The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School girls swimming team notched its first victory of the season on Thursday in New Bedford. After trailing by as many as 13 points, the girls rallied for an 88-78 win. The undermanned Vineyard boys, with only four swimmers making the trip, lost their second meet of the season, 84-38.
The girls had an excellent meet, led by Lia Potter, Gabby Carr, and Yayla DeChiara, who were all individual winners. The girls qualified two relays for the sectional meet, the first time the Vineyard has ever qualified two relays in the same season. Gabby became the first Vineyard individual qualifier this year, winning the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:48.36. It was one of two school records she set during the meet. Gabby also won the 200 freestyle, bettering her own school record in 2:10.70.
Lia Potter won the 50 freestyle in 28.68, and the 100 butterfly in 1:11.07. Yayla DeChiara, Eleanor Hyland, Lia Potter, and Gabby Carr set the team record and qualified for the sectional meet by winning the 200 freestyle relay in 1:54.65, to put the Vineyarders in front 61-59. After getting second in the 200 individual medley with a personal best time of 2:29.95, Yayla won the 100 backstroke in 1:08.01. Madeline Youmans finished third to help extend the Vineyard lead to 71-65. Abigail Hammarlund took second in the 100 breaststroke as New Bedford cut the Vineyard lead to 78-74.
Back with the same quartet from the 200 freestyle relay, the Vineyard girls clinched the meet by winning the 400 in 4:11.34. Eleanor had two individual second places (50 free and 100 free) and Abigail Hammarlund had a third in the 100 free. Other Vineyard point scorers included the 200 medley relay (Lia Norris, Jolie Sola, Gabby Wilbur, and Kathryn Cuthbert), Isabella Youmans, Jillian Pyden, Jaselle Wildanger, Raven McCormack, and Margaret Sykes.
For the boys, Evan Sauter won his two individual events (50 free in his personal best time of 24.18, and 100 back in 1:02.30). Oliver Dorr was also a double winner (the 200 individual medley in 2:25.06 and the 100 butterfly in 1:08.72). Matteus Scheffer took two thirds (50 freestyle and 100 freestyle). Those three, plus Nicholas Lytle, won the 200 freestyle in 1:58.22.
MVRHS boys win their first meet, girls lose by one point
The Martha’s Vineyard boys swimming team won their first meet on Saturday, defeating Brockton 83-73. The girls lost to Brockton by a single point, 82-81, giving both teams a 1-2 record. The boys were led by Harrison Dorr and Oliver Dorr, who were each double winners. The girls were led by double winners Yayla DeChiara and Lia Potter. Yayla became the second Vineyarder to individually qualify for the sectional meet, with a school record in the 100 backstroke (1:06.51).
For the boys, Harrison Dorr swam his best times of the season, and won the 200 freestyle in 2:03.96 and 100 freestyle in 55.90. His younger brother, Oliver Dorr, was a double winner in the 200 individual medley (2:27.85) and 100 butterfly (1:09.35). The boys won eight of the 11 events. Evan Sauter won the 100 backstroke (1:02.16), and came in second in the 50 freestyle. Ryan Laslovich won the 500 freestyle (7:05.55), and came in second in the 200 freestyle. The Vineyard won both freestyle relays. In the 200 freestyle relay, Evan Sauter, Ruairi Mullin, Oliver Dorr, and Harrison Dorr won a close race in 1:46.08. The 400 freestyle relay of Harrison Dorr, Matteus Scheffer, Ruairi Mullin, and Evan Sauter clinched the meet with a winning time of 4:15.37. Ruairi Mullin had a second in the 200 individual medley, and a third in the 100 freestyle. Curtis Fisher had a second in the 100 backstroke. Christian Flanders had a third in the 50 freestyle. Nicholas Lytle was on a second-place and a third-place relay. All nine Vineyard boys scored points in the win.
The girls lost a tough one-point decision. Yayla DeChiara won her first event, the 200 individual medley, in 2:29.89. Even with the win, the Vineyard was down by 11 points. The girls got close with a 1-2-3 finish in the 50 freestyle (Lia Potter in 29.74, followed by Eleanor Hyland and Madeline Youmans). The girls tied the score with a 2-3-4 finish in the 100 freestyle (Eleanor Hyland, Salyn Yancey, and Abigail Hammarlund). The girls won the 200 freestyle relay, coming from behind with a great anchor leg from Salyn Yancey (Abigail Hammarlund, Jaselle Wildanger, and Eleanor Hyland led off the relay). The 400 freestyle relay (Lia Potter, Eleanor Hyland, Salyn Yancey, and Yayla DeChiara) won in 4:27.61. Salyn Yancey also had a second in the 200 freestyle. Jolie Sola had a second in the 100 breaststroke. Isabella Youmans had a third place in the 500 freestyle. Madeline Youmans added a third in the 100 backstroke.
The Vineyard travels to Dighton Rehoboth on Tuesday for their last meet before the winter break.
Boys had a tough opponent in Dighton
The Martha’s Vineyard girls swimming team evened their record to 2-2 with a 51-40 win over Dighton Rehoboth on Tuesday in East Providence. The boys lost to a strong Dighton squad 62-24, to drop their record to 1-3.
For the girls, Gabby Carr was a double winner in the 200 individual medley (2:34.68) and the 500 freestyle (6:05.20). Lia Potter had a first in the 100 butterfly (1:12.33), and a second in the 50 freestyle. Salyn Yancey also had an individual win in the 200 freestyle (2:40.69), and another win in the 100 freestyle. Jolie Sola won in the 100 breaststroke, and Eleanor Hyland won in the 100 freestyle. Madeline Youmans also won in the 100 backstroke. Isabella Youmans had two third-place finishes (200 freestyle and 500 freestyle), and Lila Norris had a win in the 100 backstroke.
The girls swept the freestyle relays, with the team of Eleanor Hyland, Salyn Yancey, Lia Potter, and Gabby Carr winning the 200 relay in 2:05.95, and the 400 relay in 4:34.58. Madeline Youmans, Raven McCormack, Jolie Sola, and Jaselle Wildanger took second in the 200 medley relay. Madeline Youmans, Jolie Sola, Jillian Pyden, and Jaselle Wildanger took third in the 200 freestyle relay.
For the boys, the Dorr brothers provided all of the Vineyarders’ individual wins. Harrison Dorr won the 200 freestyle (2:15.19) and 100 freestyle (56.68) in a touch-out, 0.07 seconds ahead of Owen Conti of DR. Oliver Dorr won the 100 butterfly in 1:10.38, and the 200 individual medley. Evan Sauter had two seconds, losing by 0.12 seconds in the 50 freestyle, and finishing third in the 100 backstroke. Ryan Laslovich won the 200 freestyle, and Rauiri Mullin got third in the 200 individual medley. The boys winning 200 freestyle relay was disqualified (Evan Sauter, Rauiri Mullin, Oliver Dorr, and Harrison Dorr) and the same group of boys finished second in the 400 freestyle relay.
The Vineyard has completed its December meet schedule. Their next meet is Tuesday, Jan. 2, at Sandwich in a tri-meet with Saint John Paul.