Girls Swimming 2013

All-State players - Gale Pimer '85, '86; Taryn Smith '94, '95; Megan McGorry '06; Diana Pimer '10

Ram Tough
WH falls to Cheshire 95-78
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 4, 2013) – Heading into this week’s meets, West Haven coach Erin McCauley knew her team was facing stiff competition. Having to face Amity andCheshire in succession is no small task.
In a home meet Friday afternoon, the Westies saw just how good the Rams are asCheshire defeated the West Haven 95-78 at the West Haven pool.
"The team was definitely back to normal after the Amity meet," McCauley said. "There were several season best times."
Karen Caceres had a big day for the Westies as she was part of three victories, while Elizabeth Fournier and Cynthia Hager each were part of two winning events.
Fournier was victorious in the 100 butterfly in 1 minute, 5.66 seconds, Caceres won the 100 backstroke in 1:17.44 and Hager was victorious in the 100 breaststroke in 1:25.96.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Caceres, Hager, Ying Guo and Jasmine Gilbert won in 2:06.99 and the 400 freestyle relay team was a winner in 4:15.28 with a team of Georgienna Driver, Jessica McClure, Caceres and Fournier.
The Westies had several season best times. Among those were Sarah Flynn broke 100 in diving, Mayreliz Estrada swam the 100 butterfly for the first time ever and broke 2 minutes, while McClure had a 5:45.34 in the 500.
Jasmine Gilbert had a 6:48.64 in the 500 and Karen Caceres had a 1:17.44 in the 100 backstroke.
West Haven fell to 1-5 with the loss, while Cheshire improved to 5-0.

Amity too much for Westies
West Haven falls 94-88
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 1, 2013) – Despite solid efforts from Elizabeth Fournier and Jessica McClure, the West Haven swim team fell to Amity Tuesday evening in Woodbridge, 94-88. Fournier was part of three victories, while McClure was part of two.
"The girls have been so enthusiastic and so successful at having good races and positive meets, that I really wanted that streak to continue into Tuesday night," West Haven coach Erin McCauley said. "I explained to them that Amity is one of the best in the state and that they are a very cordial team with an excellent reputation. I encouraged the girls to race the clock and to watch the other team swim and admire their technique and work ethic."
Fournier was victorious in the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 6.47 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 1:05.25. McClure won the 500 freestyle in 5:47.63.
Fournier and McClure were also part of a victorious 400 freestyle relay team in 4:19.48. The team consisted of Georgienna Driver, Karen Caceres, McClure and Fournier.
The 200 medley relay team of Driver, Cynthia Hager, Fournier and McClure won in 2:12.23, McClure was third in the 50 freestyle in 30.81 seconds and Maxine Carrion was fourth in diving with 86.50 points and Sarah Flynn was fifth with 83.10 points.
Catherine Bartozzi was third in the 100 freestyle in 1:16.50 and the 200 freestyle relay team of Caceres, Ying Guo, Hager and Jasmine Gilbert was second in 2:08.13.
Caceres also placed third in the 100 backstroke in 1:18.87, Hager was second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:24.53.
"We are home for the rest of our meets and I am looking forward to them showing me the same team work and positive attitude they have had at most of our meets this season."
West Haven fell to 1-4 with the loss.

Off a Stroke
West Haven falls to 1-3 with 93-90 loss to Law
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 24, 2013) – The West Haven swim team was looking to build on its latest success. After dropping times and posting its initial victory of the season, West Havenlooked to keep the streak going against Jonathan Law.
Unfortunately for the Westies, the depth of Law won out in a 93-90 Law victory inMilford Tuesday afternoon. With the loss, West Haven fell to 1-3.
"We knew this meet was going to be very close," West Haven coach Erin McCauley said. "I changed up a few things in the lineup, and put girls in places where I knew they would have close races, but where we could potentially score the most points. I told them all to go out there and fight for every point."
Elizabeth Fournier had a solid day for the Westies as she was part of three victories. Fournier won the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 8.90 seconds, the 100 butterfly in 1:06.28 and the 200 free relay along with Georgienna Driver, Jessica McClure and Ying Guo in 1:58.47.
"Law has a good sized team and they all showed up to play yesterday," McCauley said. "I explained to my girls that everything is cyclical, and that this is a year for us to grow and train and swim against the clock.
"In swimming, you usually know going into a meet what the result will be. We were very closely matched, so it could have gone either way."
West Haven’s 400 freestyle relay team of Guo, Cynthia Hager, Jasmine Gilbert and Karen Caceres won in 4:45.63. McClure was victorious in the 500 freestyle in 5:50.78.
The 20 medley relay team of Caceres, Fournier, Driver and McClure placed second in 2:16.55, Driver was second in the 200 IM in 2:42.47 and McClure placed second in the 50 freestyle in 29.48 seconds.
"Going forward, we have to swim all of the teams in Division I, so I told the girls my goal and theirs should be to train hard and go faster, and focus on racing the clock. With 22 girls, this is as big of a squad as we have had in years, but many are new, which is encouraging for the future of the program."
Sarah Flynn (94.25 points) and Maxine Carrion (94.50) placed third and fourth, respectively, in diving and Talia Raucci was fourth in the 100 freestyle in 1:13.33.

