North ahead of schedule; East breaks records
Girls swimming
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Only three meets into the 2007 season and Williamsville North's girls swimming team has already passed some huge tests.

Like last year, the defending ECIC Division I champions have opened the season with league wins over Orchard Park, 112-69; Clarence, 58-44; and Jamestown, 56-46. However, North is posting faster times.

"The kids have surpassed several good times that some of our seniors had last year," said North coach Doug Cassidy. "It's gratifying to see all of the hard work paying off."

North sophomores Cami Farkas and Maggie Schmidt and junior Abigail MacDonald have led the way.

Farkas won the 200-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly against Orchard Park, took second in the 100 and 200 free versus Clarence and earned second-place points in the 100 and 200 free over Jamestown.

Schmidt solidified North's win over Clarence with a second in the 100 and 200 free and won the 100 fly against Jamestown to break a tie score.

MacDonald is undefeated in the 100 backstroke. She swam a 1:02.90 against Clarence and Jamestown, a half-second off the state cut time of 1:02.5.

Cassidy hopes all three qualify for the New York State Championships in mid-November on Long Island.

The North relays have also provided the team with a ton of points. Cassidy said the 200 free relay of Farkas, Schmidt, senior Britney Talty and sophomore Abby Zwierzchowski is undefeated and has the second-fastest relay time in Western New York with a 1:45.12. The 400 free relay of Farkas, Schmidt, MacDonald and Zwierzchowski is 2-1.

Senior diver Casey Matthews is 2-0. She couldn't attend the Clarence match because she was on an official visit at Auburn University. Senior Dana Gradl stepped up with a personal-best score of 191 points to place second.

North swam Sweet Home on Tuesday, but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They swim at 5 p.m. Friday at West Seneca West.

Williamsville East

Three East pool records fell during the Lady Flames' 69-30 home meet last Tuesday at East High School.

Senior Janelle Munroe broke records in the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.38) and 100 backstroke (1:02.62), and sophomore Bailey Woodling broke the 50 freestyle record (25.48). Munroe and Woodling took home first place in each event.

The 200 medley relay of Woodling, Kristen Ostanski, Munroe and Britany O'Dea also won in 1:57.98.

East had to swim at the high school because its regular pool at Transit Middle School was under construction.

East closed out the week with a 68-34 win on Friday at Iroquois. Munroe won the 500 free in a school-record 5:19.34.

Senior Kelsey Bradbury was a double winner in the 200 individual medley (2:26.50) and 100 fly (1:08.74). The 200 free relay of Woodling, O'Dea, Bradbury and senior Tori Mayer came in first in a time of 1:47.54. Ostanski took home top honors in the 100 breast in 1:16.31. Mayer posted a personal best 2:04.45 in the 200 free.

East hosted West Seneca East on Tuesday, but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com