Tornado swimmers take home fifth at sectionals; Blaisure breaks school record
OWEGO – A team without a single senior, a team with a new varsity head coach, a team that held over a .500 regular season record and sent nine girls to the finals of the Section IV Class B championship.
Norwich concluded their postseason – and therefore their 2016 fall season – on a very high note.
“No big surprises. This was a building year. We needed to lay the foundation. We went into the season knowing which meets we would win and which ones we would not win, and no amount of finagling the line up was going to change that,” said Norwich head coach Saundra Gantt. “They were tired all season, and they all swam
faster at the end of the season. It was a successful championship meet and season.”
Prior to the nine Tornado athletes advancing to the finals in Owego on Nov. 5; the Tornado girls first had to travel to Waverly for the preliminary round of sectionals on Nov. 2.
The Tornado swimmers ripped through their competition during the preliminary rounds; taking a total of 96 seconds off their personal best times as a unit, as well as having Maya Blaisure break the Waverly Pool record and Norwich High School record in the 100 Breast stroke – with a time of 1:08.81.
Event 1, 200 yard Medley Relay: Taking the win in the first event was the team of Iris Incitti, Molly Olzinski, Brianna Owen, and Allie Hussar with a time of 1:52.38. Norwich's relay of Melissa Stroh, Maya Blaisure, Maggie Winter, and Lauren Llewellyn claimed a third place spot with their time of 1:58.15.
Event 2, 200 yard Freestyle: Paige Lettera of Chenango Valley claimed the top spot with a time of 1:57.65. Norwich's top swimmer in the event was Emerson Burton who finished in 13th place with a time of 2:19.86.
Event 3, 200 yard IM: Summer Pierce of Owego finished on top with her time of 2:13.22. Blaisure of Norwich raced to a fourth place finish with her time of 2:20.74.
Event 4, 50 Yard Freestyle: Owego claimed another win on the day with Katie Shoen taking the event with her time of 24.47. Margie Winter of Norwich was the highest ranked for the Tornado with her time of 26.30.
Event 6, 100 Yard Butterfly: Pierce of Owego snagged another win for her school with her time of 58.69 – the only sub minute time in the race; however, Winter of Norwich swam a solid 1:06.09 for an eighth place finish.
Event 7, 100 Yard Freestyle: Lettera of CV returned for another win in this event with her stellar time of 55.31. Norwich's top swimmer was Melissa Stroh with her sub minute time of 59.91 placing her 11th.
Event 8, 500 Yard Freestyle: A new CV swimmer emerged in the long distance race, as Kathleen Schultz took the top spot with a time of 5:12.24. Burton of Norwich would hold down the fort with her 14th place finish off a time of 6:21.18.
Event 9, 200 yard Freestyle Relay: CV's relay took the top spot with a time of 1:43.22; as Norwich's relay – Ashton Wenzel, Emerson Burton, Riley Revoir, and Kaitlyn Blaisure – claimed a solid fifth place finish with their time of 1:57.10.
Event 10, 100 Yard Backstroke: Shoen of Owego returned once again for another victory with her time of 1:00.25 for the first place spot. Lauren Llewellyn of Norwich claimed the top spot for the Tornado with her time of 1:10.37 for a 11th place finish.
Event 11, 100 Yard Breaststroke: It was this magical event, where Norwich grabbed the attention of many. Maya Blaisure raced to a first place finish in the event. Blaisure finished with a new school record and pool record time of 1:08.81 – edging out second place finisher Molly Olzinski who had a time of 1:08.96.
Event 12, 400 yard Freestyle Relay: The Warriors of CV claimed one more win on the day to finish out with their relay taking first in the event with a time of 3:44.00. Norwich, feeding off the recent win of Blaisure, raced to a second place finish in the event with their time of 4:00.48. The team consisted of Melissa Stroh, Lauren Llewellyn, Maya Blaisure, and Margie Winter.
