Beat Stoneham for third straight win

KAITLIN PATT had a strong performance against Melrose last week, qualifying for sectionals and states during her first swim in the 200 free. Patt also got 1st in the 100 fly. (Donna Larsson File Photo)

Published in the October 16, 2018 edition.

By DAN BYRNE

MALDEN — The Wakefield Memorial High School Swim Team has a hectic run of meets on their schedule, but they’re on a roll, and they went into looking to win their second meet.

Last week finished up with a Wednesday victory over rival Melrose. The Warriors out-paced the Red Raiders in the pool taking 1st place in nine out of 11 events, en route to a 94-68 victory.

In the 200 Yard Medley Relay the Warriors took 1st, 2nd, and 4th, with the team of Hannah Guay, Laura Sweeney, Kaitlin Patt and Abby Federici swimming a 2:03.59 for 1st place in the opening event.

Maria Brizon, Alyssa Toppi, Reignyah Grant and Jess Conley came in 2nd at 2:11.81, fast enough to qualify for sectionals later this year.

The Warriors took 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the 200 Yard Freestyle, as Patt swam a 2:04.02, to claim 2nd place and qualify for sectionals and states. Kyra Hoffman was 3rd and Katherine Maloney was 4th for the Warriors.

In the 200 Yard Individual Medley the Warriors took 1st, 2nd, and 5th place with Alyssa Toppi touching the wall first at 2:32.12. Erica Pecjo took home 2nd place and Sophie Brown grabbed the point for 5th place.

Laura Sweeney won the 50 Yard Freestlye with a time of 0:26.51, touching the wall just a split second before the Melrose swimmer Jennifer Kahler. Sweeney’s time is fast enough to qualify for both sectionals and states later this year. Abbie Federici finished 3rd for the Warriors.

Katie Patt won the 100 Yard Butterfly swimming a 1:03.34, fast enough to qualify for both sectionals and states

Abby Lane and Reignyah Grant finished 3rd and 4th in the Butterfly.

Laura Sweeney’s 100 Yard Freestyle time of 0:59.15 captured 1st place points for Wakefield. Abby Federici and Emily Chan came home in 3rd and 4th place.

Wakefield took 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the 500 Yard Freestyle, with Hannah Guay leading Sophie Brown and Lilly Cullen to the wall.

In the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, the Warriors took 1st place with a time of 1:54.52 from Katherine Maloney, Alyssa Toppi, Reignyah Grant, and Katie Patt.

Hannah Guay finished 1st in the 100 Yard Backstroke with a time of 1:04.57 to qualify for sectionals and states. Katherine Maloney finished 2nd and Maria Brizon was 5th for Wakefield.

The Warriors came in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the 100 Yard Breaststroke. Alyssa Toppi came in at 1:19.31 with Erica Pecjo and Emily Chan close behind her.

Finally the Warriors took 1st, 3rd, and 5th in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. Abby Federici, Hannah Guay, Laura Sweeney, and Katie Patt swam a 4:02.34 for 1st place. Sophie Brown, Abby Lane, Reignyah Grant, and Katherine Maloney came in 3rd, with Sam Colliton, Alex DeCecca, Kyra Hoffman, and Jess Conley coming in 5th.

“It’s always nice to win at home, it was our first win at home this year,” head coach Kathy Byrne said after beating Melrose. “We placed 1st-5th in every event.”

Some swimmers stood out on that day with coach Byrne highlighting a few performances.

“Katie Patt swam the 200 free for the first time and qualified for sectionals and states; Laura Sweeney 50 Free, same thing.”

“Hannah Guay did her best time in the 500, had a really close race and same with her backstroke,” added coach Byrne.

“Alyssa Toppi had a good meet in Melrose, she won the IM too.”

On October 12, the Warriors swam Stoneham at Medford High School, in a road meet for the Warriors.

Coming in winners of two straight meets, the Warriors scorched the Spartans in their own pool by a 94-71 final score for their third win in row.

