Lots of Local Winners at Counties

By Melanie Cane

Other than an electrical storm that forced two days’ worth of events to be held on the final day, the 92^nd Annual Westchester County Swimming Association Meet (Counties) at Playland Pool went swimmingly July 31-August 3. Teams from all over Westchester, 37 in all, competed, and many local swimmers graced the winner’s podiums.

Rye Golf Club won the Diving event. Katie Laverty placed third in the Girls’ 14-17 competition and Michael Alpert came in second in the Boys’ 14-17. Rye Golf Club’s girls placed second overall as a team, with many of them winning or placing in the top three of their events. Lente Geelen, 12, earned first place in the 12 & Under 50 Yard Breaststroke, 12 & Under 50 Yard Butterfly, and 12 & Under 50 Yard Freestyle. Ten-year-old Megan Tiedeman won the 10 & Under 50 Yard Butterfly and placed third in the 10 & Under 50 Yard Backstroke. Megan, along with Lieve Geelen, Kayla Lombardo, and Sophia Lord, placed third place in the 10 & Under 200 Yard Medley Relay as well as the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. Lombardo, 9, also came in third in the 10 & Under 50 Yard Breaststroke.

A number of Coveleigh Club swimmers had shining moments. Grace Kujawski, 15, won the 17 & Under 100 Yard Breaststroke beating her teammate Alexa Lantin, 17, by one-tenth of a second. Kujawski came in third in the 17 & Under Butterfly and she and her sister Dylan, along with Lantin and Maggie Scala, came in third in the 17 & Under 200 Yard Freestyle Relay. The Girls’ 13 & Under 200 Yard Freestyle team of Lizzie Ford, Lizzie Scala, Ellie Mackie, and Dylan Kujawski placed third.

Shenorock Shore Club’s Catherine Hamilton, 16, won the 17 & Under 200 Yard IM. Westchester Country Club’s Boys 10 & Under 200 Yard Freestyle Relay team of Ryan Melnyk, Charlie O’Sullivan, Jackson Cooper, and Eddie Molloy placed second. O’Sullivan, Cooper, Melnyk, and Tyler McDermott took third in the 10 & Under 200 Yard Medley Relay.

In the waning days of summer, we always have the 93^rd Annual County Swim Meet at Playland Pool to look forward to, unless, of course, they convert the pool to a restaurant in the interim.

Alexa Lantin and Grace Kujawski of Coveleigh at the podium

The start of the Boys’ 10 & Under 50 Yard Freestyle

The start of the Girls 10 & Under 50 Yard Freestyle

Coveleigh’s Lizzie Scala

Matthew Capaldi represented Coveleigh in the Backstroke and Butterfly events

Megan Tiedeman of Rye Golf Club starting in the 10 & Under Backstroke

Tommy O’Sullivan of Westchester Country Club