With the preliminaries completed, Norwich packed their bags to return home, where they would ready themselves for the upcoming finals on Nov. 5. The following Norwich athletes qualified to advance to the final rounds of the Section IV Class B championships: Melissa Stroh, Maya Blaisure, Margie Winter, Lauren Llewellyn, Emerson Burton, Haley Shattuck, Ashton Wenzel, and Riley Revoir.
Event 1, 200 Medley Relay: In the very first event of the finals Norwich managed an impressive showing, as the relay team of Melissa Stroh, Maya Blaisure, Margie Winter, and Lauren Llewellyn earned a fourth place finish with their time of 1:58.20, .05 slower than their preliminary time. Owego claimed the win with a 1:50.79.
Event 2, 200 Yard Freestyle: Lettera Paige once again returned to the top of the podium for Chenango Valley, with her winning time of 1:58.39, nearly a second slower than her prelim time. Norwich's Emerson Burton and Haley Shattuck raced in the event, taking home a 12th and 16th place finish respectively with times of 2:19.17 (faster than prelim time) and 2:28.81 (slower than prelim time).
Event 3, 200 Yard IM: Summer Pierce of Owego stomped her competition in the event cruising to a sectional win with her time of 2:10.24. However, Norwich's Maya Blaisure snuck her way into a fourth place spot with her time of 2:20.90 (prelim time of 2:20.74).
Event 4, 50 Yard Freestyle: Norwich's Margie Winter earned some much needed team points in the event with her fifth place finish off her time of 26.05, a faster time than her prelim time of 26.30. Winning the event was Katie Shoen with a time of 25.24.
Event 6, 100 Yard Butterfly: Pierce of Owego claimed the sectional win in front of her hometown crowd with her time of 58.57. Norwich's Margie Winter managed to finish in eighth place, taking more team points home with her improved time of 1:04.66 (prelim time of 1:06.09.
Event 7, 100 Yard Freestyle: Lettera of CV won once again, with her drastically faster time of 54.97 for the win. However, Norwich would sneak out some more team points off this event as Melissa Stroh and and Lauren Llewellyn both raced to a 12th and 13th place finish with times of 1:00.61 and 1:01.12, respectively.
Event 8, 500 Yard Freestyle: CV's Kathleen Schultz improved her time to a sectional winning 5:11.32. Norwich's Burton would only finish 14th overall, but would manage to improve her time in the prelims – 6:21.18 – to a time of 6:13.71.
Event 9, 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Although Owego took the top spot with their blazing fast time of 1:40.88; Norwich also saw improvement with their seventh place finish for Ashton Wenzel, Riley Revoir, Emerson Burton, and Kaitlyn Blaisure. The Tornado relay improved from a prelim time of 1:57.10 to a finals time of 1:55.37.
Event 11, 100 Yard Breaststroke: Maya Blaisure – after setting a new Waverly pool and NHS record in the event – was hoping to claim the top spot in sectionals, however, Molly Olzinski of Maine-Endwell would not allow it. Olzinski raced to a 1:08.55, improving from her prelim time of 1:08.96. Even with the improvement from Blaisure from a 1:08.81 to a finals time of 1:08.79 it was not enough to hold the top spot as Norwich claimed second in the event.
Event 12, 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: The final event for the NHS squad came down to Melissa Stroh, Lauren Llewellyn, Maya Blaisure, and Margie Winter. They swam to a fourth place finish in the event with their time of 4:04.48. Winning the final event was CV who took home a time of 3:43.44.
The NHS girls held enough points when the Section IV Class B meet was concluded that they successfully placed fifth out of all nine teams.
“It was a successful championship meet and season (6-3 overall record for NHS),” said coach Gantt. “I look forward to next season. They have set some great goals for themselves and for the team. Overall (I'm) very happy.”
Combined Team Scores - through 12 events:
1) Maine-Endwell Girls Varsity - 487
2) Owego Free Academy - 465
3) Chenango Valley Girls Varsity - 385
4) Waverly - 239
5) Norwich Girls Varsity Swimming - 165
6) Susquehanna Valley Girls - 120
7) Dryden Varsity - 112
8) Windsor Varsity Girls – 94
9) Johnson City - 68
Norwich concluded their postseason – and therefore their 2016 fall season – on a very high note.
