head swimming coach Tania Younkin would love to have more people in the pool, but right now, she’ll have to settle for a team that goes two swimmers deep per each race.
Whatever limitations it might present, though, the two-deep system certainly worked well against Lake Catholic as they handled the Cougars, 105-69, Tuesday evening at the Carol and John Butler Aquatic Center of Hathaway Brown in Shaker Heights.
“We’re down in numbers this year. … In a meet lineup like today’s meet, you can put three girls in each event, and I can’t even field three girls. So I’ve got two in most events,” Younkin said. “When you go into a meet like that, you’re always a little concerned, but the strength of those No. 1 and 2 girls is what allows us to win a meet like this.”
Find out what's happening in Cleveland Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The victory boosted the Blue Streaks’ record to 2-1-1 with wins over Andrews Osborne Academy and Lake Catholic, a loss against Hathaway Brown and a tie with Laurel School.
Junior Mary Reagan dominated much of the event, winning the 200 individual medley (2:30.94) and the 500 freestyle (5:46.57). Reagan joined Maria DiTurno, Anne Conway and Caroline Conway to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:52.64) and Erin Gallan, Anna Libertin and Anne Conway for the 400 free relay win (4:13.83).
Find out what's happening in Cleveland Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We’ve improved so much since the beginning of November. I just can’t wait to see what we can do in January and February when the big meets come in,” Reagan said.
Reagan said her personal best in the 500 free is 5:30.09, and she was a consolation finalist at the Viking Invitational (5:34.20) on Saturday. In regular events, she is 2-1 with her only loss coming in the tri-meet against Hathaway Brown and Laurel School.
“I want to break 5:30 in my 500 so that I can think about swimming in college and make that decision,” Reagan said.
Reagan’s other normal race is in the 200 free, although she did not race it on Tuesday evening. Reagan said she averages 2:04 in the event and is looking to surpass the two-minute barrier. Overall, she’s 2-1. And while the 200 IM is an off-race for her, she’s won both times, the other win coming against Andrews Osborne Academy.
Senior Anne Conway, a captain along with senior Nicole Bondy, won the 50 free (26.57). DiTurno won the 200 free (2:15.76), Gallan won the 100 free (1:01.15) and Anna Brick won the 1-meter diving uncontested with a score of 164.45.
Beaumont will be in a meet against Benedictine, Aurora and Chagrin Falls on Dec. 28 at Case Western Reserve University. The event starts at 6 p.m.