Amid another busy stretch, the Skaneateles girls swim team met a pair of CNY Counties League opponents, splitting with them.
To start with, the Lakers went to Baldwinsville last Monday night, staying competitive throughout a 48-44 defeat to the Bees.
Eighth-grader Rachel Teixeira won twice for the Lakers. In the 200 freestyle, she finished in 2:11.23, more than five seconds ahead of B’ville’s Elena Margrey, while in the 500 freestyle Teixeira easily rolled to first place in 5:47.94.
Nikki Cole, who teamed with Leah King, Emily Wirth and Haley Bucholz to finish second in the 200 medley relay (2:01.26), did prevail in the 50 freestyle, topping the Bees’ Megan Eubank, 26.92 seconds to 28.10. Cole claimed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.98) as Bucholz needed 1:12.86 for second place in the 100 backstroke.
Wirth also had a victory, in the 100 freestyle in 1:02.96, edging B’ville’s Lauren Guild (1:03.63), and later combining with Teixeira, Bucholz and Halle King for first in the 400 freestyle relay, edging the Bees 4:11.57 to 4:11.83.
Things were much different in Thursday night’s meet against Fayetteville-Manlius at the Community Center, where the Lakers dismissed the Hornets 96-87.
The meet started with Bucholz, Nikki Cole, Leah King and Emily Wirth swimming the 200 medley relay in a top time of 2:04.91. Later on, Cole joined Teixeira, Halle King and Krissy Chalupnicki as Skaneateles won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:53.06.
In between these mileposts, Teixeira again earned a pair of titles. She maintained her speed in the 200 freestyle, prevailing in 2:11.50, and swam the 500 freestyle in 5:41.30, more than six seconds faster than in the B’ville meet.
Bucholz went to first in the 100 backstroke in 1:09.02, while Wirth earned a victory in the 100 freestyle in 1:01.09. Megan Molnar picked up 174.67 points and prevailed on the diving board.
Cole beat Wirth in the 50 freestyle in 26.79 seconds to Wirths’ 27.39. Ellen Legg, third in the 100 backstroke behind Bucholz, needed 2:37.46 for first place in a close 200 individual medley, while Leah King won the 100 butterfly in 1:09.43.
Skaneateles will get its close-up against some of the best swimmers in the state on Wednesday when it faces Christian Brothers Academy at Le Moyne College. The Brothers’ standouts include the trio of Maggie Fletcher, Summer Schmitt and Kathryn Coughlin, all back from winning state relay teams from last fall.
