NORWICH – The Southern Tier Athletic Conference announced their Girls Varsity Swimming All-Stars last week for the 2021 ‘Fall 2’ sports season. Norwich built upon their strong third place finish at the Section IV Class B Championships from nearly a week ago as four Purple Tornado swimmers; NHS Senior Kaitlyn Blaisure, Norwich Senior Angela Carlson, Norwich Senior Abby Hansen and eighth grader Nina Kman all received STAC East All-Star accolades due to their individual successes this season. Earning honorable mention were Norwich junior Tanner Olds, Norwich eighth grader Eva Blenis and Norwich seventh grader Mikayla Sastri.
Kaitlyn Blaisure earned STAC all-star status in the 200, 50, and 100 freestyle races and the 100 backstroke. Blaisure’s classmate Angela Carlson earned her honors in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
“Katie and Angie helped set the new team culture when I came in along with Abigail Natoli, another graduating senior” said Norwich Head Coach Saundra Gantt.
Blaisure was a key point earner for the Tornado at Class Championships, as she earned a second annd third place finish in the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle events. Blaisure, set to graduate in June and will be attending Lafayette College, a NCAA Division I school and is a member of the Patriot League. “Katie will be a huge contributor and leader going onto her next team” said Gantt.
As for Carlson, she continued a strong showing this season after a shoulder injury kept her out of the 2019 swimming season. Carlson did not let the injury deter her as she made strides this season and Angela proved especially strong in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle events at the most recent class championships, placing third and fifth respectively. Angela will be continuing her athletic success on land as she will compete in track & field at St. John Fisher College.
Abby Hansen received all-star selections in the 200 Individual Medley, 100 backstroke, 200 and 500 freestyle events. Normally Hansen would be a member of the junior class this year, however Abby reclassified and is set to graduate this upcoming June. Hansen will be attending SUNY Oswego and will be a member of the ‘Lakers’ swim team this upcoming fall.
“[Abby] took a long break to try other sports and her eventual return to swimming last year, proved highly successful” said Gantt on Hansen’s return to the pool, “I am extremely happy for her moving onto the next level to swim at Oswego…She has more success to look forward to.”
Nina Kman received her selection to the STAC all-star team in the 200 Individual Medley event. As one of the three middle-school athletes competing on the varsity squad; Kman stood out.
“Nina is young and among a great group of young swimmers that came in this season” said Gantt, “She doesn’t grasp her talent yet. The older relay girls did a great job guiding her this season. All the veteran teammates did a great job guiding the newer girls this season. They always do.”
Kman has four more years of varsity eligibility and an all-star selection as an eighth grader shows great promise to her swimming career.
Despite losing several seniors to graduation in 2021, Coach Gantt shouldn’t be worried too much as she has the Norwich Purple Tornado girls varsity swim program hitting its stride, as her team will see several familiar faces return to the pool. A combination of STAC All-Stars and STAC Honorable Mentions will be among the bevy of swimmers that Gantt will have next season as Tanner Olds returns in the fall along with Nina Kman, Eva Blenis and Mikayla Sastri will all make a return to the pool.
“It’s nice to get complimented on not only how far the team has come competitively, how much fun our team has and how nice the team is to others” said Gantt on the character and competitiveness of her athletes.
With the start of the Fall 2021 season in the not too distant future, the Norwich Purple Tornado Girls Varsity Swim Team has a bright future ahead and looks forward to building upon the successful of the ‘Fall 2’ season.