Set for states: Marblehead swimmers begin postseason with another standout performance

The Marblehead High School swim team, authors of another Northeastern Conference title, posted strong finishes in the North Sectional Meet on Feb. 11 (girls) and Feb. 12 (boys) at the Sterling Center YMCA in Beverly.

“The girls had a stellar performance, finishing third overall in a very competitive field,” said coach Sue Guertin. “The boys, with only four qualifying in the individual events, finished 14th overall.”

Shown after the girls finished third overall at the North Sectionals in Beverly are, from left, assistant coach Jen Brehob, head coach Susan Guertin, Brinleigh Callahan, Anna Coleman, Finn Bergquist, Song Waitekus, Bella Takata, Cecelia Robbins, Sophia Weiner, Clementine Robins and assistant coach Jack VanMeter. COURTESY PHOTO

Up next for the Marblehead swimmers was the state championship meet.

“Both meets are incredibly fast, and the swimmers know what they are up against,” Guertin said.

The All-State event is set to be held at MIT on Feb. 18 (girls) and Feb. 19 (boys).

In the girls 200-yard sectional medley relay, Song Waitekus, Bella Takata, Finn Bergquist and Anna Coleman (1:55.56) finished fourth.

From left, the Marblehead High School medley relay quartet of Finn Bergquist, Song Waitekus, Bella Takata and Anna Coleman are all smiles after ending up fourth in the 200-yard medley relay during the North Sectionals in Beverly. COURTESY PHOTO

Clementine Robins (1:53.1) won the 200-yard freestyle. Sophia Weiner (2:03.50) was ninth, and Brinleigh Callahan (2:06.45) 14th.

Waitekus (2:14.81) came in third in the 200 IM. Bergquist (2:21.11) was 10th.

Anna Coleman (25.89) earned a ninth-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle. Bergquist (1:02.85) chipped in with an eighth-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly

Takata (56.68) was 13th in the 100-yard freestyle. Coleman (56.86) was close behind in 15th place.

Bergquist (5:05.94) went to the head of the class in the 500-yard freestyle. Callahan (5:43.89) ended up 11th.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Coleman, Waitekus, Weiner and Robins (1:43.45) teamed up for a second-place finish.

Weiner (1:03.85) was credited with a 12th-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. Takata (1:07.95) bested the entire field in the 100-yard breaststroke. Waitekus (1:09.92) accounted for a fifth-place finish.

Takata, Cecelia Robbins, Weiner and Robins (3:46.93) combined to finish third in the 400-yard freestyle relay.