The Loomis Chaffee Girls Swimming and Diving Team won its fourth consecutive Founders League Championship on Saturday, February 25 at Hotchkiss.
Out of the 24 Loomis Chaffee swimmers and divers who competed in the championship, 20 scored valuable points toward the title. Loomis won eight of the 12 events, with at least one top-three finish in each swimming event.
The strength of the Pelicans was evident in their winning all three relays. Relay members included senior Sela Wang (California), senior Liz Titterton (Tolland, CT), freshman Lexi Blickman (Lincoln, MA), and senior Rachael Petty (Bermuda) in the 200 medley relay; Petty, sophomore Caitlin Farrell (Glastonbury, CT), senior Megan Farrell (Glastonbury, CT), and senior Samantha “Sam” Pierce (West Hartford. CT) in the 200 freestyle relay; and Wang, Blickman, freshman Krystal Sung (Saudi Arabia), and Pierce in the 400 free relay.
In individual events, Pierce (200 individual medley, 100 free) Sela Wang (50 free, 100 back) were double winners. Pierce set a new Loomis Chaffee and Founders League record in the 100 free (52.07), and Wang set Founders League records in the 50 free (24.49) and the 100 back (59.60). Also finishing first in a great race was Blickman in the 100 butterfly. Other Pelicans making the podium were: Megan Farrell (second in the 200 free), Caitlin Farrell (third in the 200 free), Titterton (second in the 200 IM and third in the 100 breast), Petty (second in the 50 free), and junior Hadley Merrill (Rowayton, CT), who swam a gutsy come-from-behind race to finish second in the 500 free.
With Saturday's victory, the Pelicans have won the league title for 11 of the last 14 years. Head Coach Bob DeConinck noted after the meet, "Overall, it was a great day for the swimmers and divers, and with a bit more rest and fine-tuning, they will most certainly be ready to make a big splash at the New England Championships next weekend."
The Loomis Boys Varsity Swim Team also had an excellent round at the Founders League Championship. Falling just two points short of second place, the team returned with third place honors, and 89 percent of the squad swam season-best times.
