Sacred Heart's Cavan Gormsen breaks multiple freestyle records at state Federation championships

WEBSTER, N.Y. — Cavan Gormsen had already defended her Federation 200-yard freestyle title, breaking her meet and Federation records in the process. She was now starting to churn through the water in defense of her 500 freestyle crown. 

Soon, the only question floating in the pool was time, not place.

She ended up breaking her meet and Fed records in that race, too. Both wins came with automatic All-American times — 1:45.12 in the first final and 4:39.82 in the latter.

The Sacred Heart senior from Wantagh was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the state and Federation girls swimming and diving championships at Webster Aquatic Center Saturday.

“I think it was a really good way to end off my high school swimming career,” Gormsen said. “I’m pleased with how it went.”

Her team was pleased with ruling the Federation for the second straight season, 277.5-185 over Hauppauge/Smithtown, which earned the public schools title.

“We’re very excited,” Sacred Heart coach Mary White said. “I’m very proud of them. I anticipated another repeat.”

The Spartans’ stars shined, Gormsen and senior Tess Howley, who repeated in the 100 butterfly (52.80) and the 100 backstroke (53.29) in automatic All-American times. The Virginia commits also contributed with Catherine Dean and Sarah Larsen to victories in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

“It’s definitely special to end on a good note with the people I started with,” Howley said. “It’s just been a great season all around for Sacred Heart.”

The same could said for Hauppauge/Smithtown after its team championship.

“It’s amazing,” coach Sean Montalvo said. “It’s something that we’ve been working on for years for this day. Day in and day out, these girls, they work extremely hard.”

Sofia Burns could see the 200 medley relay was very close as she was about to dive in for Hauppauge/Smithtown’s anchor leg.

“I was definitely a little nervous, but I was really determined,” Burns said. “I pushed as hard as I could. I wanted to win.”

The junior touched first for the state and Federation championships. Leah Treglia (backstroke), Madison Dominger (breaststroke), Sarah Lucca (butterfly) and Burns (freestyle) broke the Suffolk record at the county meet, then set new ones here twice in two days. This time, they lowered it to 1:45.33, good for All-American consideration.

MaryGrace Waring teamed with Lucca, Burns and Treglia on the NYSPHSAA-winning 400 freestyle relay, which was second overall. 

Treglia was also seeking her first individual state title. The Miami-bound senior got it, swimming an automatic All-American time of 54.43 to place second behind Howley in the 100 backstroke but first among the NYSPHSAA crowd.

“It was actually unbelievable,” Treglia said. “… Once I saw my time and the place after I finished … I can’t even explain what I was feeling.”

East Hampton’s Jane Brierley placed first in the state and Federation in the 100 breaststroke. And April Chun, a Clarke sophomore swimming for East Meadow, took the top spot among public school competitors in the 500 freestyle and was third overall.