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Jaycee Padro. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
GIRLS SWIMMING 2011
Hayley Padro. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Ariel Vaughan. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Catherine Fournier. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Hayley Padro. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Catherine Bartozzi finishes against Woodland, October 26, 2011 as Elizabeth Fournier (l.), Angelica Daguplo (c.) and Catherine Fournier (r.) cheer her on. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Ariel Vaughan. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Georgienna Driver. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Ariel Vaughan. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
West Haven diver Tifani Gilbert. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Georgienna Driver swims against Woodland, October 26, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.
Georgienna Driver. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Tifani Gilbert. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Sam Garcia. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Ariel Vaughan. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske
Lavery and Garcia have strong outings in SCC Championships
Westies finish 10th
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(November 3, 2011) - West Haven seniors Christina Lavery and Samantha Garcia saved their best for last. Participating in the Southern Connecticut Conference Championships, Lavery and Garcia each placed in the top ten in four events.
Efforts like that from Lavery and Garcia and a host of others allowed the Westies to finish tenth overall. Amity won the title over Cheshire, marking the first time in 18 years Cheshire was not the SCC champion.
Lavery started the meet in fine fashion with an eighth place finish in the 200 yard medley relay. The team consisted of freshman Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Lavery and Garcia, finishing in 2 minutes, 1.62 seconds in the finals.
The second event saw Lavery finish fifth in the 200 yard freestyle in a time of 2:00.02. Elizabeth Fournier was 24th in 2:08.87.
Lavery then placed third in the 100 yard freestyle in 56.12 seconds with Garcia placing sixth in 57.06. Hayley Padro was 21st in 1:00.40.
The Westies and Lavery finished the championships in fine fashion, placing fourth in the 400 yard freestyle relay. Lavery opened the event and was followed by Elizabeth Fournier, Padro and Garcia in a time of 3:53.64.
Catherine Fournier placed 15th in the 200 yard im in 2:23.95, Garcia was tenth in the 50 yard freestyle in 26.84 and Padro was 22nd in 27.63.
Ariel Vaughan was 21st in the 100 yard butterfly in 1:08.35 and also was part of the 200 yard freestyle relay team which placed 12th in a time of 1:53.80. That team consisted of Catherine Fournier, Samantha Gilbert, Vaughan and Padro.
Elizabeth Fournier was 21st in the 100 yard backstroke in 1:08.59 and Catherine Fournier was 15th in the 100 yard breaststroke in 1:15.33.
Westies fall to Woodland
Despite valiant effort, West Haven defeated 96-87
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 26, 2011) – The West Haven swim team nearly had enough depth to defeat Woodland Wednesday afternoon in West Haven. Despite winning only four events, the depth of the Westies kept them close.
Unfortunately for West Haven, Woodland took home too many first place finishes. Those top spots for Woodland proved to be the difference in a 96-87 defeat for the Westies.
Catherine Fournier had a solid day for the Westies as she was involved in three of the four top spots. Fournier was victorious in the 200 im in 2 minutes, 22.92 seconds and also placed first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:16.53.
The victorious 200 freestyle relay team also featured Fournier. That team, which was also comprised of Elizabeth Fournier, Christina Lavery and Samantha Garcia, won in 1:51.46. Garcia rounded out West Haven’s top finishes by winning the 50 freestyle in 26.87 seconds.
West Haven defeats Hamden
Westies win 10 events to post victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 24, 2011) - The West Haven swim team won ten events Monday afternoon to defeat Hamden 95-88. The Westies received solid efforts from Catherine Fournier, Samantha Garcia and Christina Lavery as each won four events and Elizabeth Fournier, who won three events.
West Haven did well in the relays throughout the day. In the 200 medley relay, the Westies were victorious in 2 minutes, 5.50 seconds with a team of Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Lavery and Hayley Padro.
The 200 freestyle relay won in 1:50.89 with a team of Elizabeth Fournier, Ariel Vaughan, Catherine Fournier and Garcia. The Westies rounded out the sweep of the relays with a victory in the 400 freestyle in 4:03.48 with a team of Lavery, Jessica McClure, Padro and Garcia.
