From left to right, Jimmy Stinehart, John Dolan, team captain Brendan Day, and Allen Whitlock stand together after setting a school record in the 200 freestyle relay during Saturday's Western Massachusetts swim championships Sunday at Springfield College. (Photo by Chris Putz)
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Lady Bombers win swim title
By CHRIS PUTZ
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD – Not one Westfield High School girls’ swimmer rose above the competition to seize an individual gold medal Sunday at Springfield College. But when the final results were tabulated, the Lady Bombers held the championship high – as one – to capture glory.
The red, black, and white clad swimmers from the Whip City didn’t concern themselves with record-setting times, just great all-around swims and a piece of hardware they could all grab hold of at the end.
Bolstered by an unusually deep crop of solid swimmers, Westfield won Western Mass with 316 points. Minnechaug (270 points), East Longmeadow (249), Longmeadow (204), and Northampton (183) rounded out the top five.
“I think in the beginning there was a little doubt because we lost some superstars,” said team co-captain Nicole Charette, referring to some key defections in the offseason. “But we clicked as a team. We all had to depend on each other and do our best as individuals. We did not get a single first, but we have so much depth.”
That was evident in a race such as the 100-yard breaststroke, where Chicopee Comp’s Kara Lacoste won the race with a time of 1:06.91 for 20 points. But Westfield’s Erin Lewis (1:11.77), Hannah Plourde (1:12.94), and Charette (1:13.00) swept 4-6 for a total of 42 points. That trend held all day.
Charette also placed 11th in the 200-individual medley (2:24.97).
Westfield’s best finish came in – of course – a team event, the 200-yard medley relay. Hope Walsh, Erin Lewis, Genna Senecal, and Jordan Jacobson placed second in 1:55.88, only behind Holyoke Catholic’s 1:53.08.
The Lady Bombers’ other two relay teams finished fifth, securing 28 points apiece.
Erin Lewis, Lauren Longley, Hope Walsh, and Jordan Jacobson represented the 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:45.60); Longley, Senecal, Jennafer Rowbotham, and Hannah Plourde bolstered the 400-yard freestyle relay team (3:53.40).
“We believed we could do it heading into the season, but when we got our undefeated (regular) season we knew in our hearts at that point that we could do so much this year,” said Rowbotham, who also finished 11th in the 500 freestyle (5:37.65) and 15th in the 200-yard freestyle (2:08.18).
“We had each others’ backs,” she added. “Everyone worked equally as hard.”
Lewis, who was instrumental in the team’s relay success, also placed ninth in the 50-yard freestyle (26.73).
Her sister, Bridget, finished 12th in the 200-yard individual medley (2:26.34) and 11th in the-100 yard backstroke (1:05.99).
Together, Bridget Lewis, Rowbotham, and Charette formed a formidable trio of team captains, compiling a 39-3 record, including three straight unbeaten regular seasons. And finally, after a decades-long drought of Western Mass. titles – losing championships routinely on the final relay – they are number one.
“All season we have been so supportive of each other more so than any other year,” Bridget Lewis explained. “If you mess with a Bomber, you’re going to get blown out of the pool.”
They were not alone in their quest.
Others such as Jordan Jacobson (6th, 50 free), Hope Walsh (6th, 200 free; 7th, 100 back), Lauren Longley (8th, 500 free; 9th, 200 free), Hannah Plourde (7th, 200 IM), Genna Senecal (8th, 200 IM; 7th, 100 fly), Ali Johnstone (10th, 100 back), and Kiersten Rosso (16th, 500 free) were critical to the Lady Bombers’ championship, as well as Danielle Charette (24th, 100 back).
“The kids were very nervous at the beginning of the season because we lost some superstars,” said Westfield coach Tom Lewis. “But they maintained a positive attitude all year long, and we pulled together like no other team before.”
The championship run actually began Friday night when Westfield’s female divers got the team off and running.
Kelsey Veillette led the Lady Bombers with a third-place finish (357.90), while three other team divers cracked the top 16 – Taryn Hamel (6th), Hannah Liquori (12th), and Alyssa Carson (16th).
“If my divers didn’t do what they did Friday, we wouldn’t be where we are now,” Westfield assistant coach Linda Rowbotham said, minutes before the team’s final event Sunday.
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WHS’ boys’ swim team claims second
Record-setting day for one Bombers’ relay team
By CHRIS PUTZ
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD – The Minnechaug Regional High School boys’ swimming team soared faster, stronger, and higher than everyone else at the Western Massachusetts championships Sunday at Springfield College. But if any other squad created some buzz – creating splashing headlines of its own – it was the Westfield Bombers.
With 278.50 points, Westfield finished ahead of every other Western Mass. team, save for Minnechaug (399 points). Longmeadow (263), Northampton (190), and Amherst (172) placed 3-5.
Jimmy Stinehart, John Dolan, captain Brendan Day, and Allen Whitlock combined to set a new school record in the 200-freestyle relay for Westfield. The four Bombers finished in 1:29.85, only overshadowed by Minnechaug’s record-setting meet swim of 1:28.29.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Day. “It took a lot of hard work every day all up to this moment. We gave it everything we had.”
Day said it was not easy, going up against the area’s elite.
“Versus Minnechaug,” Day said, “you know going in that they’re going to put down a fast time. It’s hard to stay with them. You just give it your best and see what happens. We’re looking forward to swimming against them again at states.”
Day also helped anchor Westfield’s 200-yard medley relay team, along with Dolan, Stinehart, and Matt Labombard. They also combined to win a second-place medal with a time of 1:43.11.
Day and Dolan took third (1:52.35) and fourth (tie, 1:53.07), respectively, in the 200 free. While the senior captain also placed fifth in the 100 free (51.18), Stinehart took the silver in the 50 free (22.57) and Whitlock sixth (23.41). Whitlock was 10th in the 100 free (52.69). Dolan was 7th in the 100 back (59.23).
Matt Jacobson (200 IM, 3rd; 100 back, 5th) and Matt Labombard (500 free, 3rd; 100 fly, 6th) managed top six finishes in a pair of events. Labombard and Jacobson teamed up with Whitlock, and Chris Tu in the 400 free (5th).
Evan Fouche took fifth in diving Friday night with a score of 306.75.
“We swam very, very well – the times these guys put up were incredible,” said coach Lewis. “We came into the meet knowing we were not going to win the meet. It wasn’t in the numbers.”
While the Lady Bombers brought 16 qualifiers to the championship meet, the Westfield boys’ team had just eight. But while the girls’ team now boasts a top-shelf trophy, Lewis said don’t be surprised if a local male swimmer leaves Harvard next weekend with an individual award.
“Our boys’ swimmers can win at almost any time,” he said.
NOTES: While much of the success of the Westfield swim program can be attributed to Lewis, assistant Linda Rowbotham, and her husband, Mike, the coaching staff said the achievements of the Bombers would not be possible without the feeder program at the Westfield YMCA. The “Y” program which fields the Wave teams is coached by Lewis, Jamie Bloom, Randy Longley, and Will Martin. …The boys’ high school team last won a WMass championship in 2006.
