Published in the February 8, 2018 edition
THE HORNETS have had three individual swimmers from the girls’ team qualify for Sectionals, in addition to three freestyle relay teams. Pictured with North Reading’s coaching staff is from left to right: Molly Feffer (50 free, 100 free), Kaia Grabar (100 fly) and Kristina Valenti (50 free). The three will also compete for the relay teams along with Elli DeCleene, Caroline Belinowiz and Sara Curran. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
SALEM – The North Reading boys’ and girls’ swim teams traveled to Salem’s O’Keefe Sports Complex on Super Bowl Sunday morning to compete in the Cape Ann League Championships against six other teams from the Cape Ann League.
As the boys and girls swim separately for the first time this year, each team had plenty of highlights to bring back to NRHS.
The girls started the meet by finishing 6th in the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:11.69. The team included sophomore Elli DeCleene, freshman Kristina Valenti, freshman Kaia Grabar and junior captain Molly Feffer.
The Hornet girls had four swimmers place in the 200 freestyle, including junior Caroline Belinowiz (2:38.70), sophomore Sara Curran (2:44.85), junior Brooke DeGrande (2:59.65) and freshman Erin Davis (3:03.82).
Grabar took home bronze in the 100 butterfly and finished 11th in the 200 IM (2:41.60) followed closely by sophomore Hannah Lord (3:24.07).
The Hornets lived up to their reputation as one of the league’s best in the 50 free, as Feffer took 2nd in 27.15 and Valenti nabbed 4th in 27.82. Valenti also took 5th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.17.
Feffer continued her freestyle dominance by taking 2nd in the 100 free in 59.27, while also helping the 200 freestlye relay team impress.
The 200 free relay team (Valenti, Belinowiz, Grabar, Feffer) took 3rd in 1:54.59.
The boys also had plenty to be proud of at CAL’s. Senior Owen DeCleene stole the show for the Hornets. In addition to competing for multiple relay teams, DeCleene also took 2nd in the 100 free (54.84) and 6th in the 50 free (25.09).
Senior Sam Barrette got 8th in the 200 IM in 2:48.53.
Sophomore Brandon DeCleene got 11th in the 100 breaststroke (1:24.52) and 9th in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:21.70. Freshman Chris Mangano took 12th in the 200 free at 2:45.35.
DeCleene wasn’t the only Hornet who performed well in the 50 free as sophomore Griffin May took 13th at 29.45 followed closely by senior Noah Aran (30.91) and sophomore Ben Giunta (33.79).
Aran (1:08.44) and Giunta (1:16.77) also placed in the 100 free, along with freshman Alec Semaan (1:18.05).
Freshmen classmates Henry Pelmos (6:59.83) and Mangano (7:15.47) finished 7th and 8th in the grueling 500 free.
Barrette (5th, 1:17.95) and May (7th, 1:20.65) each finished strong in the 100 backstroke to round out the individual highlights for the boys.
The relay teams also made some noise, including the 200 free team who took 5th in 1:53.57. That team consisted of Aran, May, Brandon and Owen DeCleene.
The 400 free also took 5th, including the DeCleene’s and Barrette.
