Westfield’s Jimmy Stinehart competes in the boys’ 200-yard Individual Medley against visiting Palmer Wednesday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – After winning their season opener on the road against Easthampton last Friday, both the boys’ and girls’ swim and diving teams for Westfield High won their home opener in impressive fashion against Palmer High on Wednesday. The girls’ final score was Westfield 131, Palmer 44. The Bomber Boys beat the Panthers 128-47.
Westfield’s Erin Lewis, Shaylyn Jurczyk and Madison Stinehart swept the 200-yard freestyle for the girls. Similarly John Dolan, Roberto Morales and Ina Canty swept the boys’ race. Palmer’s Madeline McClosksy edged out three Westfield girls to win the 200-yard Individual Medley. Jimmy Stinehart won the 200-yard Individual Medley for the Westfield boys. Westfield girls’ Kiersten Rosso, Annie Goyette and Liz Gelinas s truck back by sweeping the 50-yard freestyle, while Palmer’s Ian Gamsby outsprinted the Westfield boys in the 50-free.
Although the Palmer squad did not field any divers, Westfield’s James Wagner and Page Neylon performed very well, winning the 1 meter spring board diving and earning season best scores.
The Westfield girls continued their rampage by sweeping the 100 butterfly with Sam Dolan, Hayley Jurczyk and Rachel Charette. Jim Steinhart crushed the competition winning the boys’ 100 fly for Westfield by half a pool length. Bombers’ Kierstn Rosso and Shaylyn Jurczyk swam to first and second place finishes, respectively, in the girl’s 100-yard freestyle race. The boys did one better by sweeping the 100 free with freshman Nick Rosso, and veteran teammates Ian Canty and David Shevchuk,
In the 500-yard freestyle, Madeline McCloskey won her second event for Palmer, while the team’s Roberto Morales, Sam Cloutier and Ed McLeavy swept the distance swim for Westfield.
Bombers’ Kelsey Johnstone and Hope Walsh took first and second in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke and John Dolan won the 100 Back for the Westfield Boys. In the 100 Yard Breaststroke, Westfield girls and Rachel Charette, Hayley Jurczyk and Lauren Longley swept the event, and Palmer’s Yuriy Kontsevyy won the boys race for Palmer.
Westfield boys’ and girls’ each won all three of their relay races: 200-yard medley relay (Girls – Kelsey Johnstone, Ali Johnstone , Hayley Jurczyk, and Shaylyn Jurczyk; Boys – Chris Tu, Nick Rosso, Gabe Centeno and Austin Kearney), 200-yard freestyle relay (Girls – Annie Goyette, Libby Hickson-Azocar, Rachel Charette and Erin Lewis; Boys – Austin Kearney, Roberto Morales, Nick Rosso and Chris Tu); 400-yard freestyle relay (Girls- Shaylyn Jurczyk, Lliz Gelinas, Hayley Jurczyk and Ali Johnstone,; Boys – Roberto Morales, Gabe Centeno, Austin Kearney and Chris Tu).
While Westfield won this meet handily against the smaller Palmer team, there were a number of very exciting races featuring Westfield’s best pitted against a nucleus of very talented Palmer swimmers. The Bombers next take on Monson home Friday at 4 p.m., in what promises to be a much closer meet, particularly with the boys’ squad. – WHS coach Mike Rowbotham contributed to this report
