The Bromfield girls co-op swimming and diving team placed 12th at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 state meet Feb 26. Bromfield freshman Vance Petrossi represented the boys team, collecting 6 points to put the Trojans 35th. Looking back on the season, Coach Sabiha Madraswalla said it was defined by flexibility and growth.
Athletes who met qualifying times and marks for the state meet were divided into two divisions—based on school size—to compete against other top swimmers and divers from across Massachusetts.
The meet marked the end of a season that required the team to work dynamically to deal with the continued prevalence of COVID-19. Teams faced off in person at dual meets once again, after competing remotely last winter due to the coronavirus pandemic. Still, there were several times throughout the season when COVID-19 precautions caused lineups to change at the last minute, and swimmers had to step up to fill slots. “Although we couldn’t have spectators, morale was high and all teams enjoyed cheering each other on,” Madraswalla wrote in an email to the Press.
This year’s team was rookie-heavy—with 23 new athletes—and its 20 returning swimmers were coming off a year of limited opportunities to train and compete. Madraswalla said she was unsure what this would mean for performances, but the season resulted in many personal records, postseason qualifying times, and a league championship title for the girls team.
At the state meet, the girls’ 68 points put Bromfield 12th in a field of 43. The Amherst-Pelham co-op team won the meet with 235 points.
Bromfield junior Lily Tonole earned a score of 430.30 in the 1-meter dive to place fourth out of 16 competitors. Annika Rodriquenz, a Bromfield sophomore, also put up points for the team, placing 11th with a score of 363.65.
Ayer Shirley senior Lorelei Folger impressed in the 100-yard butterfly, placing fourth in 54.63 seconds. Folger also battled Westwood senior Ruby Fyffe to the finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking 56.50 to tie for ninth.
The Trojans’ two relay teams each scored points. A 200-medley relay team of Littleton sophomore Ella Bergeron, Ayer Shirley junior Sierra Quinty, Folger, and Ayer Shirley freshman Gracie Hanss swam 1:56.17 to place 10th. Ayer Shirley junior Lilly Blouin, Hanss, Bergeron, and Folger banded together in the 400-freestyle relay, swimming to a season best time of 3:53.81 to place 12th out of 23 teams.
Petrossi was the only swimmer representing the Trojans boys. He swam a personal record of 1:03.95 in the 100 breaststroke to place 11th and collect 6 points for Bromfield. In the 100 freestyle, he swam another personal record, clocking 51.47 for 23rd. The freshman is new to the Trojans this year but has been swimming competitively for club teams since he was 7 years old. He is a member of the United Swim Club in Acton.
Madraswalla said Petrossi set a goal to break a school record during his time at Bromfield, and she expects to see him on the podium at states in future years. “I hope that he continues to swim year round and is excited to impress all next season,” she wrote.
Girls team results
- 200-yard medley relay: 10, Bergeron, Quinty, Folger, Hanss, 1:56.17
- 400 freestyle relay: 12, Blouin, Hanss, Bergeron, Folger, 3:53.81
- 100 backstroke: 23, Bergeron, 1:03.16
- 100 breaststroke: 24, Quinty, 1:14.10
- 100 butterfly: 4, Folger, 58.63
- 100 individual freestyle: 9, Folger, 56.50
- 200 individual medley: 3, Folger, 2:17.60
- 1-meter dive: 4, Tonole, 430.30 points; 11, Rodriquenz, 363.65 points
Boys team results
- 100 breaststroke: 11, Petrossi, 1:03.95
- 100 individual freestyle: 23, Petrossi, 51.47
Bromfield teams compete against other Division 2 schools at Boston University on Feb. 26. (Courtesy photo)