“No big surprises. This was a building year. We needed to lay the foundation. We went into the season knowing which meets we would win and which ones we would not win, and no amount of finagling the line up was going to change that,” said Norwich head coach Saundra Gantt. “They were tired all season, and they all swam
faster at the end of the season. It was a successful championship meet and season.”
Prior to the nine Tornado athletes advancing to the finals in Owego on Nov. 5; the Tornado girls first had to travel to Waverly for the preliminary round of sectionals on Nov. 2.
The Tornado swimmers ripped through their competition during the preliminary rounds; taking a total of 96 seconds off their personal best times as a unit, as well as having Maya Blaisure break the Waverly Pool record and Norwich High School record in the 100 Breast stroke – with a time of 1:08.81.
Event 1, 200 yard Medley Relay: Taking the win in the first event was the team of Iris Incitti, Molly Olzinski, Brianna Owen, and Allie Hussar with a time of 1:52.38. Norwich's relay of Melissa Stroh, Maya Blaisure, Maggie Winter, and Lauren Llewellyn claimed a third place spot with their time of 1:58.15.
Event 2, 200 yard Freestyle: Paige Lettera of Chenango Valley claimed the top spot with a time of 1:57.65. Norwich's top swimmer in the event was Emerson Burton who finished in 13th place with a time of 2:19.86.
Event 3, 200 yard IM: Summer Pierce of Owego finished on top with her time of 2:13.22. Blaisure of Norwich raced to a fourth place finish with her time of 2:20.74.
Event 4, 50 Yard Freestyle: Owego claimed another win on the day with Katie Shoen taking the event with her time of 24.47. Margie Winter of Norwich was the highest ranked for the Tornado with her time of 26.30.
Event 6, 100 Yard Butterfly: Pierce of Owego snagged another win for her school with her time of 58.69 – the only sub minute time in the race; however, Winter of Norwich swam a solid 1:06.09 for an eighth place finish.
Event 7, 100 Yard Freestyle: Lettera of CV returned for another win in this event with her stellar time of 55.31. Norwich's top swimmer was Melissa Stroh with her sub minute time of 59.91 placing her 11th.
Event 8, 500 Yard Freestyle: A new CV swimmer emerged in the long distance race, as Kathleen Schultz took the top spot with a time of 5:12.24. Burton of Norwich would hold down the fort with her 14th place finish off a time of 6:21.18.
Event 9, 200 yard Freestyle Relay: CV's relay took the top spot with a time of 1:43.22; as Norwich's relay – Ashton Wenzel, Emerson Burton, Riley Revoir, and Kaitlyn Blaisure – claimed a solid fifth place finish with their time of 1:57.10.
Event 10, 100 Yard Backstroke: Shoen of Owego returned once again for another victory with her time of 1:00.25 for the first place spot. Lauren Llewellyn of Norwich claimed the top spot for the Tornado with her time of 1:10.37 for a 11th place finish.
Event 11, 100 Yard Breaststroke: It was this magical event, where Norwich grabbed the attention of many. Maya Blaisure raced to a first place finish in the event. Blaisure finished with a new school record and pool record time of 1:08.81 – edging out second place finisher Molly Olzinski who had a time of 1:08.96.
Event 12, 400 yard Freestyle Relay: The Warriors of CV claimed one more win on the day to finish out with their relay taking first in the event with a time of 3:44.00. Norwich, feeding off the recent win of Blaisure, raced to a second place finish in the event with their time of 4:00.48. The team consisted of Melissa Stroh, Lauren Llewellyn, Maya Blaisure, and Margie Winter.
With the preliminaries completed, Norwich packed their bags to return home, where they would ready themselves for the upcoming finals on Nov. 5. The following Norwich athletes qualified to advance to the final rounds of the Section IV Class B championships: Melissa Stroh, Maya Blaisure, Margie Winter, Lauren Llewellyn, Emerson Burton, Haley Shattuck, Ashton Wenzel, and Riley Revoir.
