A busy week for the Liverpool girls swim team commenced last Tuesday night with a home meet against Auburn that turned lopsided in the diving competition as the Warriors roared to a 105-75 victory over the Maroons.
Auburn actually won three of the first four races, the lone exception Avery Clarke’s effort in the 200 freestyle, where she prevailed in two minutes, 15.06 seconds. Then, in diving, Sarah LaValley, with 239.10 points, led a 1-2-3 sweep with Sophia Recuparo (189.95) and Ilyssa Hollenbeck (174.70) worth 13 unanswered points.
Ali Testone then emerged, going 5:39.44 to win the 500 freestyle after finishing second 1:05.70) to Auburn’s Claire Alexander (1:03.72) in the 100 butterfly. Then, a sweep in the 100 backstroke included Megan Winn taking first place in 1:10.25, with Grace Young second in 1:19.25 and Laney Moore (1:21.37) in third place.
Right after, in the 100 breaststroke, Marissa Pisegna claimed the title in 1:18.77, edging past Maddie Rose (1:19.29) for that victory. Earlier, Rose was second in the 200 individual medley in 2:30.25 as Clarke was second in the 50 freestyle in 27.89 seconds, just ahead of Jaida Fox (27.89) and Natalie Petit (29.23). Winn was second in the 100 freestyle in 1:04.18.
A tougher test loomed Friday night, when Liverpool hosted 3-1 New Hartford, but once again the Warriors were up for it, pulling away in the last few races to win 100-86.
Liverpool overcame a star turn by New Hartford’s Alexis Falvo, who led the Spartans with quick times of 1:58.75 in the 200 freestyle and 59.91 seconds in the 100 butterfly and helped New Hartford edge the Warriors, 1:48.20 to 1:48.32, in the 200 medley relay.
LaValley had her best diving performance of the season, earning 241.05 points as Sarah Recuparo (182.45 points) was third. Already, Ali Testone had won the 200 IM in 2:20.41 and Jessica Testone had taken the 50 freestyle in 27.16 seconds, with the sisters helping Fox and Walker take the 200 medley relay in 2:01.36.
Fox was victorious in the 100 freestyle in 59.38 seconds, but the meet was still close when, in the 100 backstroke, Ali Testone tore to victory in 1:05.11. Right after, Pisegna improved her 100 breaststroke time to 1:16.32 and clinched Liverpool’s team win.
Cicero-North Syracuse met Christian Brothers Academy last Wednesday night at the Le Moyne College pool both programs use as a home facility. The Brothers got the best of this battle, beating the Northstars 104-80.
Brooke Fedi did give C-NS an early victory when, in the 200 IM, she posted 2:19.36 to edge out CBA’s Lauren Kelly (2:21.34), while Grace Devinney won the 500 freestyle in 5:50.29 to Katie Toole’s 5:53.77.
But the Brothers got away with two wins apiece from Darien Tompkins (200 freestyle, 100 freestyle) and Julia Torell (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke), plus wins in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Olivia Griffin, in 26.69 seconds, was second to Kaitlyn Bushnell (26.54) in the 50 freestyle, also getting second place (59.44 seconds) behind Tompkins (58.07) in the 100 freestyle. Sarah Walter finished second in the 100 backstroke in 1:08.23 as Fedi went 1:11.19 in the 100 breaststroke and helped Griffin, Walter and Alyssa LaFace swim the 200 freestyle relay in 1;50.70.
