first- and second-place finish in the 100 Freestyle by Thalia Marquez's lifetime best (54.59) and Faye Mooney's lifetime best (55.58). Skye Cummings, Kendra Fish, Sarah Stolpinski, Aubrey Klemann, and Caelyn Baker all finished in the top 16 in their respective events.
"Cara Reynolds led our distance team with a lifetime best in the 500 Free and a second-place finish (5:59.29). Claire Lewis, Hannah Hollenbeck, and Riley Brooks all swam to top 16 finishes in the 500 Free.
"The 200 Freestyle Relay edged a little closer to the State Qualifying time of 1:41.69 with a first-place finish and time of 1:41.87.
"Our backstroke crew was phenomenal. Alannah Klemann led the crew with a second-place finish and PR of 1:00.87, while Kendra Fish placed fourth and Malina Butler finished fifth with a PR of 1:08.54.
"An 8th grader, Lizzi Fitzwater, had a remarkable swim in the 100 Breaststroke, dropping three seconds to place eighth and making the podium for the Storm. Riley Brooks and Kailyn Smith also scored for the Storm with 10th- and 13th-place finishes.
"We rounded out the meet with an unexpected win in the 400 Freestyle Relay, swimming a time of 4:01.01 and taking first place in a very competitive field. The team of Emily Melveney, Malina Butler, Kendra Fish and Aubrey Klemann posted lifetime best splits to take the win.
"I am very happy with our progress these past two weeks, and I'm very excited for the Sectional Championships coming up here on November 2nd and 5th."