Lavery won the 200 freestyle in 2:06.45, Catherine Fournier won the 200 im in 2:23.79 and Garcia was victorious in the 50 freestyle in 26.28 seconds.
Garcia also won the 100 freestyle in 58.19, Lavery was victorious in the 500 freestyle in 5:40.73 and Elizabeth Fournier won the 100 backstroke in 1:09.36. Catherine Fournier rounded out West Haven’s stellar day with a victory in the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.81.
West Haven falls to Lions
Westies fall to Foran by one point
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 20, 2011) – Despite winning eight events, the West Haven swim team fell to Foran Thursday afternoon 92-91. The Westies received solid outings from Christina Lavery and Samantha Garcia as each was part of four victorious teams but that was not enough in the loss.
The Westies were victorious in a pair of relay events, winning the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
The 200 medley relay was won in 2 minutes, 5.39 seconds with a team of Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Lavery and Garcia. Hayley Padro joined Lavery, Elizabeth Fournier and Garcia in winning the 400 freestyle relay in 4:00.71.
In the individual events, Lavery was victorious in the 200 freestyle in 2:04.70 and the 100 butterfly in 1:06.99. Catherine Fournier won the 200 im in 2:24.75 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:17.19.
Garcia was victorious in the 50 freestyle in 27.54 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 59.68 seconds.
The 200 medley relay team of Georgienna Driver, Cynthia Hager, Ariel Vaughan and Yingxian Guo placed third in 2:20.63. Fournier was second in the 200 free in 2:13.27 and Jessica McClure was third in 2:21.45.
Vaughan placed fourth in the 200 im in 2:37.53 and Driver was fifth in 2:42.42. Angelica Daguplo placed fifth in the 50 freestyle in 30.42 and Samantha Dudek finished sixth in 37.18.
West Haven's Tifani Gilbert was third in diving with 101.95 points, Vaughan was third in the 100 butterfly in 1:13.28 and Catherine Bartozzi placed sixth in 1:34.91.
In the 100 freestyle, Guo was fifth in 1:10.29 and Samantha Gilbert was sixth in 1:11.47. The Westies did well in the 500 freestyle as Driver was second in 6:08.60, McClure was third in 6:08.76 and Dudek finished sixth in 7:53.78.
Padro, Driver, Vaughan and Catherine Fournier placed second in the 200 freestyle realy in 1:56.34. Elizabeth Fournier was second in the 100 backstroke in 1:10.42, Padro was third in 1:11.95 and Jessica Lauer was sixth in 1:19.88
Hager and Guo finished fifth and sixth respectively, in the 100 breaststroke. Hager finished in 1:28.12 and Guo was next in 1:30.65.
Just Short
Westies edged by North Haven 94-87
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
WEST HAVEN (October 17, 2011) – After defeating North Haven by one point last season, the West Haven girls’ swim team knew it would be in for a battle this season with the Indians. That battle proved to be true as the Westies were edged by the Indians 94-87 Monday afternoon in North Haven.
The Westies won just five events but used their depth to keep the meet within reach. In the end, the Indians proved to be too much in sending West Haven to defeat.
West Haven was victorious in the 200 medley relay in 2 minutes, 4.25 seconds. The team consisted of Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Christina Lavery and Samantha Garcia. The team of Georgienna Driver, Yingxian Guo, Ariel Vaughan and Hayley Padro was third in 2:17.35.
Elizabeth Fournier was third in the 200 free in 2:09.72 while Jessica McClure and Guo were fifth and sixth, respectively. The Westies did well in the 200 im as Catherine Fournier placed second in 2:25.28, Vaughan was third in 2:34.87 and Driver was fourth in 2:38.57.
Garcia was victorious in the 50 free in 27.00 seconds, Samantha Gilbert placed fifth in 30.09 and Guo was sixth in 31.18. In the diving event, Tifani Gilbert was third with 97.7 points.
North Haven won the 100 fly but Vaughan placed second in 1:11.18, Driver was third in 1:12.59 and Angelica Daguplo was fifth in 1:15.19.
The 100 freestyle was won by Garcia in 57.87 seconds with Padro placing third in 1:01.56 and freshman Catherine Bartozzi placing sixth in 1:10.47.
