A beautiful day to be outside as John Jay wins swim opener

Delilah Mackof concentrates on the landing during diving competition. GREG KAPLOWITZ PHOTO

By JIM MACLEAN 

It was a bit cold, but it was a beautiful sunny day as the John Jay/North Salem swim team kicked off its indoor swimming season with an outdoor meet.

John Jay hosted Bronxville/Tuckahoe at the Lewisboro town pool on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and the team made the most of the chance to swim outside one last time before heading indoors as the Wolves cruised to a 98-83 victory with the home crowd cheering them on.

“The best part of being outside is that we are home so family and friends have a chance to see us without having to travel,” said John Jay/North Salem coach Suzanne Guziec, who praised the upgraded facilities at the town pool. “The worst part is the weather risk and changing temperatures. Both swimmers and divers have to adjust to extra cold water. They’re never quite warm, and trying to stay warm, loose and relaxed between events is virtually impossible. They do their best and pushed themselves to race as many of them had to in order to get the points for the team.”

The Wolves have a solid core of young but veteran swimmers and that made the difference as John Jay won every race. An impressive start to the season as the veterans teamed up with the newcomers trying to provide depth to round out the team.

“We had a solid start to the season, there were some really exciting races,” said Guziec. “We have some really strong returning veterans who have serious goals for themselves and each other in making Sectionals and States. We have some more novice athletes who are being tasked to level up their performance, which for them is both nerve racking and exciting. It’s a great group with nice camaraderie.”

One benefit to having the meet outside is the ability to include diving, which does not happen at many indoor pool facilities. Kicking off the meet with the diving competition, Samantha Mishler got the Wolves off to a good start as she dominated to take first with a score of 246.7. Teammate Delilah Mackof was second to give John Jay/North Salem an early lead in the team score.

John Jay then won the 200-yard Medley relay as Abbey Hehman, Taylor Belloni, Isabelle Hehman and Amelia Zhai teamed up to win the race with a time of 2:12.31.

Cassidy Horel then won the 200-yard freestyle race with a time of 2:14.3, with teammate Alli Garofalo right behind in second place.

Isabelle Hehman was victorious in the 200-yard Individual Medley event with a time of 2:29.23, and her sister Abby Hehman then won the 50-yard freestyle race with a time of 26.88.

It was a big day for the Hehman sisters as Isabelle then won the butterfly race with a time of 1:08.16, with teammate Taylor Belloni in second place.

Alli Garofalo won the 100-yard freestyle race with a time of 1:00.74, and Cassidy Horel took on the 500-yard freestyle distance race and finished first touching the wall at 6:09.84.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay event, Garofalo, Belloni, Isabelle Hehman and Horel teamed up for the win at 1:54.71.

Abbey Hehman won the 100-yard backstroke race with a time of 1:12.44, and Belloni won the 100-yard breaststroke race with a time of 1:18.44.

In the final race of the day, John Jay/North Salem turned in the fastest time as [ Hehman, Zhai, Horel and Garofalo finished the race with a time of 4:16.25.

John Jay/North Salem will now go indoors to compete in the next meet against the combined SHEDI team from Sleepy Hollow/Edgemont/Dobbs Ferry and Irvington, on Thursday, Sept. 24.