A scheduling mix up caused the official to arrive late, which allowed the girls some time to get acclimated to the walls and blocks.

“We had a little extra time to warm up, which was good,” Coach Byrne said.

“What is kind of fun about Stoneham is it’s an 8-lane pool at Medford High, so we have an unofficial lane, so we’re able to get a lot of the 33 team members to swim,” said Byrne. “It is really nice to allow the JV girls to swim alongside the varsity and see what it is like to swim with that kind of competition and to really race,”

The Warriors started off the meet strong, taking 1st, 3rd, and 5th in the opening event, the 200 Yard Medley Relay. The team of Hannah Guay, Laura Sweeney, Kaitlin Patt, and Abby Federici swam a 2:02.75, good for 1st place and lowering their time from the Melrose meet.

Maria Brizon, Alyssa Toppi, Reignyah Grant and Jess Conley came in 3rd at 2:13.01.

The Warriors took 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in the 200 Yard Freestyle. Sophie Brown swam to a 2nd place finish with a 2:15.59, while Katherine Maloney took 3rd at 2:18.32. Lilly Cullen’s 2:25.27 was good for 4th place.

“Katie Patt swam the IM and qualified for sectionals and states,” Coach Byrne said, mentioning that her freshman’s 2:22.11 saw her come in 1st place in the event. Alyssa Toppi swam 2nd and Erica Pecjo came in 3rd for a 1-2-3 Warriors’ finish.

“Laura Sweeny in the 50 Free qualified for sectionals and states,” coach Byrne said, as Sweeney’s 0:26.18 saw her touch the wall first. Abby Federici score Wakefield 3rd place points at 0:28.19.

“It’s good to get them qualified in a bunch of different events because then they have some choices when they get to those meets,” Byrne said.

The Warriors took 1st, 2nd, and 4th in the 100 Yard Butterfly. Abby Lane finished just ahead of Emily Chan to take 1st and 2nd place points. Reignyah Grant came home in 4th for the Warriors.

Hannah Guay took 1st place in the 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 0:57.65. Abby Federici came home 5th for Wakefield.

It was a 1-2-3 finish for the Warriors in the 500 Yard Freestyle. Katie Patt took first with a 5:50.28. Katherine Maloney was 2nd with a 6:11.83. Kyra Hoffman came home 3rd for the Warriors with a 6:25.89.

The top-3 sweep put the Warriors ahead 73-37 in the scorebook.

Wakefield took 1st, 3rd, and 4th in the 200 Yard Freestyle relay. The team of Laura Sweeney, Emily Chan, Reignyah Grant, and Alyssa Toppi came in 1st place with a time of 1:54.47, which qualifies for Sectionals and States.

Alex DeCecca, Jess Conley, Lilly Cullen, and Abby Lane came in 3rd with a 2:04.28 time.

Ava Sowyrda, Hannah Harris, Sam Colliton, and Bella Mello finished in 4th place.

Wakefield took 1st, 3rd, and 4th in the 100 Yard Backstroke with Hannah Guay’s 1st place time of 1:03.77 good enough to qualify for Sectionals and States.

Erica Pecjo came in 3rd with a 1:14.50 and Maria Brizon came home 4th.

Laura Sweeney’s time of 1:15.21 was good enough for 1st place in the 100 Yard Breaststroke, with Alyssa Toppi 3rd at 1:21.03, and Emily Chan in 4th place.

In the 400 Yard Freestyle, the Warriors took 1st place by swimming a 4:08.47 with a team of Abby Federici, Sophie Brown, Katie Patt, and Hannah Guay.

Erica Pecjo, Kyra Hoffman, Abby Lane, and Katherine Maloney swam a 4:27.07.

Lilly Cullen, Jess Conley, Sam Colliton, and Reignyah Grant Swam a 4:38.90.

At 94-71 the Warriors had claimed their third straight victory.

Wakefield faced Woburn on Monday after press time. They travel to Burlington tomorrow. Full stories will appear at a later date.