Branford, Daniel Hand Girls Swim Meet Update

Submitted by Susan Wines:

The Daniel Hand Girls Swim Team defeated Branford in its second meet of the season, 77 to 76 before exhibition scoring.

The Tigers took nine first-place spots. Among many strong performances, senior co-captain Ava Keane notched first-place finishes in the 50 free (26.28) and the 100 free (57.51), both state-qualifying times.

Monday’s meet at the Madison Racquet & Swim Club followed a new cohort format with Hand’s team competing first, and Branford’s team swimming immediately afterwards. Hand head coach Jen Lyman thanked the Branford team, parent volunteers and spectators, and meet officials for making the new process run so smoothly. Coach Lyman remarked, “This was not a situation anyone ever anticipated, but everyone is working together to make it work, and there is something special about that.”

Record: 1-1

Key finishes for Hand included the first place 200-yard medley relay team of senior co-captain Ava Keane, senior Ava Dougherty, senior co-captain Emma Ruffo, and sophomore Julia Urbowicz (2:06.75). In the 200 free, junior Kacie Wines took first (2:10.30) and senior Alesandra Betts took third (2:15.32). Showcasing their versatility in the pool, Ruffo placed second in the 200 IM (2:33.05), and junior Abbigail Chemacki placed third (2:33.72). Keane won the 50 free (26.28) and freshman Haley Wines took second (27.92). Urbowicz (1:07.75) and Haley Wines (1:12.72) went 1-2 in the 100 fly. Keane won the 100 free (57.51), while freshman Norah Stotz (1:07.21) placed third. Hand swept the 500 free with Chemacki (5:47.39), Urbowicz (5:57.42) and Betts (6:13.00) taking the top three spots. Hand took first in the 200 free relay with a team of Kacie Wines, Dougherty, freshman Molly Hoban, and Stotz (2:00.56). In the 100 back, Ruffo (1:08.01) and Kacie Wines (1:09.68) came in second and third. Hand dominated the 100 breaststroke event, with Dougherty (1:22.84), freshman Sydney Mascia (1:33.02), and freshman Lucy Schwarz (1:35.66) sweeping the top three spots. The 400 free relay team of Urbowicz, Kacie Wines, Ruffo, and Keane, outswam the competition in 4:04.36. In diving, sophomore Eva Alquist took first place with 187.35 points.