It is one thing to swim up in a race, but it’s another thing to get up for 10 straight meets and win all of them. That’s why it has been a special year for the Duxbury girl’s swim team as it ended it’s regular season undefeated at 10-0.

Over the last two weeks the team defeated North Attleboro (95-86) and overpowered Silver Lake Regional High School (90-65). 

The tougher meet was against North Attleboro, which was tied after the first four events. After the 200-medley relay, Duxbury was facing an eight-point deficit. In the next event, Sarah Goldberg and Katelyn Coghlan raced even with the North Attleboro swimmers, and it was only in the last lap that Goldberg pulled ahead to take first (2:09.72), with Coghlan (2:12.56) finishing right behind.

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: Abby Dobens comes up for air during the freestyle competition in the girls meet with Silver Lake.

The 200-yard medley relay featured three swimmers with season-low times. Senior co-captain Liz Antaya won the event in 2:29.66, while Andrea Davis was second, lopping two seconds off her previous best (2:31.03), and senior co-captain Molly Strand was fourth giving Duxbury a slim two-point lead.

The 50-yard freestyle was next with all six swimmers in the fast lane. When the splashing was over, Emily Hutchinson was the top Duxbury finisher (2nd) in a State qualifying time of 26.87. Goldberg was third (26.87) and was closely followed by Maggie Hickey.

The divers did their job outscoring North Attleboro by a wide margin. Sam Collin flipped to a season high 155.88, while Hadley Burnham took second (142.88) and Paige Jackson finished third (130.88).

Entering the sixth event, Duxbury had a comfortable 13-point lead, but anything could happen. Alix Brady, Hickey and Melanie Mathieu did their best, but could not place above third, allowing the lead to dwindle to seven points.

The 100-yard freestyle has always been a strong event for the Lady Dragons and in this meet it was no exception. Kaitlin Buckley and Hutchinson zoomed to a tie for first place (58.34), both qualifying for the State championships. Gaby Pipp completed the sweep in a personal-best time of 59.91.

By the time the 500-yard freestyle rolled around, Duxbury had a comfortable 25-point lead.  Despite that fact, Coghlan, Antaya and Kelsey O’Neal went out hard, taking first, second, and fourth, respectively.

North Attleboro came storming back in the 200-yard freestyle relay, nipping out the team of Goldberg, Hutchinson, Pipp and Antaya, while the lead remained at 17 for the Lady Dragons.

Buckley won the 100-yard backstroke easily (1:05.41), followed by Davis (3rd) and Julia Allen (4th), and Strand was the top finisher in the 100-yard breaststroke.{sidebar id=1}

It was all Duxbury in the 400-yard freestyle relay, with Goldberg, Hutchinson, Davis and Buckley teaming for the win and a season-low (3:56.25).

The Lady Dragons won all 11 events against the Lakers, as Buckley was a double-event winner, taking first in the 200-yard freestyle (2:04.90) in a personal-best time, and in the very next event, winning the 200-yard individual medley. 

Briana Murphy led a sweep in the 50-yard freestyle (28.34), followed by senior co-captain Sarah Trevisani (2nd) and Carly Spoor (3rd). 

Pipp won the 100-yard freestyle (59.53), followed closely by Davis (2nd), who made her Sectional cut time. Andrea Celino was 3rd.

Other event winners were Antaya in the 100-yard butterfly (1:07.91), Coghlan in the 500- yard freestyle, and Strand in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Carolyn Blout touched first in the 100-yard backstroke just ahead of Allen and Mary Courtney Madigan.

Relay team winners were Goldberg, Lauren Wilson, Buckley and Trevisani in the 200-yard medley relay; Hutchinson, Murphy, Amy Lagumina and Anna Brady in the 200-yard freestyle; and Buckley, Antaya, Blout and Hilary Gluskin in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

“I am proud of how this team has come together and competed,” said Coach Jay Craft. “We are looking forward to our post-season meets.”