Event 1, 200 Medley Relay: In the very first event of the finals Norwich managed an impressive showing, as the relay team of Melissa Stroh, Maya Blaisure, Margie Winter, and Lauren Llewellyn earned a fourth place finish with their time of 1:58.20, .05 slower than their preliminary time. Owego claimed the win with a 1:50.79.
Event 2, 200 Yard Freestyle: Lettera Paige once again returned to the top of the podium for Chenango Valley, with her winning time of 1:58.39, nearly a second slower than her prelim time. Norwich's Emerson Burton and Haley Shattuck raced in the event, taking home a 12th and 16th place finish respectively with times of 2:19.17 (faster than prelim time) and 2:28.81 (slower than prelim time).
Event 3, 200 Yard IM: Summer Pierce of Owego stomped her competition in the event cruising to a sectional win with her time of 2:10.24. However, Norwich's Maya Blaisure snuck her way into a fourth place spot with her time of 2:20.90 (prelim time of 2:20.74).
Event 4, 50 Yard Freestyle: Norwich's Margie Winter earned some much needed team points in the event with her fifth place finish off her time of 26.05, a faster time than her prelim time of 26.30. Winning the event was Katie Shoen with a time of 25.24.
Event 6, 100 Yard Butterfly: Pierce of Owego claimed the sectional win in front of her hometown crowd with her time of 58.57. Norwich's Margie Winter managed to finish in eighth place, taking more team points home with her improved time of 1:04.66 (prelim time of 1:06.09.
Event 7, 100 Yard Freestyle: Lettera of CV won once again, with her drastically faster time of 54.97 for the win. However, Norwich would sneak out some more team points off this event as Melissa Stroh and and Lauren Llewellyn both raced to a 12th and 13th place finish with times of 1:00.61 and 1:01.12, respectively.
Event 8, 500 Yard Freestyle: CV's Kathleen Schultz improved her time to a sectional winning 5:11.32. Norwich's Burton would only finish 14th overall, but would manage to improve her time in the prelims – 6:21.18 – to a time of 6:13.71.
Event 9, 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Although Owego took the top spot with their blazing fast time of 1:40.88; Norwich also saw improvement with their seventh place finish for Ashton Wenzel, Riley Revoir, Emerson Burton, and Kaitlyn Blaisure. The Tornado relay improved from a prelim time of 1:57.10 to a finals time of 1:55.37.
Event 11, 100 Yard Breaststroke: Maya Blaisure – after setting a new Waverly pool and NHS record in the event – was hoping to claim the top spot in sectionals, however, Molly Olzinski of Maine-Endwell would not allow it. Olzinski raced to a 1:08.55, improving from her prelim time of 1:08.96. Even with the improvement from Blaisure from a 1:08.81 to a finals time of 1:08.79 it was not enough to hold the top spot as Norwich claimed second in the event.
Event 12, 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: The final event for the NHS squad came down to Melissa Stroh, Lauren Llewellyn, Maya Blaisure, and Margie Winter. They swam to a fourth place finish in the event with their time of 4:04.48. Winning the final event was CV who took home a time of 3:43.44.
The NHS girls held enough points when the Section IV Class B meet was concluded that they successfully placed fifth out of all nine teams.
“It was a successful championship meet and season (6-3 overall record for NHS),” said coach Gantt. “I look forward to next season. They have set some great goals for themselves and for the team. Overall (I'm) very happy.”
Combined Team Scores - through 12 events:
1) Maine-Endwell Girls Varsity - 487
2) Owego Free Academy - 465
3) Chenango Valley Girls Varsity - 385
4) Waverly - 239
5) Norwich Girls Varsity Swimming - 165
6) Susquehanna Valley Girls - 120
7) Dryden Varsity - 112
8) Windsor Varsity Girls – 94
9) Johnson City - 68
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