RallyNorth.net

Sun, Nov 19, 2017 04:00 PM @ Andover

Team	Final
Newton North	3
at Andover	1
Central Catholic	0

Another state title for Andover dynasty

Sunday, November, 19 By Kyle Gaudette

WORCESTER — All Andover senior Sophia Ju has known during her high school swimming career is the feeling of being a champion.

And that’s never going to change.

Saturday afternoon at WPI, the juggernaut that is Andover swimming was machine-like in it’s demolition of the rest of Division 1. The Golden Warriors won 10 out of 12 events — finishing second in the 100-yard backstroke and third in diving — and cruised to the program’s fourth consecutive state championship and 15th in the last 19 years with a total score of 488.5 points.

Second-place Acton-Boxboro was oceans behind with a score of 267.5.

“I’m just so proud of my team. I couldn’t have imagined doing it with anyone else,” said Ju, who is also a talented synchronized swimmer. “I’m just really lucky that I got to be on this team and be a leader for this team.”

Ju led with grace on Saturday, anchoring the 200-yard medley relay — the first event of the meet — to put Andover ahead right off the bat.

She then won her main event — the 50 freestyle — for the third consecutive year with a time of 24.28.

“The 50 free is such a toss-up event because it’s so quick,” said Ju, Andover’s lone captain. “So it really depends on how you’re doing that day. So I feel just super lucky that I was able to win it all three years. It’s my favorite event, so I’m proud of myself for being able to do that.”

Ju finished her day with a total of four championship ribbons, anchoring the 200 freestyle relay (1:40.15) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:46.21). She also finished third in the 100 freestyle (54.29).

“Sophia is one of the most wonderful people ever,” said legendary Andover coach Marilyn Fitzgerald, who after 25 years at the helm is showing no signs of slowing down.

“From the bottom of my heart, I still love to motivate these kids. It’s a new cast of characters each year, but it never gets old.”

Doughnut disasterto state champion

Andover’s Victoria Ambrose couldn’t compete at States last year due to injury — the cause of which you probably would never guess.

“I dislocated my knee falling in a Dunkin Donuts,” laughed Ambrose, a junior. “So I wasn’t able to participate in States.”

She made up for the lost time.

Ambrose almost caught teammate Emily Clements in the 200 IM, settling for second (2:06.59), but won her first individual state championship when she vaulted the field in the 100 freestyle in 53.28.

“I’m out of words on how it feels,” said Ambrose. “Being able to be on the pool deck and have the same atmosphere I had freshman year was just extraordinary for me because I absolutely love this team.”

She also swam the second leg on the winning 200 freestyle relay and the first leg on the winning 400 freestyle relay.

Clements sisterscan’t be stopped

It was another banner day for Andover’s Clements sisters.

The two, sophomore Emily and junior Jordan, combined for seven championship ribbons (including relays).

Emily started her day by beating out Ambrose in the 200 IM (2:05.01), then she obliterated the field in the 500 freestyle. Her time of 5:10.11 beat out Arlington’s Lily Barker by more than a whopping six seconds (5:16.93).

She finished by swimming legs on the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

“We’ve all worked really hard,” said Emily. “I think we’re all really excited about it.”

Jordan took home the 100 breaststroke (1:06.66) and also swam on the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

More of Galat

Mia Galat wanted to be sure Andover got off on the right foot.

After the Golden Warriors won the 200 medley relay — the first event of the day — Galat took to the pool in the first individual event — the 200 freestyle.

She dazzled.

Her time of 1:52.18 beat out Methuen’s Kara Davidson (1:57.63), and clinched the first two events for Andover.

“Last year I swam it and one of my friends won it,” said Galat, a junior. “So I made it my mission to work as hard as possible in practice this season and with my club team.

“It’s been a goal of mine since I was little to win an event at States. So to achieve that goal just makes me really happy and excited.”

Galat won four state championships yesterday, taking home the 100 butterfly (56.98) as well swimming a leg on both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Methuen’s Davidson burst onto scene

Methuen swimming will have plenty to cheer about in the foreseeable future with the emergence of freshman Kara Davidson.

The youngster had her best finish of the day in the 200 freestyle when she took second in 1:57.63. She entered the race with the third-best qualifying time, but beat Arlington’s Lilly Barker by almost a second.

She then placed sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:00.70).

Methuen finished 13th out of 15 teams with 54 points.

Haverhill’s relayscome through

Haverhill’s Taylor Waligora, Meaghan Driscoll, Callie Coady and Katelyn Quinlan combined to take fifth in both the 200 medley (1:54.62) and 400 freestyle (3:46.21) relays.

Driscoll, a junior, finished third in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.65) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:12.83). Waligora, also a junior, finished sixth in the 200 freestyle (2:01.28).

The Hillies finished sixth as a team with 170 points.

Division 1 State Championship

Meet results (15 teams): 1. Andover 488.5; 2. Acton-Boxboro 267.5; 3. Newton North 263; 4. Chelmsford 210; 5. Brookline 176; 6. Haverhill 170; 13. Methuen 54; 15. North Andover 20

Local top-6 placers:

200-yard medley relay: 1. Andover (Emily Ma, Jordan Clements, Ashley Grover, Sophia Ju) 1:50.52, 5. Haverhill (Taylor Waligora, Meaghan Driscoll, Callie Coady, Katelyn Quinlan) 1:54.62; 200 freestyle: 1. Mia Galat (And) 1:53.18; 2. Kara Davidson (Meth) 1:57.63, 6. Waligora (Hav) 2:01.28; 200 IM: 1. Emily Clements (And) 2:05.01, 2. Victoria Ambrose (And) 2:06.59, 4. Driscoll (Hav) 2:12.83, 5. Ma (And) 2:14.07;

50 freestyle: 1. Ju (And) 24.28; Diving: 3. Sydney Ho (And) 421.95, 4. Megan Carroll (Hav) 415.25; 100 butterfly: 1. Galat (And) 56.98, 2. Grover (And) 59.63, 4. Coady (Hav) 1:00.40, 6. Davidson (Meth) 1:00.70; 100 freestyle: 1. Ambrose (And) 53.28, 3. Ju (And) 54.29, 5. J. Clements (And) 54.96; 500 freestyle: 1. E. Clements (And) 5:10.11, 3. Grover (And) 5:18.62, 5. Eliza Williams (And) 5:19.43;

200 freestyle relay: 1. Andover (Galat, Ambrose, E. Clements, Ju) 1:40.15; 100 backstroke: 2. Ma (And) 59.54, 6. Andrea Pantazi (And) 1:03.19; 100 breaststroke: 1. J. Clements (And) 1:06.66, 3. Driscoll (Hav) 1:07.65, 6. Polina Malinovskaya (And) 1:09.56; 400 freestyle relay: 1. Andover (Ambrose, J. Clements, Galat, E. Clements) 3:37.12, 5. Haverhill (Waligora, Coady, Driscoll, Quinlan) 3:46.21