The 87^th Annual Westchester County Swimming and Diving Championships went off without a hitch. Lake Isle Club hosted the Diving Championships July 23-24; the swimming competition took place at the Playland Pool July 30-August 2.

 

 

By Melanie Cane

 

The 87^th Annual Westchester County Swimming and Diving Championships went off without a hitch. Lake Isle Club hosted the Diving Championships July 23-24; the swimming competition took place at the Playland Pool July 30-August 2.

 

 

Fifteen teams competed in the diving, with Lake Isle finishing first, followed by Rye Golf Club and Coveleigh Club. Carolina Sculti, 12, of Westchester Country Club, set a new record in the Girls’ 10-13 meter dive, with 205.25 points. Among the other outstanding Rye divers were 10-year-old Katie Laverty and 11-year-old Michael Ackert of Rye Golf, 14-year-old Maddy Kenny (Shenorock Shore Club), and 16-year-old Norah Murphy (Coveleigh).

 

 

In swimming, 35 teams competed in 48 events. The diving scores were added to the swimming for the final tally. Lake Isle came out on top of the championship with 92 points. The Rye teams were far off that mark: Coveleigh Club finished 10^th with 48 points, Westchester Country Club scored 47, and Rye Golf Club 44.

 

 

Many Rye swimmers had standout performances. Liam Egan (14) from Orienta Beach Club won the Boys 14 & Under 100 butterfly, and broke the 20-year old record of 56.16 seconds with a time of 55.91 seconds. He also won the 14 & Under 100 yard freestyle and backstroke. Egan took second place in the 14 & under breaststroke and earned the most points (34) in his age group.

 

 

Melissa Fulenwider (17) of American Yacht Club won the Girls 17 & under 200 yard individual medley. Spencer LaFata of Coveleigh won the 15 & under 200 yard individual medley. He came in second behind Egan in the 14 & under 100 yard butterfly, and placed third in the 100 yard backstroke. In points, La Fata was second in his age group, with 29.

 

  

 

Coveleigh Club’s 13 & under Girls 200 yard medley team, comprised of Courtney Lyons, Maggie Scala, Caleigh Pope, and Sam Bluvol, placed third. American Yacht Club swimmer Raul Rodriguez placed third in both the 17 & under 200 yard individual medley and 100 yard backstroke.

 

 

While the future of many of these swimmers is bright, the future of the swim meet’s location is anything but. Every year since 2007, the Westchester County Swim Association has been told that their use of the Playland Pool would soon be ending.