Members of the Westfield High School swim team cheers on a fellow swimmer at a recent meet. The Bombers’ boys and girls swim teams both improved to 3-0 with wins over the Central Golden Eagles on Thursday in Springfield. (File Photo by Marc St. Onge)
SPRINGFIELD – Westfield’s Alexa Richter won a pair of events – 200 individual medley (2:26.78) and 500 freestyle (5:41.71) – two swimmers recorded individual firsts and two others celebrated a shared first moment in the Bombers’ 141-42 rout of the Central Golden Eagles Thursday.
“Overall it was a fun meet because it was a meet where we could play around with our lineup,” Westfield head swim coach Tom Lewis said.
Caitlynn Thompson and Ellie Glynn posted their first-ever victories for Westfield (3-0). Thompson won the 100 free with a time of 1:04.68; Glynn won the 100 breaststroke (1:27.41).
Emily Langlois (200 free, 2:13.31), Kathryn O’Connor (50 free, 28.18), Jordan Bannish (diving, 209.15), Emily Mihalek (100 butterfly, 1:06.56), and Ally Russell (100 backstroke, 1:09.11) won individual events.
Emilie Pease, Kathryn Breck, Mihalek, and Chloe Schumacher won the medley relay for Westfield in 2:16.44. Mihalek, Kathryn and Carly O’Connor, and Justine Trudeau finished first in the 400 free relay (4:31.20).
For Breck and Trudeau, it was their first high school victory as well.
BOYS SWIMMING
Bombers down Golden Eagles
Westfield 113, Central 58
Tommy Russell, Jack Beaulieu, and Matt Morash each won two events to lead Westfield.
Morash placed first in the 200 freestyle (2:00.25) and 100 fly (59.51). Beaulieu finished first in the 50 free (24.68) and 100 backstroke (1:03.33). Russell won the 200 IM (2:11.60) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.09).
Anton Bonacci (100 free, 56.52) and Jaden Noel (500 free, 5:22.75) won individual events for Westfield. The Bombers medley relay (Russell, Bonacci, Beaulieu, Morash), 200 free relay (Morash, Beaulieu, Patrick Callahan, Russell), and 400 free relay (Noel, Callahan, Bonacci, Tighe Smith) teams also posted victories with winning times of 1:49.82, 1:38.93, and 3:56.90, respectively.
The Westfield swim program next hosts West Springfield Monday at 4 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bombers win third straight to begin season
Westfield 52, Holyoke 37
Kaela Mochak scored a team-high 16 points and rebounded well to lead Westfield to its third straight win to begin the 2019-20 season. Bombers’ Olivia Hadla had 10 points and twin sisters Emma and Chandler Pedolzky finished with eight apiece.
“It was just a great win,” Westfield girls basketball head coach Dylan Willey said. “Our pressure was great, we rotated well, and every time that Holyoke seemed to claw back … and went on a little run we ended up coming up with a big shot or a big play.”
Willey also said strong team character and solid defense has contributed to Westfield’s strong start. The Bombers return to the court Monday night against visiting Northampton. Tip-off is at 7.
BOYS BASKETBALL
English, Beavers buck Bombers
Putnam 55, Westfield 33
Gavaughnt English scored 22 points and Jayson Green, Jr. had 12 to lead Putnam past Westfield. Tony Torres led the Bombers with 11.
Westfield next travels to Springfield to take on Commerce Monday at 7 p.m.
Rams fall in opener
Mahar 74, Southwick 40
Three players scored in double-digits to lead Mahar at home. Ryan Molta led Southwick (0-1) with 12 points, all on 3-pointers.
Collins paces Saints
Hampden Charter School of Science 72, St. Mary’s 37
St. Mary’s Brady Collins scored a team-high 16 points at the “Box Out Cancer Challenge.” Saints’ Nick Montenero and Mike Pepe finished with eight and six points, respectively.
“We played as well as we could,” St. Mary’s boys basketball head coach Joe Molta said. “They sort of wore us down. We had just too many turnovers.”
Hampden Charter pressed from beginning to end, failing to even let up with the game well out of reach.
