Newburgh Free Academy has a long swimming tradition, and Elle Gerbes is getting lonely as the only Goldback swimmer at the New York state championship meet.

She’s gone each of the last two seasons, and last year, she finished seventh in the state federation in the 50-yard freestyle.

Now a senior, she leads a strong group of returners as the Goldbacks enter the 2024 season under new head coach Lauren Lubarsky. She will be the Goldbacks’ third coach in four seasons. Zach Williams coached the last two years. Lubarsky has coached the Newburgh Sharks club swimming team for seven years and been a Goldbacks assistant for three years.

She will coach a team that lost Jordyn Bryant, Lauren Cao and Daylena Vera from last year’s team.

Gerbes, who also swam the 100-yard freestyle at states, will lead a returning group of swimmers that includes AnnMarie Martin-Martinez, Allison VanDalinda, Karli Smith, Vivian Piscitella, Lara Ozkovalak, Leah Walsh, and diver Arabella Tantono.

Joining the team will be a pair of seventh graders: Lily Lawrence and Siobhan Moody.

The Goldbacks are scheduled to open the season on Wednesday with a road meet against the Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders. They will follow that on Saturday by hosting 13 teams in the Hudson Valley Classic on Saturday.

Newburgh is entering the season with simple goals: swim hard, place well, and make some Section 9 cuts.

“The girls have a very positive attitude this year and are already showing so much strength and commitment to the Newburgh swimming tradition,” Lubarsky said.

2024 Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 4 - at Monroe-Woodbury, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 7 - at Hudson Valley Classic (NFA)
Monday, Sept. 9 - vs. Valley Central, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 11 - at Beacon, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 16 - vs. Marlboro, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 18 - vs. Rhinebeck, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 23 - vs. Red Hook, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 25 - vs. Our Lady of Lourdes, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 7 - vs. Kingston, Onteora, Rondout Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 9 - at Pine Bush, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 15 - vs. New Paltz, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 24 - at OCIAA Diving, 3:30 p.m. (Washingtonville HS)
Friday/Saturday, Oct. 25/26 - at OCIAA Division 1 Swimming, TBD (TBD)
Thursday, Nov. 7 - at Section 9 Swimming Prelims, 4:30 p.m. (Valley Central HS)
Friday, Nov. 8 - at Section 9 Diving Championships, 4 p.m. (Valley Central)
Saturday, Nov. 9 - at Section 9 Swimming Championships, 12 p.m. (Valley Central HS)