Victorious
West Haven wins first meet of season against East Haven
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 19, 2013) – The West Haven swim team picked up its first victory of the year Thursday afternoon in East Haven. Behind Elizabeth Fournier, Georgienna Driver and Jessica McClure, the Westies defeated East Haven 94-72 to improve to 1-2 on the year.
"It was an amazing effort by "Team Positive," West Haven coach Erin McCauley said. "They were all pumped and ready for a win.
"Times were down, spirits were up, and we had a real swim meet. I was very proud of the girls and I know they were proud of themselves too."
Fournier was part of three winning events, while McClure and Driver each won two events.
The 200 medley relay team of Karen Caceres, Driver, Fournier and McClure won in 2 minutes, 16.95 seconds.
Fournier was victorious in the 200 freestyle in 2:07.18, McClure won the 50 freestyle in 29.59 seconds and Fournier was also victorious in the 100 butterfly in 1:05.29.
Driver won the 100 backstroke in 1:17.16 and Cynthia Hager was a winner in the 100 breaststroke in 1:23.94.
Driver was second in the 200 IM in 2:42.18, Jasmine Gilbert was second in the 50 freestyle in 32.03 seconds, Talia Raucci placed second in the 100 freestyle in 1:14.76 and McClure was second in the 500 freestyle in 5:46.26, losing by .01 seconds.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Hager, Gilbert, Dana Joseph and Ying Guo placed second in 2:12.99. The 400 freestyle was an exhibition which saw Driver, McClure, Caceres and Fournier finish in 4:16.79.

Foran defeats Westies
West Haven falls to 0-2 with 93-81 loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 17, 2013) – The West Haven girls’ swim team dropped a 93-81 decision against Foran Tuesday evening at Foran High. Winning just four events, the Westies dropped to 0-2 on the year.
"In the water, the girls are doing great," West Haven coacxh Erin McCauley said. "Nerves and tensions are still running high on deck. We have so many novice swimmers, that I think the meet environment is a little intimidating, and that seems to be affecting a majority of the team when it comes to their focus.
"On our bus ride home, I addressed the importance of competing as a team, both on deck and in the water. Our first home meet was great, but, at a different pool, they were a little shaky. I'm hoping we have worked out the kinks and that our meet at East Haven will be the right combination of good swims in the water and good teamwork on deck."
Elizabeth Fournier had a solid meet as she was involved in three of the victories for the Westies. Fournier was victorious in the 100 free in 58.52 seconds, won the 100 breaststroke in 1 minute, 19.94 seconds and was part of the victorious 400 free relay team in 4:19.34.
The relay team consisted of Georgienna Driver, Ying Guo, Jessica McClure and Fournier. Karen Caceres also picked up a victory in the loss for the Westies as she won in the backstroke in 1:18.70.
The 200 medley relay team of Caceres, Fournier, Driver and McClure was second in 2:16.95 and the 200 freestyle relay team of Cynthia Hager, Dana Joseph, Jasmine Gilbert and Guo was second in 2:10.83.
McClure was second in the 200 free in 2:17.61, Driver was second in the 200 IM in 2:38.29 and Hager was third with her best time of 2:58.34.
Gilbert had her best time in the 50 free in 31.38 seconds, Sarah Flynn had 89.55 points in diving and Driver was third in the 100 butterfly in 1:18.46.
"Jasmine Gilbert dropped two seconds in her 50 free and 23 seconds in her 500," McCauley said. "Dana Joseph dropped two seconds in her breaststroke."
Catherine Dube had a solid day for the Lions as she was involved in three victories. Dube, Hannah Johnson, Sarah Fitzgerald and Sarah DeLuke won the 200 medley relay in 2:07.28, Dube won the 200 freestyle in 2:07.62 and the 500 freestyle in 5:40.01.
DeLuke also won three events, as she also posted victories in the 50 freestyle in 30.31 seconds and the 200 free relay in 1:58.32 with Hannah Buckley, Johnson and Jillian Page.

