LIers do well in prelims as they seek state swimming titles
Long Beach's Kristen Romano swims in a preliminary heat of the 100 yard butterfly during the NYSPHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving Championships held at Ithaca College on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Credit: Adrian Kraus
The preliminary round of the state girls swimming championship meet is a shade less intense than the final round, when hardware is on the line. But for those who take advantage, Day One can provide the ultimate confidence boost.
On Friday, Massapequa's Cara Treble took advantage. She had the top qualifying time (1:50.16) in the 200-yard freestyle at Ithaca College.
"It's definitely a huge lift for me going into the finals," said Treble, a runner-up in the event last year.
Treble already has had exposure to the thrill of winning at the state meet. Her older sister, Molly, was a two-time state champ before graduating from Massapequa in 2014.
"It was so exciting to see how happy she felt after it," Cara Treble said. "Honestly, watching her win, in my head I was like, 'That's going to be me soon.' ''
For Long Beach's Kristen Romano, the preliminary round served a similar purpose as a potential tone-setter. Romano, who had the fastest qualifying time (:55.38) in the 100-yard backstroke, was a state runner-up the previous two years. Friday's effort had her considering what it would mean to win.
"That means you're the fastest girl in the state," Romano said, smiling. "It's what I've been working toward every time I get in the pool."
Romano was part of Long Beach's 200-yard medley team -- with Maggie Aroesty, Morgan Harrington and Joan Cash -- whose 1:46.86 clocking was the fastest qualifying time.
Aroesty, who earned MVP honors at the Nassau championships on Nov. 7, had the fastest time (2:04.13) in the 200-yard IM .
Sacred Heart's Lauryn Johnson was a Catholic League standout. The freshman qualified with the second-fastest time (55.83) in the 100-yard butterfly.
In Suffolk, Ward Melville's Casey Gavigan qualified with the fourth-fastest time (56.34) in the 100-yard backstroke. Last year, she was a state champ in the event. "This year, it's different," she said. "I have a title to defend."
For Gavigan and the rest of the Suffolk participants, the state meet represents a unique opportunity. "All the Suffolk teams come together as one," Gavigan said.
Per tradition, Friday night was movie night for the Suffolk swimmers. They went to see "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2."
"I love our swim community. The girls are all so great," said Shoreham-Wading River's Emily Anderson, who was 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:06.67) to qualify for the finals.
In the diving finals, Huntington's Patricia Arceri finished 14th and Lindenhurst's Gianna Cornelia was 16th out of 47 participants.