Lavery was victorious in the 500 freestyle in 5:35.15. McClure placed fifth in 6:17.16 and Daguplo was sixth in 6:59.69.
North Haven took home the top two spots in the 200 freestyle relay. West Haven did place third with a team of Catherine Fournier, Vaughan, Daguplo and Driver in 1:57.06.
Elizabeth Fournier had a nice showing in the 100 back as she placed second in 1:10.94. Padro was fourth in 1:14.11 and Jessica Lauer was sixth in 1:22.13.
The Indians were victorious in the 100 breaststroke but the Westies took home second through fourth with Fournier (1:15.50), Lavery (1:15.66) and Cynthia Hager (1:27.91).
The Westies rounded out the meet with a victory in the 400 free relay. The team of Padro, Elizabeth Fournier, Lavery and Garcia won in 3:57.78.
Westies coast by Law
Fournier’s, Lavery, Padro lead West Haven
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 14, 2011) – Led by Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Christina Lavery and Hayley Padro, the West Haven swim team defeated Law Friday afternoon 102-73. West Haven placed first in eight events to win by 29 points in a meet which was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness.
The 200 medley relay team of Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Lavery and Padro won in 2 minutes, 7.57 seconds. West Haven was also victorious in the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:55.92 with a team of Samantha Garcia, Ariel Vaughan, Angelica Daguplo and Catherine Fournier.
Garcia won the 200 freestyle in 2:11.19, Vaughan was victorious in the 200 im in 2:38.76 and Catherine Fournier won the 50 freestyle in 28.27 seconds.
The 100 freestyle was won by Padro in 1:01.13 and Lavery was victorious in the 500 freestyle in 5:33.91. Elizabeth Fournier rounded out West Haven’s top finishes by winning the 100 backstroke in 1:11.05.
Catherine Fournier was second in the 200 freestyle in 2:15.00 and Georgienna Driver was second in the 200 im and was also third in the 100 fly in 1:11.
The Westies had the top three finishers in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. In the 500 freestyle, Driver was second and Jessica McClure was third. Yingxian Guo was second in the 100 breaststroke and Cynthia Hager was third.
Westies defeat Lyman Hall
Solid performance in victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 11, 2011) – The West Haven swim team hosted Lyman Hall Tuesday and came away with a 92-88 victory. The Westies posted six victories to win by four points.
Christina Lavery, freshman Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier and Sam Garcia had big days as each were part of numerous winners. Lavery was part of four first place finishes, Garcia was part of three and Elizabeth and Catherine Fournier were each part of two winners.
West Haven won the 200 medley relay with a team of Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Lavery and Garcia. The Westies were also victorious in the 400 free relay in a time of 3 minutes, 56 seconds with a team of Lavery, Hayley Padro, Elizabeth Fournier and Garcia.
Lavery was also victorious in the 200 freestyle in 2:04 and the 100 fly in 1:07.83. Sam Garcia was victorious in the 50 freestyle in 27.70 seconds.
Catherine Fournier, who also was part of two winning events, won the 100 breaststroke. Fournier’s time was 1:16.
The Trojans were victorious in the diving event along with the 200 freestyle relay and the 100 backstroke. Lyman Hall’s Brittany Driscoll won the 200 im in 2:21.17 and the 100 freestyle in 56 seconds. Holland Driscoll of Lyman Hall was victorious in the 500 freestyle in 5:42.
Cruising
Westies dominate East Haven
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
The West Haven swim team had a solid performance against East Haven Thursday afternoon. The Westies took home first place finishes in each event, defeating the Yellow Jackets 91-66 at West Haven High.
The Westies did well in the relay events, winning the 200-yard medley relay in 2 minutes, 6.67 seconds, the 200 freestyle relay in 1:50.27 and the 400 freestyle relay in 4:02.04.
The 200-yard medley relay team consisted of freshman Elizabeth Fournier, Catherine Fournier, Christina Lavery and Samantha Garcia. Lavery, Hayley Padro, Elizabeth Fournier and Garcia were part of the 200 freestyle relay and Lavery, Catherine Fournier, Padro and Garcia took home the 400 freestyle relay.
