All Tied Up! Katonah and Lewisboro Swim and Dive Teams Race to Rare Tie

It seemed like the perfect outcome for these two neighboring (and same school district) teams – a close and exciting meet from start to finish, ending in a 265-265 tie. It was the first tie in the Northern Westchester Swim Conference since 2009.

“With both the friendly rivalry we have always had between our teams and the excitement of the meet, we couldn't have tied with a better team,” said Jessica Frank, Katonah Swim and Dive Team’s head coach. Frank and assistant swim coach Emily Curro swam for Lewisboro’s head coach Meg Kaplan when they were both in high school, adding to the close-knit nature of this meet.

Saturday featured 4 Katonah swimmers winning all 3 of their individual events, including the brother duo of Kieran and Thomas Brown. Elizabeth Gaza and Kaz Sampson were the other triple winners, finishing first in breast, fly and free. Another brother pair Brian and Kevin Crane, both competing in the 14 and under group, took first place in 3 of the 4 strokes.

  The meet began with the diving event, Katonah with only girl divers, Lewisboro with only boys. Maddie Geary took first place in both the 13U and 18U events. Luna Pagan also competed for both age groups, finishing 2nd and 3rd. Samantha Spieler grabbed 2nd in the 18 and under, with Gabriella DeCicco taking 3rd for 13 and under.

Backstroke started strong for Katonah. The 8 and under girls Dakota Cameron, Daniele Dziedzic and Molly Buckley went 1-2-3, and the boys’ Thomas Brown and Quinn Washburn delivered a 1-2 finish. But there would be only one more first place for Katonah, in the boys 14U with Kevin Crane. However, Katonah earned those critical second and third place points to keep them within striking distance: Jessica Crane 2nd, Molly Willingham 4th, Scott Esposito 2nd, Michael O’Donnell 3rd in 10 and under; Maya Luongo 2nd, Kate Buckley 3rd, Brendan Willingham 2nd in 12 and under; Erin Wolter 3rd, Mackenzie Spieler 4th, Javier Alicea-Kahn 4th in 14 and under; Lauren Wolter 3rd, Mary Helen Baudinet 4th and Calvin Strothenke 3rd in 18 and under.

No score was announced when breast stroke began, how close was it? The 8 and under Katonah swimmers did it again, with the girls sweeping their event and the boys going 1-2. Elizabeth Gaza, Katherine O’Donnell and Daniela Dziedzic went 1-2-3 and Thomas Brown and Quinn Washburn duplicated their efforts in backstroke and finished first and second. Katonah took only two more first place finishes, Kieran Brown for 12U and Kaz Sampson in 18U, but once again grabbed those second and third places: Caitlin Shepherd 2nd, Lucy Durkin 3rd, Luke Spieler 2nd in 10 and under; Kate Buckley 2nd and Samantha Spieler 3rd in 12 and under; Lily Buckley 2nd, Linn Carbaugh 3rd, Brian Crane 2nd, Kevin Crane 3rd in 14 and under; Mackenzie Spieler 2nd and Mary Helen Baudinet 4th in 18 and under. A score was finally announced. After breaststroke, Lewisboro led 122 to 120!

Would butterfly see one team pull away? Katonah tried its best, winning 6 of the 10 heats. The 8 and unders continued their amazing day with Elizabeth Gaza and Katherine O’Donnell taking first and second, and Thomas Brown earning his third 1st place of the day. Scott Esposito, Kieran Brown, Brian Crane and Kaz Sampson rounded out the first-place finishers. Adding to Katonah’s points total were Josh Tovar 3rd in 8 and under; Jessica Crane 3rd, Lucy Durkin 4th and Luke Spieler 2nd in 10 and under; Maya Luongo 2nd and Kate Buckley 3rd in 12 and under; Lily Buckley 2nd in 14 and under; Mary Helen Baudinet 3rd and Lauren Wolter 4th in 18 and under.

Going into Freestyle, the score was unknown, but it didn’t seem like any team had gain an advantage. Elizabeth Gaza, Kieran Brown and Kaz Sampson became triple winners with their first place finishes in freestyle. Scott Esposito and Brian Crane each earned their second wins of the meet, with 6U Katherine O’Donnell securing Katonah’s other first place. The boys 12U swept their event with Calvin Strothenke and Javier Alicea-Kahn going 2-3 after Kieran. Other point earners for Katonah were 6U Aoife Canning 4th, Daniela Dziedzic 4th, Josh Tovar 2nd, Fenton Lio 3rd for 8 and under; Jessica Crane 2nd, Lucy Durkin 3rd, Michael O’Donnell 3rd, Luke Spieler 4th in 10 and under; Maya Luongo 2nd and Samantha Spieler 4th in 12 and under; Lily Buckley 2nd and Kevin Crane 3rd for 14 and under; Lauren Wolter 3rd and Mackenzie Spieler 4th for the 18U girls. With Katonah and Lewisboro splitting the first place finishes, and only one sweep for Katonah, the meet seemed to remain tight.

As is the case with these close meets, it would come down to the relays. The 11U girls didn’t disappoint! Lucy Durkin, Claire Gaza, Jessica Crane and Kate Buckley finished almost 3 seconds ahead of Lewisboro to take first, with Katonah’s other relay of Molly Willingham, Elizabeth Gaza, Daniela Dziedzic and Samantha Spieler finishing third. That was huge as Katonah earned 10 points to Lewisboro’s 4. Not to be outdone by the girls, the 11U boys Luke Spieler, Michael O’Donnel, Scott Esposito and Kieran Brown also took first place to raucous cheering. The crowd then shifted to lane 2 to cheer on Calvin Strothenke, Josh Tovar, Thomas Brown and Javier Alicea-Kahn to a huge 3rd place finish. Another 10 points for Katonah! Would it be enough?

The girls 15U relay of Maya Luongo, Linn Carbaugh, Erin Wolter and Lily Buckley were neck and neck with the Lewisboro team the entire race, and what a finish it was with Lily just touching out to grab Katonah’s 3rd relay win. The 15U boys were next and each team could only field one relay team. Katonah, missing their older boy swimmers, asked 9 yr old Michael O’Donnell and 10 year old Brendan Willingham to step up. Along with Brian and Kevin Crane, Katonah finished second. When the score was finally announced, after triple-checking the results, the 265-265 tie seemed like a huge relief to both sides of the pool.

Triple Winners

Kieran Brown – 12U breast, fly, free

Thomas Brown – 8U back, breast, fly

Elizabeth Gaza – 8U breast, fly, free

Kaz Sampson – 18U breast, fly free

Double Winners

Brian Crane – 14U fly, free

Scott Esposito – 10U fly, free

Single Winners

Dakota Cameron – 8U back

Kevin Crane – 14U back

Katherine O’Donnell – 6U free

Photos courtesy