Pool crew true contender in FCIAC mix

Written by Steven Buono
Thursday, 05 November 2009 09:13

It was the last lap of the dual meet regular season, and both teams were the worse for wear.

“You know, we were swimming tired, and they were swimming tired,” said Darien swimming and diving team coach Marj Trifone. “I think Staples is always a good competitor.”

But Darien was by far the least weary, beating Staples 106-78 at Westport on Oct. 28, in its last meet before Saturday's FCIAC championships.

The Wave rose to 8-1.

“We had a decent meet overall,” said Trifone. “(Staples) has some good front runners.”

Front running for DHS were many, though, and in most events.

The 200-meter medley relay of Katie Orem, Cammie Kirby, Cali Ceglarski and Catherine Treesh won in 2:07.24.

Sam Berizzi won the 200 free in 2:10.32, the 200 IM had Lindsay Tyler in first in 2:30.74.

Alex Leinroth won diving with 228, followed by Lexi Ashcraft with 220 and Caroline Ashcraft 195, finishing 1-2-3.

Berizzi won the 400 free in 4:35.5.

Taking the 200 free relay was Ceglarski, Treesh, Tyler and Berizzi in 1:55.4, and winning the 100 breaststroke was Kirby in 1:20.82.

Berizzi, Paige Gasparino, Katie Rohn and Orem finished in first in the 400 free relay in 4:20.02.

Runners-up for Darien included Cali Ceglarski in the 50 free in 28.20, the 100 free in 1:03.1, Olivia Leunis swimming the 100 fly in 1:21.8, Orem the 100 backstroke in 1:10.05.

Darien has only lost to Greenwich this season, and by only six points at the Cardinals’ pool — scene of the FCIAC finals.

The Cardinals had a full compliment of swimmers and divers that day, while the Wave could have scored higher in diving, as it is likely to do on Thursday when that portion of the FCIAC meet takes place at Westhill. Just as it could have had a stronger performance in the relays — again, something likely to occur in Greenwich on Saturday.

So, might this end up a historic week for DHS, winning its first conference meet in the pool?

“But also, New Canaan lost to them the same way,” said Trifone. “It came down to the 400 free relay. So I think we are very comparable to New Canaan, which makes it an even harder meet.”

Darien beat the Rams 109-77 at New Canaan in the first meet of the season.

“New Canaan and Greenwich will be knocking each other around for places,” said Trifone. “And it will be a very good FCIAC meet, because there’s not a big gap as we’ve always had, with Greenwich-New Canaan-Darien.”

What is different this year too is that Darien is actually presented with a rare and realistic chance to win this thing.

“And I also think New Canaan always comes very ready for FCIAC,” said Trifone. “My team always comes tired, we swim through the meet — New Canaan always comes there ready — and we just kind of have different philosophies on it.”

Why?

“I usually really wait for one big taper for states, but (others) kind of do too,” Trifone said. “So, it will be interesting. It’s a very mental meet.”

Once the first relay starts the waters boiling and the packed in crowd’s screams mix in with the tens of thousands of splashes of competition, the Greenwich pool does quickly take on a mad house air.

But that’s not the kind of mental meet Trifone is talking about.

“I have 12 seniors on my team,” said Trifone. “If they can get in that meet mentally, you know, then they certainly have the experience to be there.”

Being there, is being, in the winners circle.