Lindsay Smalec – MVP
Cheshire junior
Stats: Won the 100 butterfly (56.67) and was third in the 200 individual medley (2:08.65) at the Class L meet. Finished second in the 100 butterfly (57.61) and seventh in the 200 IM (2:10.70) at the State Open. Won the 200 IM(2:14.36) and the 100 butterfly (58.98) at the SCC championships.
Honors: Three-time Register All-Area, three-time all-state, All-SCC, SCC All-Academic team, All-American in 100 butterfly.
Out of the pool: National English Honor Society, Peer Advocates, Honor roll, Link Crew.
Todd Rainey – Coach of the Year
Amity
Stats: Spartans finished the dual-meet season 11-0, placed second at the SCC meet, second at the CIAC Class LL meet and eighth at the State Open. The Spartans had continued success despite the graduation of four-time All-American Dana Grindall.
Honors: Two-time Register All-Area Coach of the Year.
Out of the pool: Teaches ninth grade history at Amity.
ALL-AREA GIRLS SWIM TEAM IN PICTURES
Brianna Buehler
Sheehan junior
Stats: Broke her six-dive school record with a score of 225 points at the Lyman Hall meet. Won the SCC diving championships and broke the 11-dive school record with 365.35 points. Second at Class M diving (348.10) and fifth at the State Open (345.50).
Honors: Two-time all-state selection.
Out of the pool: Honors student.
Dana Chung
Amity junior
Stats: Won the 50 freestyle (24.02) and was second in the 100 freestyle (52.56) at the Class L meet. Placed fifth in the 50 freestyle (24.34) and sixth in the 100 free (52.69) at the State Open. Won the 50 free (24.41) and the 100 free (53.43) at the SCC meet.
Honors: Named most outstanding swimmer at SCC meet, three-time All-State and All-SCC pick.
Out of the pool: Connecticut swimming scholar athlete.
Kaitlyn Joy
Lauralton Hall sophomore
Stats: Was eighth in the 50 freestyle (24.41 school record) and 15th in 100 freestyle (54.02) at the State Open. Won the 50 freestyle (24.43) and was second in the 100 freestyle (53.22) at Class S meet. Was second in the 50 freestyle (25.01) at the SWC meet.
Honors: Two-time All-State and All-SWC selection.
Out of the pool: Honors student and member of the school’s Spanish Club.
Erika Maercklein
Branford sophomore
Stats: Was second in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.91) at the Class M meet. Won the 100 breaststroke (1:09.28) at the SCC meet.
Honors: All-State selection.
Out of the pool: High honors student and also plays lacrosse.
Caitlin McNary
Westbrook freshman
Stats: Was second in the 200 freestyle (1:53.33) and fourth in the 100 freestyle (52.61) at the State Open. Won the 200 freestyle (1:54.30) and the 100 freestyle (52.46) at the Class S meet.
Honors: All-State selection.
Coral McNary
Westbrook senior
Stats: Took third in the 100 backstroke (1:01.46) and fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:14.64) at the Class S meet.
Honors: All-State selection.
Out of the pool: Member of the school’s National Honor Society.
Paige McNeil
Branford sophomore
Stats: Finished third in the 100 butterfly (1:00.59) and seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:01.01) at the Class M meet.
Honors: Two-time All-State and All-SCC selection.
Out of the pool: High honors, class treasurer. Also plays tennis.
Haley Mitchell-Adams
Bunnell senior
Stats: Won the 50 freestyle (24.47, school record) and the 100 freestyle (53.45, school record) at the Class M meet. Was ninth in the 50 freestyle (24.57) at the State Open. Was third in the 100 freestyle (54.95) and sixth in the 50 freestyle (26.19) at the SWC meet.
Honors: Two-time All-SWC pick.
Out of the pool: National Honor Society president, Make-A-Wish Club member and Yale Book Award winner.
Laura Mongillo
Cheshire senior
Stats: Placed third in the 100 backstroke (59.63) at the Class L meet. Was eighth in the 100 backstroke (1:00.15) at the State Open. Won the 100 backstroke (1:00.36) At the SCC meet.
Honors: Tri-captain and an All-State selection.
Out of the pool: Honor student.
Up next: Will swim at Iona.
Jessica Poole
Shelton junior
Stats: Finished 10th in the 100 butterfly (59.53) at the State Open. Was third in the 100 butterfly (59.27, school record) and fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.33, school record) at the Class LL meet. Took second in the 100 butterfly (59.65) at the SCC meet.
Honors: All-State and All-SCC selection.
Out of the pool: Member of student council, participates in Special Olympics, swim coach for a local summer country club.
Lauren Rasile
Branford senior
Stats: Was second in the 50 freestyle (24.50) and third in the 100 freestyle (53.95) at the Class M meet. Was second in the 50 freestyle (25.27) at the SCC meet.
Honors: All-State selection.
Out of the pool: On the varsity golf team and a high honor roll student.
Jaime Robinson
Sacred Heart Academy sophomore
Stats: Was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:09.03) and 10th in the 200 freestyle (1:56.93) at the State Open. Won the 200 freestyle (1:56.12) and was second in the 500 freestyle (5:10.04) at the Class M meet. Won the 200 freestyle (1:58.03) and the 500 freestyle (5:17.35) at the SCC meet.
Honors: All-SCC and All-State pick.
Out of the pool: Member of RAOK (Random Acts Of Kindness) club and the Key Club.
Mary Spillane
Lauralton Hall senior
Stats: Won the 200 IM (2:10.08) and the 100 backstroke (59.40) at the Class S meet. Was 10th in the backstroke (1:00.34) at the State Open. Won the 200 IM (2:14.21) and won the 100 backstroke (59.76) at the SWC meet.
Honors: Four-time Register All-Area selection, All-SWC and All-State pick. Three-time team MVP.
Out of the pool: National Honor Society and National Latin Honor Society member, Connecticut Swimming scholar athlete, Key Club and Latin Club.
Caitlyn VonFeldt
Haddam-Killingworth freshman
Stats: Broke two school records with a runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke (1:00.21) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (55.57) at the Class S meet. Was 12th in the 100 backstroke (1:00.44) at the State Open.
Honors: All-State selection. Out of the pool: Volunteers in Habitat for Humanity at school and teaches a class of fifth graders at her church.
