TORRINGTON >> The Torrington girls swimming team remained unbeaten this season after defeating Holy Cross in impressive fashion, 90-74.
“We did very nice tonight,” said Torrington head coach, Katie Gregory. “These kinds of meets, I can move people around, so when we get to bigger meets I have more of an idea of what I can play with.”
The Raiders are coming off of wins against Wilby, St. Paul, Woodland and Suffield.
PHOTOS: Holy Cross at Torrington Girls Swimming
“We just had two big meets in a row,” said Mackenzie Welch, speakin
The Torrington Red Raiders celebrates its win over Holy Cross.
Pete Paguaga – Register Citizen
g of the Raiders’ wins over Suffield and Woodland in the past week.
The Red Raiders (5-0) jumped out an early lead, winning the first event in impressive fashion with a 2:05.89. The relay team of Makenzie Welch, Payton Welch, Hailey Ross and Sara Heath set the tone of the meet and the rest of the Raiders followed suit winning four of the first five events and never looked back, clinching the meet after the ninth event, the 100-yard backstroke.
“That was good start to the meet for us,” said sophomore, Payton Welch.
Leading the way for the Raiders was the sister combination of Makenzie and Payton Welch who each won two individual events and one relay.
Makenzie Welch, a senior, came in first place in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:28.12 and later in the meet she came in first in the 100-yard backstroke, but it didn’t count towards the Red Raiders point total due to Torrington mathematically eliminating Holy Cross the event before.
“Our team overall, did well today,” said Makenzie Welch. “I’m not overly thrilled; I expected better times in my two individual events.”
Payton Welch cruised to wins in the 100-yard butterfly, winning by 16 seconds and before that the 50-yard freestyle, which was a nice surprise.
“I’m proud of myself,” laughed, Payton Welch of her 50-yard freestyle win. “I never swam the 50 at a meet before.”
Melanie Nadle had a strong meet for the Red Raiders coming in second in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle and Chloe Vollaro took home first place in the 100-yard backstroke.
“It’s always hard to not have that competition where race comes down to the wire,” said Gregory.
The Red Raiders are now 5-0 and are looking towards continuing their excellent season.
“We have a big meet at Watertown,” said Payton Welch of the Raiders meet with the Indians next Friday night. “We are working hard to beat them.”
Torrington 90, Holy Cross 74
At Torrington YMCA
200-yard medley relay
1. Torrington (Makenzie Welch, Hailey Ross, Payton Welch, Sara Heath), 2:05.89
2. Torrington
3. Holy Cross
200-yard freestyle
1. Brittany Steinfield (HC) 2:00.44
2. Melanie Nadle (T)
3. Taryn Canfield (T)
200-yard individual medley
1. Makenzie Welch (T), 2:28.12
2. Cara McCarthy (T)
3. Sarah Todd (T)
50-yard freestyle
1. Payton Welch (T), 27.34
2. Elena Cavalo (HC)
3. Sara Heath (T)
100-yard butterfly
1. Payton Welch (T) 1:08.51
2. Cara McCarthy (T)
3. Hailey Ross (T)
100-yard freestyle
1. Elena Cavalo (HC) 1:02.91
2. Chole Vallaro (T)
3. Sara Heath (T)
500-yard freestyle
1. Brittany Steinfield (HC), 5:23.36
2. Melanie Nadle (T)
3. Jenn Friscia (T)
200-yard freestyle relay
1. Holy Cross (Emily Barker, Brittany Steinfield, Alyssa McCowan, Alana Gagna), 2:00.60
2. Torrington
3. Torrington
100-yard backstroke
1. Chloe Vollaro (T), 1:13.01
2. Miranda Goddard
3. Caroline Henry
100-yard breaststroke
1. Emily Barker, (HC) 1:28.17
2. Adrianna Solhjoo (HC)
3. Brianna Meiklem (HC)
400-yard freestyle relay
1. Holy Cross (Brittany Steinfield, Elena Cavalo, Alana Koser, Alana Gagnan
2. Holy Cross
Records: Torrington 5-0, Holy Cross 0-4.
