PB girls claim 4th straight section 9 swim title

By Mike Zummo
Posted 11/10/21

The day ended with not only a new Section 9 meet record, but the Pine Bush girls’ swimming and diving team also set a new Valley Central High School pool record with their winning time in the …

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PB girls claim 4th straight section 9 swim title

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The day ended with not only a new Section 9 meet record, but the Pine Bush girls’ swimming and diving team also set a new Valley Central High School pool record with their winning time in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

A perfect end to another successful day as Pine Bush won its fourth straight Section 9 championship on Saturday afternoon, sweeping all three relays and winning three individual championships.

Elishka Hajek won the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, while Mackenzie Gula won the 200-yard medley relay. Hajek and Gula also were on Pine Bush’s winning 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams.

“I think every meet we come in and try to do our best, whether it’s getting a best time, or staying at the same time, whether it’s breaking a school record,” Hajek said. “Whatever it is, we’re just there to bring it and show everyone who Pine Bush is.”

The 400-yard medley relay team of Madaghan O’Shea, Katie Webster, Hajek and Gula finished the meet by knocking down the 20-year-old meet record set on Nov. 10, 2001, by Newburgh’s Michelle Coombs, Meredith Thomas, Kaitlyn McCrossen and Kierstin Koronowicz, with their time of 3:35.15. The previous mark was 3:35.50.

“It’s very exciting,” Hajek said. “I’m very proud of the girls on our team. I think we work very hard, so it’s great to see the results.”

Hajek was also voted the Most Outstanding Swimmer by the Section 9 coaches.

“She just dominated all season,” Pine Bush coach John Barth said. “I don’t think she lost a race this whole year and she did it again today. She’s fantastic.”

Overall, Pine Bush won the meet with 412 points, 142 points over second-place Washingtonville for their fourth straight sectional championship

“It means a lot,” Hajek said. “I’m very lucky to be on such a talented team with such a hard-working group of girls.”

Valley Central finished fifth with 197 points and Wallkill was 17th with 40.

Valley Central’s Rian Dickman won the 200-yard freestyle, improving on her previous state qualifying time.

“I thought we swam a little bit better today than we did the other day,” Valley Central coach Scott Warner said. “Grace Satriano really stood out. She really had a great day moving us along.”

Aside from fast swimming, various coaches wore t-shirts with a caricature image of Warner, bearing his signature phrase on the back, “Listen, I’ll tell you what …” on the back.

Warner was named Section 9 Coach of the Year.

“It was really nice,” Warner said. “The fact that they all participated in it was a big, big tribute. I’m thankful for it.”

It was also the first Section 9 championship meet to be swam in front of fans since November of 2019.

Last season was run in March and April due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the meets were held virtually with the teams at their own pools without spectators and the results were merged later.

Even though Thursday’s swimming preliminaries didn’t allow spectators, the upper-level bleachers were full of spectators for Friday’s diving competition and Saturday’s swimming finals.

“It’s a lot better,” Hajek said. “I think it brings a lot of good energy. I think the crowd excited all the swimmers and it’s good to see your family, mom, dad and friends come out and support us.”

Next is the New York State Public High School championship meet on Nov. 19 and 20 at Ithaca College, where Pine Bush will send all three of its relays, along with Hajek and Gula individually. The Vikings will send Dickman and Cali White and the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.

“I’m very excited,” Hajek said. “I’m going to bring my all because it’s my last year, so I’m hoping I can really make an impact.”

Section 9 Girls Swimming Championships

Team results: 1. Pine Bush - 413; 2. Washingtonville - 271; 3. Monroe-Woodbury - 217; 4. Kingston - 198; 5. Valley Central - 197; 6. Cornwall - 124; 7. Minisink Valley - 120; 8. Newburgh - 119; 9. Rhinebeck - 99; 10. Marlboro - 96; 11. FDR - 33; 11. New Paltz - 66; 13. Warwick - 64; 14. Middletown - 56; 15. Goshen - 51; 16. Onteora - 49; 17. Wallkill - 40; 18. Spackenkill - 33; 19. Beacon - 16; 20. Rondout Valley 10; 20. Red Hook - 10; 22. Highland - 8.


