Girls’ Swimming Wins Thriller
The girls’ swim team was able to edge out Academy of St. Elizabeth’s by a score of 83-80 on Wednesday, January 23.
The meet featured many close races and neither team took more than a five-point lead throughout the meet. The score was 75-74 heading into the final event, and whichever team won 400 freestyle relay would win the meet.
The relay team of freshman Maddie Soultanian, junior Caroline Grant, sophomore Laura Howard, and junior Rebecca Michaels were able to take first place and seal the win with a team record time of 4:15.03.
“I told the girls prior to the race that if they win this event, they win the meet,” said head coach Nolan Silbernagel. “That is a lot of pressure on a swimmer but I wanted them to be aware of the situation. To have the outcome of the meet come down to one race is a huge adrenaline rush and why we love this sport.”
Michaels and Soultanian led the way for the Knights as each swimmer won two individual events. Michaels took first in the 200 individual medley (2:23.03) and the 100 backstroke (1:04.34) while Soultanian won the 50 (27.38) and 100 (1:00.08) freestyles.
Also grabbing first place finishes was Grant who won the 500 freestyle (7:26.28) and the 200 freestyle relay team of junior Kelsey Breuer, Soultanian, Howard, and Michaels (1:55.72).
“Every single one of the girls stepped up to win this meet,” said Silbernagel. “Junior Ally Nash had a critical come-from -behind swim to help the “B” 200 free relay take third and sophomore Olivia Rubano also had a big come-from-behind race to take third in the 200 Individual Medley. If those girls, along with all of their teammates, do not race their hearts out then we do not win this meet so I am very proud of all of them.”
The Knights are now 4-1 on the season and sit at the top of the Non-Public B standings.
Gill St. Bernard's School
Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a rigorous, meaningful, and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on our 208-acre campus.