Sheehan holds off Westies
West Haven falls in season opener
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(September 11, 2013) – The West Haven swim team opened the 2013 season with a loss to Sheehan Wednesday afternoon at the West Haven High School pool. Winning just five events, the Westies fell to the Titans 99-73 in the season opener for both teams.
"Most of the girls swam really well," West Haven coach Erin McCauley said. "Almost all of our new swimmers competed in four events, and we only had one minor disqualification. I told them today was like a pre-test to see what they could do. Many of them were nervous because they didn't know what to expect.
"After the meet, several of them came to me and said, 'That was so much fun! I don't know why I was so nervous.' Sirena Frissora, who had been worrying herself sick for two days, was beaming and kept saying, 'I love this sport.' It's kids like that who make this such an awesome job. We are a much more novice team than we have been in my four years as coach, but the attitude amoing the swimmers, and their level of effort is really fantastic."
Elizabeth Fournier, Georgienna Driver and Jessica McClure had solid days for the Westies as each won a pair of events.
"Elizabeth, Georgie and Jessica picked up a win, which was great for them, and helped set a good bar for them to continue to raise," McCauley said. "Talia Raucci dropped a lot of time in the 500 free and freshman Dana Joseph was the fastest Westie in the 100 breaststroke."
Fournier was victorious in the 100 butterfly in a time of 1 minute, 5.11 seconds, Driver won the 100 freestyle in 1:03.27 and McClure won the 500 freestyle in 5:51.66.
Driver, McClure and Fournier were part of a victorious 400 freestyle relay team along with Karen Caceres, winning in 4:16.18.Dana Joseph rounded out the victories for the Westies as she won the 100 breaststroke in 1:33.84.

In the fast lane
West Haven looking for positive results in 2013
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
Optimism is the word as the West Haven girls’ swim team prepares to start the 2013 season. Despite losing one of their biggest point scorers in Catherine Fournier to graduation, the Westies have some swimmers who can put up some points.
West Haven, which finished 3-7 last season, will turn to senior captains Ying Guo and Jessica McClure to lead the way. Guo will swim in the breaststroke and freestyle, while McClure will swim in the distance freestyle events.
“Ying and Jessica both started swimming with the Wizards in the spring of their eighth grade year,” West Haven coach Erin McCauley said. “This is late for most swimmers but both have come a very long way in such a short time. This is my first year coaching that the captains haven’t been life-long swimmers, but the two of them compliment each other as well as any leaders we have had.
“Ying is number one in her class and her resume of activities and awards from throughout her high school career spans six pages. We are very fortunate to have her leading our team this year. Jessica has gone from not knowing how to swim before eighth grade to qualifying for the State Championships in her junior year. Her dedication to swimming is going to help lead this team to a successful season.”
Joining Guo and McClure are a pair of top returning swimmers in senior Georgienna Driver and junior Elizabeth Fournier. Driver will swim in the IM, butterfly and distance freestyle while Fournier can swim in every event.
“Georgie has been swimming her whole life and is inspired by and driven toward the Olympic Games,” McCauley said. “She has read and studied countless Olympians’ strokes and philosophies, which has helped her discipline and her dedication over the years. Her technique is good and she is a strong swimmer, so I look forward to big things from her this year.
“Elizabeth is also a life-long swimmer, and I can remember coaching her as an 11-year-old and trying to help her get under 2:30 in the 200 freestyle. She is now reigning regional champion from the summer season in the 200 free with a time of 2:01. I am hoping she can break 2:00 this season, but we are chasing the 100 butterfly record with her as well. She is an all around fast swimmer, and if she can find her groove in backstroke again, we will be able to construct a solid lineup around her.”
McCauley and her squad will also welcome freshman Karen Caceres to the mix asCaceres will swim in the butterfly and backstroke events. The Westies also have two returning divers in junior Sarah Flynn and sophomore Maxine Carrion.
“Karen is a solid addition to our team, and I am looking forward to seeing her drop time in some of her events and score a lot of points for us this season,” McCauley said.
“We also have two returning divers. Both competed in diving for us last year and both are back again this season under the direction of diving coach Matt Milano.”
With plenty of talent in the pool, McCauley wants to compete in the division and start building a strong program once again.
“I would like to be competitive in our division,” McCauley said. “We lost one of our biggest point scorers in Catherine Fournier, but with the addition of Karen Caceres and the number of dedicated newcomers we have this year, I am hoping we can build something strong and competitive. I would also like to see Elizabeth (Fournier) go for a couple of records this year. She is certainly close, and while she still has one more year, it would be great to see her start lighting up that board this season.
“Our keys to success are going to be to stay positive and focused, and to score as many points as possible. In a high school swim meet, the top five swimmers score points, so all you have to do is make sure you beat one other person in the water, and you have scored a point for your team. I tell my girls all the time, no matter what lane you are in, you have the chance to score points, so fight for that point. Every race is a new opportunity.”
McCauley likes what she has seen thus far.
“At the very first practice, I stressed the importance of being ready to go, and being early,” McCauley said. “As Tom Coughlin says, ‘If you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.’ The girls have responded very well to this, and they are getting through more in the two hours of practice than they have in the early days of past seasons. I attribute this to good leadership, and I am excited to see how all their hard work pays off at our first meet on September 11 at West Haven.”West Haven opens the season September 11, hosting Sheehan at 3:45 p.m.

