The Sachem East girls varsity swimming and diving team competed at the Suffolk County championships at Suffolk Community College last week, placing eighth overall out of 28 teams and breaking five school records.
Kianna Papele (sophomore), Ariel Tsai (sophomore), Marisa Pandolfo (senior) and Jessica Freund (eighth) broke the 200 and 400 school freestyle relay records. They placed fifth in the 200 free with a time of 1:44.13 and fourth in the 400 free in 3:46.39.
“These girls had outstanding seasons and were true leaders for our program,” said Sachem East coach Kathleen Dugan. “Marisa Pandolfo will be missed next year when at college but our program is young and has a strong future.”
Papele broke the school records in the 50 Free (:24.98) third place, 100 Free (:54.86) and 100 fly (1:00.97) sixth place.
She has had two amazing performances at the county champs in back to back years. While she just missed qualifying for the State meet, she stands for the future of the Sachem East Varsity team.
“She is one of my hardest workers and I am expecting big things from her over the next two seasons,” said Dugan.
Freund had an outstanding season as the only eighth grader on the team. This season she broke the school records in the 200 IM, 200 Freestyle, 500 freestyle and was a part of all three record breaking relays (200 medley, 200 free and 400 free).
She is an exciting talent that will help build this team along side Papele. She has the ability to swim any event and is a huge asset for our program. At the Suffolk county champs she placed sixth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 fly.
Also an excellent job by Alice Tsai, Victoria Carle, Gabby Singer, Aileen Baker and Holley Russ.
The team finished with a 4-3 record, fourth place finish at leagues and eighth at counties.
