Katonah Swim and Dive opens 2015 season with home loss vs Mount Kisco Memorial

Katonah Swim and Dive Team, back in Division II for the first time since 2012, fell 296-249 to Mount Kisco in their first home meet of the season. It was Katonah’s first Division II loss in over 5 years, having gone undefeated in both 2012 and 2010.

Divers Maddie Geary and Samantha Spieler went 1-2 for Katonah in the 13 and under girls division, and Maddie also competed in 18 and under, taking 2nd. Luna Pagan also dived in both age groups and secured 4th place finishes. Evan Weissleder, in his very first dive competition, took 2nd place in the 13 and under boys, with Pat Kelly earning 2nd place in the 18 and under group.

At the other end of the pool, backstroke started strong for Katonah with 7 out of 10 first-place finishes: Daniela Dziedzic in 8 and under, Jessica Crane and Scott Esposito 10 and under, Maya Luongo for 12 and under, Kevin Crane and Erin Wolter 14 and under, and Kerry Kelly for the 18 and under girls. Earning additional points for Katonah in back were Molly Buckley 4th and Thomas Brown 3rd in 8 and under, Molly Willingham and Michael O’Donnell both 4th in 10 and under, Kate Buckley 4th and Rowan Pedraza 3rd in 12 and under, Mackenzie Spieler 3rd in 14 and under, Lauren Wolter 4th, Sam Sweeney 2nd, and Bryan Ivey 3rd in 18 and under.

Breaststroke was up next with Katonah not seeing a first place finish for them until the boys 14 and under, secured by Zach Boies. In fact, Katonah swept the 14U race with brothers Brian and Kevin Crane grabbing 2nd and 3rd respectively. Kaz Sampson and Kerry Kelly finished up the breaststroke event with wins in the 18 and under group, the second first-place finish for Kerry in the meet. Adding to the total for Katonah in breast were Elizabeth Gaza 2nd, Daniela Dziedzic 3rd, Thomas Brown 3rd, Quinn Washburn 4th in 8 and under; Lucy Durkin 3rd, Caitlin Shepard 4th, Rowan Pedraza 3rd in 10 and under; Kate Buckley 3rd, Samantha Spieler 4th, Kieran Brown 2nd, Cody Siegel 3rd in 12 and under; Lily Buckley 2nd and Linn Carbaugh 4th for 14 and under; and 18 and under Mary Helen Baudinet 4th and Pat Kelly 4th.

The score heading into Butterfly was Mount Kisco 144, Katonah 109, so any chance of a big comeback required not only first place finishes, but some second and thirds as well. Katonah took 5 first places – Elizabeth Gaza 8 and under, Jessica Crane and Scott Esposito for 10U, Maya Luongo 12U, and Brian Crane for 14U. But only the 14U boys could secure a 1-2 finish, with Zach Boies grabbing second. Other Katonah swimmers contributing to the points total were Katherine O’Donnell 3rd and Thomas Brown 2nd in 8 and under; 10U’s Lucy Durkin and Rowan Pedraza with 4th place finishes, Claire Gaza 4th and Kieran Brown 3rd in 12 and under; Lily Buckley and Erin Wolters finishing 2-3 for the 14 and under girls; Kaz Sampson 2nd and Sam Sweeney 3rd in the 18U event.

This year, the 6 and under freestyle event is now scored, and Katonah’s Katherine O’Donnell and Kathryn Becker finished 2nd and 4th respectively. Katonah then once again split the first place finishes with Mount Kisco, as Elizabeth Gaza 8U, Jessica Crane and Scott Esposito 10U, Zach Boies 14U and Kaz Sampson 18U reached the wall first in their heats. These first-place wins in freestyle propelled Jessica and Scott to triple winner status, with Elizabeth, Zach, and Kaz each getting their second win of the night! Freestyle points were also earned by Daniela Dziedzic and Quinn Washburn 8 and under; Lucy Durkin and Michael O’Donnell for 10 and under; Maya Luongo, Claire Gaza and Keiran Brown 12U; Lily Buckley, Erin Wolter and Brian Crane for 14U; Lauren Wolter, Mackenzie Spieler and Sam Sweeney for 18 and under.

The relays were up next, and Katonah had to deliver 1-2 finishes to catch up. Katonah’s 11 and under girls relay of Lucy Durkin, Claire Gaza, Jessica Crane and Kate Buckley easily took first place, as did the 15 and under boys relay of Sam Sweeney, Brian Crane, Zach Boies and Kevin Crane. But Katonah could not get the 1-2 punch they needed. Final score was 296-249.

Triple Winners

Jessica Crane – 10U back, fly, free

Scott Esposito – 10U back, fly, free

Double Winners

Zach Boies – 14U breast, free

Elizabeth Gaza – 8U fly, free

Kerry Kelly – 18U back, breast

Maya Luongo – 12U back, fly

Kaz Sampson – 18U breast, free

Single Winners

Brian Crane – 14U fly

Kevin Crane – 14U back

Daniela Dziedzic – 8U back

Erin Wolter – 14U back

Meet results submitted by the KSDT Parent Committee

Photos taken by Kevin Brown