Last year’s Amherst girls swim team enjoyed a Cinderella postseason run. The Hurricanes secured the school’s first sectional title since 1999, and followed that up with the program’s first-ever MIAA Division 2 state championship for good measure. 

This year’s group could be poised to make a splash in the postseason yet again, despite graduating some key seniors from last year’s run. Ahead of the Central/West Championship, the Hurricanes have the top seed in both the 200-yard medley relay (1:56.43) and 400 freestyle relay (3:57.95). They’re the only team to have a seed time under two minutes in the 200 medley relay.

Besides their relays, Amherst could swim away with some individual titles as well. Freshman Finnley Chambers has the second-fastest time in the 200 free (2:03.72), just 0.12 seconds behind top seed Abigayle Goncalves-Korny from Ludlow. Chambers also has the second-best time in the 500 free (5:37.34).

Lucy Smith is back for the Hurricanes this year after playing a key part in last year’s sectional and state titles. The senior has the top seed in the 50 free (24.92), about half a second ahead of teammate Rowan Albertson (25.48) in the No. 2 slot, and Smith is also the second seed in the 100 free, just .08 seconds behind Easthampton star Natalia Roback (55.42) in the top spot. 

Besides being the top seed in the 100 free, Roback is also the top competitor in the 200 IM with a seed time of 2:14.07, and Albertson is slotted in the No. 5 slot in the 100 backstroke.

Northampton’s Sydney Abild will also contend for a couple of titles at the Central/West meet. The senior is the No. 1 seed in the 100 butterfly (59.84), the only swimmer with a sub-one minute qualifying mark. She’s also the top seed in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.89). 

Other swimmers to watch include Amherst’s Deborah Wells, who is the third seed in the 100 backstroke (1:02.39) and fourth seed in the 200 IM (2:19.04), Northampton’s Ursula VonGoeler, the No. 2 seed in the diving competition (248.85), and Belchertown’s Audrey Harrington (2:09.76) and Valerie Williams (2:09.93), who are ranked No. 7 and 9, respectively, in the 200 free. The Amherst 200 free relay team is also ranked seventh with a time of 1:50.07. 

The girls’ section of the Central/West Championship will take place on Sunday at Springfield College’s Art Linkletter Natatorium, with the first event starting at 9:30 a.m.

Belchertown’s Giguere ready to defend

On the boys’ side of things, Belchertown’s Luke Giguere is ranked No. 1 in two events heading into the Central/West meet on Sunday. The boys meet will also be at Springfield College, with the first event slated to start at 4 p.m.

Giguere is the top seed in both the 100 backstroke (54.11) and 100 butterfly (53.09). The junior won both events at the sectional meet last year as a sophomore, and will hope to defend his titles on Sunday.

Easthampton’s Tyler Hetu enters with the second-best mark in the diving competition (270.00). He’s just ahead of Northampton’s Tyler Palm, who’s seeded third with a 251.01. 

Amherst’s Callum McDonald is seeded fourth in the 200 free (1:54.46) and eighth in the 100 butterfly (57.50), just behind No. 7 Evander Maradiaga from Amherst (57.25) and ahead of No. 9 Brady Pijar from Holyoke (57.76). Pijar is also seeded ninth in the 100 backstroke (1:00.59) while his teammate Brady Pete is the No. 6 seed in the 500 free (5:20.99). 

Competing with Pijar in the 100 backstroke will be Amherst’s Samuel Kennedy (59.16, No. 6) and Belchertown’s Ryan Gould (59.85, No. 7). Amherst’s Eric Lian is also the No. 8 seed in the 50 free (23.23). 

Besides the individuals, a number of local teams have qualified strong relay teams across several events. Amherst and Belchertown will go head to head in the 200 medley, ranked No. 3 (1:47.03) and No. 4 (1:47.68), respectively. The two teams are also less than a second apart in the 200 free relay, with Belchertown seeded fifth (1:36.27) and Amherst right behind in sixth (1:36.93). The Orioles also have the seventh slot in the 400 free relay (3:41.45). 

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