SPRINGFIELD – The Westfield High School swimming and diving team has prospered from a strong youth program, solid coaching, and dedicated, hard-working student-athletes for more than a decade.
The future looks just as bright right now.
On Saturday, the Westfield boys’ and girls’ swim teams made impressive showings at the West Sectional championships at Springfield College. The Bombers boys finished second overall and the girls placed sixth.
“Coming in second is a big deal,” Westfield High swim coach Tom Lewis said. “We’ve been struggling the last few years. I don’t think many expected us to vault all the way to second.”
Westfield’s Nick Rosso helped Westfield make that leap. Rosso was the runner-up in two events – the 50 free (22.60) and 100 butterfly (53.53).
Westfield’s Nicholas Rosso competes in the 100 yard butterfly Saturday during the Division 1 West Sectional swimming and diving championships at Springfield College. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Patrick Lurgio captured bronze in the 200 IM (2:09.30), Tommy Russell claimed fourth in the 100 free (49.87) and 100 backstroke (55.15), and Cole Viamari was fifth in the 500 free (5:01.97).
The Bombers’ 200 medley relay team (Russell, Lurgio, Rosso, Jack Beaulieu) finished fifth (1:43.88) and 200 free relay team (Matt Morash, Lurgio, Viamari, Beaulieau) each finished fifth in 1:43.88 and 1:36.78, respectively. The 400 free relay team (Morash, Viamari, Rosso, Russell) was fourth (3:22.36).
WMASS D1 BOYS’ SWIMMING RUNNERS-UP
Westfield Bombers
Westfield diver Kevin Hayes placed ninth (346.30).
Other top 15 finishes for the Bombers included: Morash (200 free/1:53.35/7th; 100 free/51.38/9th), Viamari (200 free/1:54.06/8th), Beaulieu (100 fly/59.49/15th; 100 backstroke/1:00.91/8th), and Lurgio (100 breaststroke/1:06.06/8th).
“The boys swam extremely well,” Lewis said.
GIRLS’ RESULTS
The Westfield girls’ team left its mark on the 2016-17 season at Saturday’s championship event. The “W” may not have stood for an overall win, but the girls represented the Whip City well, leaving their imprint in several events. They will best be remembered for their competitive spirit and toughness.
“Our relays were solid and our girls posted their best times up and down the board,” coach Lewis said.
Rachel Charette posted the best finish for the Westfield girls, placing fourth in the 100 freestyle in 55.53. Charette also tied for sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.90), and teamed with Emilie Pease, Emily Langlois, and Sara Russell to capture fifth in the 200 yard medley relay (1:57.49).
Westfield diver Claudia Tosi finished seventh with 347.15 points.
Westfield’s Rachel Charette participates in the 200 yard medley relay at Saturday’s swimming and diving championships. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Lizzie Fraser (200 free/2:06.07/8th), Elizabeth Dion (200 free/2:10.45/13th; 500 free/5:48.89/14th), Langlois (200 individual medley/2:26.25/11th; 500 free/5:41.41/10th), Pease (50 free/26.45/11th; 100 backstroke/1:05.38/10th), and Russell (50 free/27.38/13th; 100 free/1:00.25/14th) each claimed top 15 finishes in multiple individual events for Westfield.
The Bombers’ 200 free relay team (Pease, Charette, Fraser, Russell) and the 400 relay team (Chloe Schumacher, Langlois, Fraser, Dion) finished seventh (1:45.62) and eighth (4:03.91), respectively.
“We’re a young team so were just going to get better next year,” Lewis said.
There is still another chance to make waves in the high school swimming universe when Westfield travels to Boston University for the state competition this weekend. The girls’ race begins Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The boys’ race is Sunday at 2.
Said Lewis: “We’re looking forward to (it).”
