North swimmers improve record

Williamsville North's girls swimming team continued the 2008 season with a resounding 111-75 win over Jamestown on Sept. 23 at Jamestown.

Cami Farkas took first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.90) and 100 butterfly (1:00.30). Other individual winners were Abigail MacDonald (100 back, 1:02.86) and Clare Battaglia (100 breast, 1:15.63).

North's 200 medley relay of MacDonald, Clare Battaglia, Nikki Malkowski and Maggie Schmidt (2:01.36) and 200 free relay of Farkas, Abby Zwierzchowski, Kaitlyn Walsh and Clare Battaglia (1:46.29) also took home first-place finishes.

North's breaststrokers put the final touch on the meet, finishing 1-2-3 (Clare Battaglia, Leah Chiarmonte and Shoshana Chazen) in the second-to-last event, giving them a scoring edge in that event, 13-3.

The Lady Spartans (4-0) have also beaten Lake Shore, 128-55, on Sept. 26 and West Seneca West, 71-31, on Oct. 3.

"We have had a number of great performances, especially from our second-tier swimmers," said Cassidy.

"At the top, Cami (Farkas), Maggie (Schmidt), Abigail (MacDonald) and Clare Battaglia continue to swim well," said Cassidy. "I've been moving them around in a variety of events to see what they can do, and they've not disappointed."

Cassidy said the team has not hit any additional state qualifying times but remains close in the 100 back (McDonald) and is working on the 200 medley relay.

"We 've gone 1:56.50 and need a 1:54.45," said Cassidy. "I mentioned at the beginning of the season that the key is usually the breaststroke leg and that we needed someone to go around 32 seconds. Well, Clare Battaglia split a 32.41 in our last meet, so we are moving in the right direction."

Williamsville North swam at Lancaster on Tuesday, but the result was unavailable before The Bee went to press. They host Hamburg at 5 p.m. on Friday.