Westies fall to Branford
Fournier and McClure have solid meets in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 8, 2013) – Elizabeth Fournier and Jessica McClure each had a good day at the pool, but it was not enough as the West Haven girls’ swimming team fell to Branford 94-83 Tuesday afternoon at West Haven.
Fournier was victorious in three events and McClure won two more. Fournier was a victor in the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 5.69 seconds, the 100 butterfly in 1:06.41 and was part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team in 4:26.82.
The 400 freestyle relay team consisted of Jasmine Gilbert, Georgienna Driver, McClure and Fournier. McClure was also victorious in the 500 freestyle in 5:47.00.Karen Caceres won the 100 backstroke in 1:19.18 and Cynthia Hager was victorious in the 100 breaststroke in 1:25.12.

Good Showing
West Haven 12th in SCC Championships
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 31, 2013) – The West Haven swim team has been looking to improve throughout the year. Wednesday evening in the Southern Connecticut Conference Championships showed hard work pays off.
With two individual swimmers in the top five and four events in the top ten, the Westies placed 12th out of 16 teams with 270 points, narrowly behind 11th place Lyman Hall with 270 points.
Cheshire won the title with 1,342.5 points, Amity was second with 1,123 and Hand was third with 616 points.
Elizabeth Fournier had her team’s top finish as she placed fourth in the 100 yard butterfly in 1 minute, 2.26 seconds. Fournier was also fifth in the 200 yard IM in 2:19.15.
Georgienna Driver led the 400 freestyle relay team to an eighth place finish in 4:05.84 with a team of Jessica McClure, Karen Caceres and Fournier. Driver was also ninth in the 500 yard freestyle in 5:37.64.
The 200 medley relay team of Driver, Cynthia Hager, Fournier and McClure was 13thin 2:07.92, McClure was 23rd in the 200 yard freestyle in 2:12.12 and Driver was 26thin the 100 yard butterfly in 1:09.41.
McClure placed 13th in the 500 yard freestyle in 5:40.28 and the 200 yard freestyle relay team of Hager, Yingxian Guo, Jasmine Gilbert and Caceres was 12th in 1:58.91.
Driver and McClure qualified for the Class LL state trials in the 500 freestyle.

Westies fall on Senior Night
McClure shines in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 17, 2013) – Friday afternoon was an emotional one for coach Erin McCauley as Senior Day had plenty of meaning. For McCauley, it marked the end of an era for her first four-year group since she took over as the head coach.
When McCauley started, this senior class was a freshman group. While the Westies fell to Hand, the effort and memories were there in a 94-77 setback.
“The meet was great,” McCauley said. “It’s always nice to swim Hand on our Senior Night. They are an extremely respectable team and their coach is one of the nicest people I know.
“It was an emotional night for all of us. This is the first four-year class I have had. When I started coaching, these seniors were freshmen. They have come so far and I’m so proud of them.”
Jessica McClure won the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 15.12 seconds, the 500 freestyle in 5:49.51 and was part of the victorious 400 freestyle relay in 4:14.84 with Georgienna Driver, Caceres and Elizabeth Fournier.Fournier was also victorious in the 100 butterfly in 1:05.94 and Cynthia Hager won the 100 breaststroke in 1:23.04.

WH falls to Sacred Heart Academy, 94-81
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 15, 2013) – The West Haven girls’ swimming team fell to Sacred HeartAcademy Tuesday afternoon in West Haven. The Westies battled, but the depth of the Pacers proved to be too much in a 94-81 Sacred Heart victory.West Haven, which fell to 1-8 with the loss, placed first in only three events. Jessica McClure won the 500 freestyle in 5 minutes, 46.69 seconds and Elizabeth Fournier was victorious in the 100 backstroke in 1:07.72. Cynthia Hager also won for the Westies as she was victorious in the 100 breaststroke in 1:23.29.

Westies fall to Mercy
Fournier and Driver have big efforts in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(October 11, 2013) – Despite the solid efforts of Elizabeth Fournier and Georgienna Driver, the West Haven girls’ swim team was unable to solve Mercy. The Tigers were solid throughout and their depth paid dividends in a 100-78 victory over West Havenat West Haven High Friday evening.
Fournier and Driver were each victorious in three events. Fournier won the 200 freestyle in 2 minutes, 6.47 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 1:07.78, while Driver was victorious in the 200 im in 2:33.19 and the 500 freestyle in 5:53.61.
Both were also part of the victorious 400 freestyle relay team, which won in 4:22.11 and consisted of Jasmine Gilbert, Driver, Jessica McClure and Fournier.
Sarah Flynn won the diving with 110.65 points.
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