Amherst Regional swimming teams split meet against Northampton
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In the race, the boys 400-yard freestyle relay, the Blue Devils edged the Hurricanes by a matter of milliseconds, but Amherst did enough to beat its Minutemen League rival in the end, 95-78.
Both teams were focused on using the meet for dual purposes: to win and work on qualifying individuals for the postseason meets.
"They're all performing well. Right now we're just completely focused on getting kids qualified for western Mass. or states," Amherst boys and girls swimming coach Keith McFarland said. "We're targeting specific kids in specific races to try to get certain times."
Amherst jumped out to a good start, winning the boys 200 medley relay and qualifying for states in the process. The team never looked back from there.
Sophomore Ciaran Dillon-Davidson had an outstanding day despite being beaten by an outstretched finger in the final relay by Northampton's Colin Machat.
Dillon-Davidson swam the third leg of the first-place 200 medley relay, which finished in 1 minutes, 51.4 seconds. Dillon-Davidson won two individual events in which he qualified for states, the 200 freestyle (1:53.67) and 100 butterfly (56.93).
Dillon-Davidson will be looking to build on his two top-five finishes at western Mass. as a freshman last year.
"He's very talented. He's swimming very well. His times are coming down. I don't think he necessarily knows how good he can be," McFarland said. "I like the fact that he got beat in that last race. I don't like to lose, but I like the fact that he got beat because I want that to add fuel to his fire."
Additional Amherst swimmers who performed well include freshman Marc Klepacki, who qualified for states in the 50 freestyle and sectionals in the 100 freestyle. Klepacki was second in the 50 free (23.35) behind Northampton's Colin Machat (23.11) and second in the 100 free (53.36) behind Hamp's Joel Bierwert (52.34). Amherst's Walter Benson qualified for sectionals in the 200 individual medley (first, 2:13.76) and 100 freestyle (third, 54.30).
Dylan Bannon was first in the 100 breast in 1:15.66, just ahead of teammate Harrison Wallace (1:19.90).
McFarland stressed the importance of not only qualifying, but maintaining a high level of performance at the end of the regular season. The western Mass. meet is scheduled for Feb. 12 at Springfield College.
"At this point in the season what we're looking for is consistency," McFarland said. "We want consistency at that western Mass. cut."
On the girls side, Northampton beat Amherst 110-73 despite a relatively small roster.
The Amherst girls still excelled in defeat.
Corey GerberDolan was third in the 200 free (2:13.62) and second in 100 free (1:00.33), and Joslyn Sullivan was second in the 200 IM (2:28.77). Sullivan was third in 500 free (5:44.24), while Emma Thibault was fourth in the 500 (5:50.77) and second in the 100 breast (1:19.03).
Suyin Taunton was second in the 50 free (27.45) and second in the 100 fly (1:08.77).
Laura Nunnelly was second in the 100 back (1:10.93).
