Girls Break Two School Records in Season Opener

Lucy Benoit '23 and co-captain Cece Raymond '20 put their names on the wall with school record performances in the 200 IM and diving, respectively. In her first individual swim as a Martlet, Benoit took the top spot in the IM at 2:12.54, eclipsing the previous school record of 2:14.25, held by Michelle Herd '01 since 2000. Minutes later, Raymond nailed her final of six dives to set a new school record of 226.35, besting her former teammate Jane Ogden's '19 score of 223.50, set in 2017. This meet was an impressive opener for the Martlets — a debut for many new swimmers and divers that resulted in a convincing win over the visiting Dragons, 95-83. The meet began with a first place finish from Benoit, co-captain Angelesia Ma '20, Katherine Ashe '21 and Ellie Thorson '21, in the 200 medley relay, followed by a strong showing from Ashe in the 200 free (second place). Benoit won the 200 IM, with Ma in third and Annie Brewer '21 in fourth, and Thorson, Campbell Swift '21, and India Lalor '21 finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the 50 freestyle. Raymond, Ola Szopa '20 and Riley Vincent '23 swept the top three places in the diving event, and Ashe won the 100 fly with a best-ever in-season time. Thorson, Margaret Breen '23 and Simonne Ponce '21 finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the 100 freestyle, and Brewer and Sydney Schuster '21 finished second and third in the 500 free. Ma, Lalor, Ponce and Janessa Yan '22 won the 200 free relay, with Isabel O’Connell '20, Schuster, Charlotte Trafelet '23, and Michelle Wu '21 taking third place. Benoit then won the 100 backstroke, with Swift taking third, and Ma, Breen and Yan, went 1-2-3 in the 100 breast, respectively. In the final event, Ashe, Yan, Thorson and Benoit teamed up for a second place finish in the 400 freestyle relay to secure the team victory. Overall, it was a great day for both veteran Westminster swimmers and divers and for many first-timers. Many newcomers stepped into their events — and, in some cases, overcame some nerves — and performed beautifully in their first meet for the black and gold. A great start to what is sure to be an exciting season! For full results, click here.