St. Anthony's wins CHSAA girls swimming title

The St. Anthony’s girls swimming team won its second straight CHSAA Girls Swimming Championship with a dominating performance at the Nassau Aquatic Center on Sunday, posting the highest team point total in league history with a final score of 879.5.

“This is by far the most talented team I’ve ever had,” head coach Dan McBride said. “This was just a magical season.”

The Lady Friars (9-0) were led by sophomore Melissa Bischoff, who set a new CHSAA record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 58.01. Bischoff was part of another record-setting performance, this time in the 200 medley relay with Callie Vacchiano, Kylie Danin, and Shannon Lulley. They finished in 1:48.54, three seconds faster than Sacred Heart’s 2008 league record of 1:51.17.

Lulley also won the 200 individual medley (2:07.78) and the 100 butterfly (56.92). Her twin Chandler Lulley was also a double winner, winning the 100 freestyle (52.88) and the 200 freestyle (1:55.51). The Lulleys have verbally committed to Fordham University.

St. Anthony’s won all three relays in this year’s championships. Marielle Pavek, Breann Lydon, Chandler Lulley, and Kaitlyn Fitzgerald won the 200 freestyle relay (1:40.32). Pavek, Danin, and the Lulley sisters dominated the 400 freestyle relay, winning by over 10 seconds (3:37.74).

The Lady Friars swept both the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly with the top four finishes. They also set six new school records.

Sacred Heart finished second with a score of 657. The Mary Louis Academy came in third with 622.5 and junior Tara Mulligan was named the meet MVP, setting a new league record in the 50 freestyle (24.31) and winning the 100 breaststroke (1:07.72).