In a year brimming with historic athletic firsts, Emma Willard School has officially joined the action. After dominating the competition by nearly 30 points last Saturday, the Jesters Swimming and Diving team has captured the Colonial Council Championship, the first in school history.
Like many sports teams across the country, the Swimming and Diving team navigated a very peculiar season due to COVID restrictions. After awaiting the announcement of the Fall II sports season earlier this winter, the Jesters finally hit the water in April, seven months after what would have been the start of the regular season in September. In addition to a delayed start, first-year coaches Katie O'Donnell and Eric Martell were tasked with maximizing practice time within a limited training week. What normally would have been a five-day practice week at the Helen S. Cheel Aquatic Center transitioned to four days for swimmers and just two for divers.
Despite the delays and shortened training schedule, the Swimming and Diving team buckled down throughout the season and put their strength on display at the championship meet. Of twelve scoring events, Emma Willard School took the top spot in four events:
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200-yard medley relay (1:54.73): Willa W. ’21, Rosie V. ’21, Gabby Z. ’22, Jenna D. ’21
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1-meter diving (223.85): Giavana S. ’21
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100-yard backstroke (58.82): Willa W. ’21
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100-yard breaststroke (1:09.98): Rosie V. ’21
In addition, the Jesters placed in the top three in five events, nearly sweeping the podium in 1 Meter Diving and 100 Yard Backstroke:
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200-yard IM* (2:16.78): Willa W. ’21
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1-meter diving (148.85): Ashlyn B. ’24
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200-yard freestyle relay (1:49.49): Gabby Z. ’22, Clio N. ’24, Anna J. ’21, Natasha H. ’24
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100-yard backstroke (1:03.32): Roya S. ’24
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400-yard freestyle relay (3:50.38): Jenna D. ’21, Natasha H. ’24, Willa W. ’21, Rosie V. ’21
* (Individual Medley: swimmers use all four competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, in that order.)
The season finale proved to be an exciting one, with multiple athletes securing personal bests, scoring valuable team points, and standing out from the competition. The 200-yard medley relay team (Willa W. ’21, Rosie V. ’21, Gabby Z. ’22, Jenna D. ’21) was victorious by .17 seconds over the second place team with a season best time. In the 200-yard freestyle, Natasha H. ’24 and Clio N. ’24 finished in the top six with season best times while Elle K. ’24 and Isabelle B. ’23 scored crucial points for the Jesters. Willa W. ’21, Jenna D. ’21, Rosie V. ’21 and Gabby Z. ’22 placed in the top 10, all with season best times in the 200-yard IM. Coco L. ’23 nabbed a season best in the 50-yard freestyle while Anna J. ’21 also scored points in the event.
The 100-yard butterfly provided a top five finish and season bests for both Jenna D. ’21 and Gabby Z. ’22. Clio N. ’24 swam a lifetime best during her top five performance in the 100-yard freestyle after entering the meet with “no time.” Tiffany M. ’23 and Karina L. ’22 also earned points and season bests in the event. In the longest event of the day, the 500-yard freestyle, Roya S. ’24 threw down a personal best with just .04 separating her from teammate Natasha H. ’24. After a 5th place seeding, the 200-yard freestyle relay team (Gabby Z. ’22, Clio N. ’24, Anna J. ’21, Natasha H. ’24) shocked the competition after a thrilling finish by Natasha H. ’24 launched them into third place.
Willa W. ’21 qualified for state competition for a third year in a row after she broke her own school record in the 100-yard backstroke for the second time this year, with a lifetime best of 0:58.82. Roya S. ’24 made waves as the only ninth grader to finish in the top six (placed third) with a lifetime best of 1:03.32 while Isabelle B. ’23 also added points for the Jesters in the event. Rosie V. ’21, Coco L. ’23, and Elle K. ’24 touched the wall with season bests in the 100-yard breaststroke as Aurora M. ’21 added points in the event. The 400-yard freestyle relay team (Jenna D. ’21, Natasha H. ’24, Willa W. ’21, and Rosie V. ’21) also notched a season's best.
Co-Head coach Katie O'Donnell writes, “The Jesters had a phenomenal season, especially considering all of the practice restraints. Ending the season as league champions for the first time in school history was the perfect way to end this crazy season. The team showed positive attitudes, teamwork, and team spirit throughout the season, which should be celebrated just as much as the championship itself. The team has a lot to look forward to in the coming seasons, but will tremendously miss our six graduating seniors.”
As the Championship celebrations continue, Tina V. P'21 shares her gratitude for the coaching staff. “We are especially grateful to Coaches Katie and Eric. They were so supportive of the girls and their coaching is top notch.”
Join us in congratulating the Jesters Swimming and Diving team and coaches Katie O'Donnell and Eric Martell on a historic season!
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View the full Colonial Council Championships
results.
Watch the
CBS6 interviews with Emma Willard School Swimming and Diving.
