Boys & Girls Club Sea Lions Swim Team places 1st at 2013 Granite State Swim

Boys & Girls Club Sea Lions Swim Team

places 1st at 2013 Granite State Swim Meet

Salem, NH: When all the ripples in the pool had finally settled down, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem Sea Lions joined in what had become an extra special day as they were crowned the 2013 Granite State Swim Association Division IV State Champions at the 16 team meet at the Milford Keyes Pool in Milford NH. The victory not only saw the Sea Lions victorious for their very first championship win, but also the Boys & Girls Club Dolphins Greater Nashua won in Division II. This marked the first time both clubs had taken victories together. It also marked victories by the father – son coaching combination of Ed McLaughlin (Salem) and Brendan McLaughlin (Nashua).

For the Sea Lions this was their first state championship ever, following an exciting third place finish at the Milford Rotary in late July. The team captured a 43 point victory over the Nashua Country Club 454-411 with a thrilling finish that came down to the final freestyle relay events.  Leading the way were four of the teams’ outstanding 200 freestyle relays teams. The 11-12 boys team of Nick Brennan, Seth Strandberg, Riley Militello and Sergey Kirilin winning in (3:17:65), while the 13-14 girls relay of Brooke Fraser, Kyra Stariknok, Samantha McCann and Carmela Souza won in (2:09:41), the 13-14 boys squad  of Nick Sheedy, Colby Adams, Dylan Kerr and Brendan Kerr took a (2:14:06) win and then watched  the 15-19 senior girls free relay team of Hannah Carey, Emily Arcidiacono, Celeste Souza and Allison Fitzgerald seal the title with a 2:09:56 third place finish.

“To see this group of swimmers put on such an outstanding performance filled our hearts with pride. They worked their hardest from the meets first event to the last and the end result was thrilling” said Sea Lions Head Coach Ed McLaughlin. This team is certainly back.

The championship performance found the Sea Lions collecting 92 medals on the weekend including 35 first place State Champions. The newly crowned individual state champions included 10 and under Riley Militello 100 free (1:36:60), 50 back (48:69), Nicholas Burke 50 breast (57:53) , 11-12  Nick Sheedy 200 free (3:00:25), 13-14  Carmela Souza 200 im (2:39:28), 100 breast (1:19:44),  Dylan Kerr 200 free (2:34:78), 100 fly (1:19:34), 100 free (1:07:22),  Brendan Kerr 100 back (1:21:72),  Colby Adams 200 im (2:52:41), 100 breast (1:29:57),  15-16 girls Hannah Carey 200 free (2:49:34), 200 im (3:19:72), 100 fly (1:40:25),  17-19 Allison Fitzgerald 200 free (2:11:25), 100 free (1:06:84),  Celeste Souza 100 breast (1:23:28), 200 im (2:42:67), and the senior girls medley relay of Fitzgerald, Celeste Souza, Carey and Drake DeOrnellis (2:32:19). 

Second place finishers included 8 and under Julian Militello 25 back (23:93), Riley Militello 50 free (40:17), Sheedy 50 fly (42:31), Carmela Souza 100 fly (1:23:31), Adams 100 fly (1:26:90), Brendan Kerr 200 free (2:36:54), Celeste Souza 100 fly (1:17:25) and Drake DeOrnellis 50 free (34:54), 100 free (1:15:64)  and 200 free (2:53:28) and the 13-14 girls medley relay of Cecilia and Carmela Souza, McCann and Fraser (2:09:41).

Third place finishers included Julian Militello 50 free (51:26), 12 and under Sergei Kirilin 200 free (3:20:65), 50 fly (47:22), Brooke Fraser 200 free (2:40:81), Samantha McCann 200 im (2:55:53), 100 Fly (1:24:43), Brendan Kerr 100 Free (1:08:59), the 13-14 200 free3 relay of Clarise Ochoa, Maddie Craig, Cecilia Souza and Emily MacIver (2:25:75).

The team managed a summer of outstanding personal improvements with all 26 swimmers turning in at least one personal best time. Some of the top improvements came from Maddie Craig 12.03 in the 200 im, Emily Arcidiacono in the 200 free 11.87 seconds and 6.18 in the 100 free, Brooke Fraser 7.91 in the 200 free, Celeste Souza 4.65 seconds in the 100 fly, Brendan Kerr 6.35 seconds in the 100 free, and Nathaniel Carter taking 6.34 seconds in the 50 free.

The team finished the summer season with a 4-2 record in GSSA competition.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem offers great programs for children of all ages. For more information about swim lessons or swim team, call Scarlette LeBlanc at 603-898-7709 ex 18 or e-mail her at sleblanc@salembgc.org . Additional Club information is available on their website at www.salembgc.org.  The Club is located at 3 Geremonty Drive, Salem, NH