BHS Swim Past Hatters on Senior Night

By Bob Rogers

   The Bethel swim team topped Danbury 95-86 this Tuesday on Senior Night at the WCSU pool. Seven seniors swam their final home meet and were honored with flowers, gifts from teammates and words of appreciation from Coach Katie McGowan during the half-meet break. Seniors enjoying their second victory of the season are first year swimmer Juan Ayala (4^th place 100 Fly); three year veterans Davidson Abiali (5^th place 100 Breast), Captain Kevin Gallagher (ill) and Johnny Esposito (2^nd place 100 breast); and four year team members Caitlin Pirro (swam all three relays), Chris Wong (3^rd place 100 Fly) and Captain Katie Bozzuti (2^nd place 500 Free, 3^rd Place 200 Free).

   The Bethel coaching staff seems to thrive with extra pressure, as both their wins this year came with a little more excitement. The win over Platt/Maloney had their bus getting lost and Tuesday’s win had them dealing with one locker room. Fair enough for some teams, but with over 70 swimmers split almost 40-30 boys and girls, it was a major achievement for both pre-meet changing, and all through the two hour meet to accommodate both sets of swimmers. Huge thanks to the coaches and parents who helped make this possible during a very busy night at the O’Neil Center at WCSU.

   In the pool, the meet was even more exciting between the two local rivals. Tied 31-31 after the 50 Free, BHS took a large lead with their three divers, Julia Morton, Alex Nackid and Sydney Johnson placing 1-2-3. Danbury would cut the lead down to 58-49 with strong performances in the 100 Fly (Hatters’ Rares Barbu 1^st place with 1:06.5 and teammate Jay Brittain close behind for 2^nd place) and 100 Free (Matt Murphy 59.53). Once again, the 500 Free trio of Sarah Whalen, Bozzuti and Molly Nichols would break the meet open, making it 71-52 by placing 1-2-3. The Wildcats would stretch the lead to 87-66 after their strongest event, 100 Back, with Tucker Bjornson, Olivia Wootton and Aiden Ford taking top places.

   The second win of the season for Bethel is their first multiple win season since 2007. Bethel’s next meet is 4:00pm on Valentine’s Day at the Weston Middle School pool against the Trojans.

Bethel’s Top Finishers:

200 Medley Relay:  2^nd – Tucker Bjornson, Johnny Esposito, Chris Wong, Kenny Darrah

200 Free:  1^st Olivia Wootton, 2^nd Sarah Whalen, 3^rd Katie Bozzuti

200 IM: 1^st Bjornson, 4^th James Canfield, 5^th Aiden Ford

50 Free: 2^nd Darrah, 5^th Wong

Diving: 1^st Julia Morton, 2^nd Alex Nackid, 3^rd Sydney Johnson

100 Fly: 3^rd Wong, 4^th Juan Ayala, 5^th Cara Bernardo

100 Free: 2^nd Darrah, 3^rd Canfield, 5^th Kevin Michalka

500 Free: 1^st Whalen, 2^nd Bozzuti, 3^rd Molly Nichols

200 Free Relay: 2^nd Esposito, Wong, Wootton, Canfield

100 back: 1^st Bjornson, 2^nd Wootton, 4^th Ford

100 Breast: 2^nd Esposito, 3^rd Nichols, 5^th Davidson Abiali

400 Free Relay: 1^st Darrah, Wootton, Canfield, Bjornson; 3^rd Bozzuti, Ford, Whalen, Helen Belato

Photos are last year photos from the Patch:

Helen Belato

Kenny Darrah

Tucker Bjornson

Sarah Whalen