Joe McConnell
The Marblehead High School swim and dive team (3-0) won a close meet against Northeastern Conference rival Masco on Thursday, Jan. 5 at the Lynch-van Otterloo YMCA, 103-89.
“The Masco team surprised everyone with their strength, but our depth proved to be the difference in this meet,” coach Sue Guertin said.
The veteran coach added, “Masco gave us a terrific meet, and as a result we knew at that point we have to work hard to remain undefeated throughout the rest of the regular season.”
In the 200-yard medley relay, Jack Grady, Gary Podstrelov, Greg Podstrelov and Logan Doody (1:49.61, state cut) accounted for a second-place finish. Clementine Robins, Song Watekus, Finn Bergquist and Anna Coleman (2:00.37, state cut) came in third.
Cole Brooks (1:48.72, state cut) bested the entire field in the 200-yard freestyle. Cale Nelson (2:00.86) was third, and Sophia Weiner (2:07.85, sectional cut) fourth.
Will Cerrutti (2:15.26, personal best) and Brady Leveroni (2:16.90, personal best) bested the entire field in the 200 IM.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Doody (23.10, state cut) was credited with a first-place finish. Owen Torstenson (25.53, personal best) came in third, and Coleman (27.69) fifth.
Grady (181.05 points) settled for fourth in diving. Cait Mullins (140.40, personal best score) chipped in with a fifth-place finish.
Brooks (54.67, state cut) went to the head of the class in the 100-yard butterfly. Gary Podstrelov (58.99, personal best) was right behind him in second place. Finn Bergquist (1:06.04, sectional cut) was fourth.
Bella Takata (58.49, sectional cut), Weiner (59.70) and Coleman (1:01.47) picked up third, fourth and fifth place in the 100-yard freestyle, respectively.
In the 500-yard freestyle, Robins (5:14.25, state cut) and Brinleigh (5:45.42, sectional cut) ended up second and third, while Bergquist (5:46.56, sectional cut) was fifth.
Cale Nelson, Nate Rosen, Torstenson and Brooks (1:37.99, state cut) owned the top spot in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Song Waitekus, Bergquist, Takata and Weiner (1:50.07, sectional cut) finished third.
Grady (57.73, state cut) and Doody (57.78, state cut) were the top two swimmers in the 100-yard backstroke. Nelson (1:01.33) was fourth.
Greg Podstrelov (1:10), Nate Rosen (1:11.02) and Song Watekus (1:14.40, state cut) swept the 100-yard breaststroke.
In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Doody, Grady, Nelson and Brooks (3:38.19, state cut) secured the top spot. Coleman, Takata, Weiner and Robins (3:57, state cut) teamed up to finish second.