In the individual events, Jessica McClure was victorious in the 200 freestyle in 2:23.68, Georgienna Driver won the 200 im in 2:40.01 and Samantha Gilbert won the 50 freestyle in 30.08 seconds.
Tifani Gilbert won the diving with 100.15 points, Catherine Fournier was victorious in the 100 butterfly in 1:11.39 and Yingxian Guo won the 100 freestyle in 1:09.28.
Driver also won the 500 freestyle in 6:19.73. Elizabeth Fournier won the 100 backstroke in 1:12.24 and Ariel Vaughan won the 100 breaststroke in 1:27.72.
Making Strides
Individual efforts improving despite 2-4 start
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
The West Haven girls’ swim team has started the season with two wins in its first six meets. Facing a tough schedule to start the season, the Westies have held their own.
While the wins may not show in the total team score, the Westies have seen some solid individual performances.
Some of the top individual performers have been Christina Lavery, Samantha Garcia, Ariel Vaughan, Catherine Fournier, Georgienna Driver, Jessica McClure, Hayley Padro and Elizabeth Fournier.
Lavery is a senior who has done well in the freestyle and butterfly, Garcia is a senior who has excelled in the 50 free and 100 free and Vaughan and Catherine Fournier are juniors who have done well in the fly, intermediate and breaststroke.
“We are two and four so far,” West Haven coach Erin Reilly said. “We have lost to Sacred Heart, Cheshire, Hand and Branford and have defeated Shelton and Sheehan.
“So far, our times are on point with what they should be. We anticipated a closer meet with Sacred Heart, but unfortunately, their diving program is significantly stronger than ours, I give Tifani Gilbert a lot of credit for working so hard on her own and competing for us on the diving board. She is more-or-less self taught and always puts in a tremendous effort.”
Driver is a sophomore who has excelled in the backstroke and butterfly, and McClure swims in the distance and freestyle events.
Padro is a junior who has started off this year even better than she ended last year. According to Reilly, Padro is “excelling in the backstroke and sprinting events.”
Elizabeth Fournier is a freshman who Reilly says is “making a major mark. She is already on track to qualify for states in her first year.”Reilly likes what she sees so far on the season.
“Our swimmers are working very hard and swimming as well or better than expected,” Reilly said.
Slow Start
Westies start season 1-4
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 27, 2011) - The West Haven swim team has started the season with just one victory in its first five meets. Tuesday afternoon saw the Westies fall to an undefeated Branford team 106-72.
While the Westies won six events, the depth of the Hornets (5-0) proved to be too much in the loss for West Haven.
Christina Lavery and Catherine Fournier had big days for the Westies. Each won two individual events and both were part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team.
Lavery won the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 3.65 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 1:06.84. Fournier won the 200 im in 2:27.55 and was also victorious in the 100 breaststroke in 1:16.75.
The 400 freestyle relay team was victorious in 4:03.74. The team consisted of Lavery, Fournier, Georgienna Driver and Samantha Garcia. Garcia also won the 100 freestyle in 58.53 seconds.
Making a Splash
Replacing Pimer could be the key
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
The West Haven girls swimming team is fresh off a successful 2010 season where the team finished with a 10-3 record. That team had All-State swimmer Diana Pimer and a host of other to lead the way.
While Pimer may have graduated, coach Erin Reilly still has a solid group to be successful once again this year. Reilly knows hard work and staying healthy will be the keys to any success West Haven has.
“We need to stay healthy, train hard and make no mistakes, especially against our toughest competitors in our division,” Reilly said.
Pimer’s graduation puts a huge void in the 200 im and the 100 breaststroke, giving others an opportunity to lead the way. Samantha Garcia and Angelica Dagulpo will take over the role of leading the team as the two were named captains for the upcoming season.
“We want to maintain our winning record and have at least one all-state swimmer again,” Reilly said.
Garcia and Christina Lavery will anchor the team in the pool as Garcia will specialize in the sprints and Lavery will swim in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle.
With only six seniors on the squad, the team will need contributions from every swimmer to be successful.
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