200-yard medley relay: 1. Pine Bush (Sophia Licardi, Sadie DeGeorge, Ashley Martin, Cora Mance) - 1:52.00; 13. Valley Central (Alyssa Thompson, Olivia Messing, Kaidyn Thompson, Giannie Restivo) - 2:04.83; 14. Wallkill (Samaya Drackett, Meghan MacEntee, Kaitlyn Bonner, Andie Psilopoulos) - 2:07.92.

200-yard freestyle: 1. Rian Dickman (VC) - 1:55.48; 3. Madaghan O’Shea (PB) - 1:57.64; 4. Samantha McKee (PB) - 1:59.86; 5. Grace Wienckowski (VC) - 2:00.56; 7. Katie Webster (PB) - 2:01.51; 10. Sara Ippolito (PB) - 2:04.48.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Mackenzie Gula (PB) - 2:13.23; 2. Sadie DeGeorge (PB) - 2:15.56; 3. Andie Psilopoulos (W) 2:17.56; 10. Ashley Martin (PB) - 2:23.67; 23. Alexandra Vargas (PB) - 2:33.50.
50-yard freestyle: 1. Elisha Hajek (PB) - 23.9; 4. Cali White (VC) - 24.91; 5. Cora Mance (PB) - 24.98; 8. Grace Satriano (VC) - 25.44; 10. Sophia Licardi (PB) - 25.39; 22. Abigail Pearson (PB) - 27.43; 26. Giannie Restivo (VC) - 27.78; 29. Katherine Sassi (PB) - 28.13.

Diving: 12. Riley Conan (VC) - 294.40; 14. Grace Gibson (PB) - 284.55; 15. Riley Kinsley (VC) - 281.50; 21. Paige Gandolfini (PB) - 143.55; 24. Olivia MacEntee (VC) - 96.50

100-yard butterfly: 2. Mackenzie Gula (PB) - 58.27; 13. Ashley Martin (PB) - 1:04.84; 20. Alannah Giannini (PB) - 1:07.49; 22. Alexandra Vargas (PB) - 1:06.72; 25. Kaitlyn Bonner (W) - 1:10.23; 27. Olivia Messing (VC) - 1:16.18


100-yard freestyle: 1. Elishka Hajek (PB) - 52.63; 3. Rian Dickman (VC) - 53.96; 5. Madaghan O’Shea (PB) - 54.45; 6. Cali White (VC) - 54.74; 7. Katie Webster (PB) - 54.75; 8. Samantha McKee (PB) - 55.09; 10. Grace Satriano (VC) - 55.48; 11. Cora Mance (PB) - 56.16; 20 - Abigail Pearson (PB) - 58.56; 25. Amanda Eagan (PB) - 1:00.17.


500-yard freestyle: 2. Grace Wienckowski (VC) - 5:22.06; 3. Andie Psilopoulos (W) - 5:25.52; 6. Sara Ippolito (PB) - 5:33.60; 12. Nina Camacho (PB) - 5:43.28; 16. Emily White (VC) - 5:53.90; 17. Kaidyn Thompson (VC) - 5:49.30; 18. Maya Oakes (PB) - 5:51.05.

200-yard freestyle relay: 1. Pine Bush (Elishka Hajek, Samantha McKee, Cora Mance, Mackenzie Gula) - 1:38.71; 2. Valley Central (Rian Dickman, Grace Satriano, Grace Wienckowski, Cali White) - 1:41.47; 19. Wallkill (Samaya Drackett, Kaitlyn Bonner, Ruth Weinmann, Meghan MacEntee) - 1:59.82.

100-yard backstroke: 2. Sophia Licardi (PB) - 1:01.24; 8. Amanda Eagan (PB) - 1:05.74; 14. Alanah Giannini (PB) - 1:06.75; 18. Nina Camacho (PB) - 1:07.87; 21. Maya Oakes (PB) - 1:08.38.

100-yard breaststroke: 2. Sadie DeGeorge (PB) - 1:09.97; 12. Ella Humphrey (PB) - 1:14.85; 19. Olivia Messing (VC) - 1:17.16; 24. Kaidyn Thompson (VC) - 1:22.21.

400-yard freestyle relay: 1. Pine Bush (Madaghan O’Shea, Katie Webster, Elishka Hajek, Mackenzie Gula) - 3:35.15; 2. Valley Central (Cali White, Grace Wienckowski, Grace Satriano, Rian Dickman) - 3:42.03; 16. Wallkill (Samaya Drackett, Kaitlyn Bonner, Meghan MacEntee, Andie Psilopoulos) - 4:12.98