Long Beach's Maggie Aroesty leads Nassau contingent for state meet
Margaret Aroesty of Long Beach surfaces during the 100-yard breaststroke event during the Nassau girls swimming state qualifier meet at the Nassau County Aquatic Center on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Credit: James Escher
The charter bus going to Ithaca is going to be a touch cramped this year. And very, very accomplished.
It holds 55, Nassau swimming coaches association president Rich Stern of Jericho explained. With around 40 state-qualifying swimmers, the girls will need to pack light. That number includes three county-record relay teams and Long Beach's Maggie Aroesty, new holder of the Nassau record in the 200-yard individual medley.
The state meet is at Ithaca College Nov. 21-22.
"This team is very, very special," Stern said. "I'd never seen a meet like it."
Leading the way will be the Garden City 200-freestyle relay team of Caitlin Powderly, Gabrielle Clarkson, Rose Kelly and Caroline Bonvissuto, whose time of 1 minute, 38.75 seconds topped the 2011 county mark of 1:38.94 set by Bellmore-Merrick, and paced the Trojans to a 16th straight county title, as they defeated Bellmore-Merrick, 498-480.
"It was the closest meet that I remember," Stern said.
Aroesty's time of 2:02.23 broke Sewanhaka's Olivia Chan's 2012 record of 2:03.31. She also won the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.05.
Bellmore-Merrick's 200 medley team (1:48.67) and its 400 freestyle (3:34.08) also set records. Jaimie Kaefer anchored the medley with a split of 24.78 and Kerry Giovanniello anchored the 400 in 51.47.
Giovanniello was first in the 200 freestyle in 1:52.18 and the 500 free in 5:01.68, while Massapequa's Cara Treble will make her return to the state meet in the 50 freestyle (23.93) and the 100 free (52.20).
Bellmore's Paige Kaplan won the 100 butterfly in 56.42, leading five others who made state times. Bellmore's Jessica Arana won the 100 backstroke in 57.93.
"It used to be a couple of girls swam year round," Stern said. "Now, most teams have at least one girl that swims all year. They have a competitive nature they all just want to get faster and faster."
