swim team.htm

Classical was well-represented in the Division 1 meet. Sophomore Katelyn Kidney placed fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:00.19) and seventh in the 500 freestyle (5:27.04). In her scholastic swan song, Tia Murkison placed 11th in the diving competition with a score of 334.7.

KATELYN KIDNEY, Classical - Sophomore ... Captain-elect ... First in 200 free and second in 500 free at NEC meet ... Broke 20-year record in 200 free at Tech pool ... Team MVP and team high scorer ... NEC all-star ... Swam in sectionals and states as a freshman and sophomore.

TIA MURKISON, Classical - Senior diver ... Captain ... NEC most valuable diver ... Lynn female diver of the year ... Undefeated in her senior year ... won the NEC diving meet ... qualified for sectionals and states three years ... broke her own Lynn girls pool record ... NEC all-star.

Lynn Classical Wins 11th Straight
City Swim Championship

By Pete Legasey, Lynn Journal

In 1980, when Denise Silva was a junior at Lynn Classical, she competed in the very first city swimming championship. Until the ‘79-’80 season, there was only one scholastic swim team in Lynn, founded by the late Peter Sawin, which featured swimmers from the three public schools in town.
Lynn English was the first school to claim the city title. English would defend their crown a year later... and the year after that... and the year after that. In fact, English would go on to win the city title every year until 1998, when Lynn Classical ended their dynastic run and supplanted them as city swim champs. By then, Denise Silva was back with the Rams, this time as the team’s head coach.
On February 1, Lynn Classical won the city title for the 11th consecutive year.
“To be honest with you, the city meet in itself is special whether you win, lose or draw,” said Silva, who is in her 17th season at the helm for the Classical swim program. “As competitive as we are, there is so much friendliness between us. It’s a wonderful atmosphere. It’s nice to see student athletes from each team right there clapping their hands for one another.”
The camaraderie shared by the three “rivals” is somewhat unique, but it isn’t all that surprising for a number of reasons. First of all, each of the three teams’ head coaches did, at one point, swim under the legendary Coach Sawin. Also, many swimmers from the three schools have swum together regularly at the Lynn YMCA, some of them since they were guppies. And it probably doesn’t hurt that all three teams use the pool at Lynn Tech for their home meets and, naturally, the city championship.
The Rams’ win was punctuated by the performance of sophomore Katelyn Kidney, who broke her own Lynn Classical girls record in the 100-yard butterfly stroke. Kidney took first place in the 100 fly with a time of 1:05.84, shaving 0.29 seconds off of her previous mark. Kidney also took first place in the 200 individual medley, with a time of 2:30.60.
It was a relay group of Kidney, Jetta Garrity and senior captains Eliana Field, and Eric Silva (son of Coach Denise), that got things started on the right foot for Classical, taking first place in the 200 medley relay. The Rams also took second place in the opening event, thanks to Jessica Bashore, Erin Mushette, Gabby Bono and Chris Hallassey.
Gabby Bono joined teammate Kidney as a swimmer who won two individual events at the city meet. Bono took first place in 100-yard backstroke by finishing the race in 1:13.91, and won the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:05.97. Peter Rondo was also a double winner, with first-place finishes in the 200 and 500 freestyle races.
Senior captain Tia Murkison remains undefeated as a diver. She dominated the diving competition on Friday by earning a score of 215.95, 33.1 points higher then second place finisher Marcos Castellano of Lynn Tech (182.85).
As a team, the Rams earned a score of 152 to lead the field. Lynn Tech finished second with 106 points, and Lynn English was third with 68 points. Lynn Classical came within seconds of running the table, winning 11 of the 12 events. Will Segal of Lynn English was the only swimmer able to come out on top against a Ram on this day. He took first place in the 50 freestyle with a time of 27.12.
Other first-place finishers for Lynn Classical included Eric Silva, who made his mom coach proud by winning the 100 breaststroke just weeks after completing his comeback from an ACL injury. The group of Tom Schumann, Jeremy Dorson, Chris Hallassey and Peter Rondeau won the 200 free relay. Lynn Classical capped the evening by taking first in the 400 free relay with a group of Schumann, Dorson, Rondeau and Kidney.
“It just happened to be the way it worked out this season,” Coach Silva said in summation of her team’s dominant performance in the city meet. “We had many, many swimmers turn in personal best times. That really elevated our level of competition. I’m extremely proud,” she said.
Silva credited the tireless work of assistant coaches Christina Colella and Don McKenney, who coaches diving for all three public schools in town, as playing a big role in the Rams’ success this season. She also commended her team for keeping another outstanding streak alive by earning the MIAA award for academic excellence. Teams must have an average GPA of better than 3.00 to receive the honor and the Lynn Classical swim team has qualified in each of the last 11 years.

Girls 200 free: Katie Kidney, Classical (2:03.55), Katherine Foley, Marblehead (2:06.53), Tessa Merrick, Marblehead (2:07.12).

Girls one-meter diving: Tia Murkison, Classical (212.95), Haley Robb, Marblehead (206.25), Jody Bulger, Danvers (157.05).

Girls 500 free: Kelly O'Connor, Beverly (5:26.27), Katie Kidney, Classical (5:31.31), Caroline Caliri, Marblehead (5:40.48).

Classical High's Tia Murkison made her final Northeastern Conference swim meet a memorable one by finishing first in diving with 212.95 points.

Murkison, a senior, was one of several Lynn divers and swimmers who made some noise in Day 1 of the NEC meet at Salem State College. Her teammate, Catie Chipman, finished sixth with 135 points. Marblehead's Haley Robb took second (206.25 points) and Jodi Bulger, Danvers, took third (157.05 points).

English's Will Segal also fared well in boys diving, finishing second (145.60 points) behind Peabody's Steve Maruzzi (189.35 points). Bill Wyman, Marblehead, finished third (141.85 points) and Chris Voyiagis, Classical, took seventh (90.05).

In the 500 free, the only other event held yesterday, Beverly's Kelly O'Connor finished first for the girls with a 5:26.27, but Classical's Katelyn Kidney wasn't far behind, taking second with a time of 5:31.31. Caroline Belli of Marblehead took third.

In the boys 500 free, Marblehead's Cal Gridley took first (6:04.78), Kevin Ranta of Beverly, second (6:05.79); and Nikata Klimashob, Swampscott, finished third.

The remaining events will be held tonight at Salem State College.

LYNN -- Wind, hail and other varieties of inclement precipitation plummeted from the sky. Who would expose themselves to even more of a dousing?

Welcome to the 2008 Lynn City Swim Meet, the annual struggle for aquatic supremacy between Classical, English and Tech. The Tigers pool, shared by all three schools throughout the season, played host to a night of festive competition where being drenched from head to toe was not an issue.

"All the teams are friendly with each other. They get along and root for each other. There are no problems at all," said Tech coach Brad Tilley. "This is what it's all about. This meet is real important. It adds real value to their future lives."

It was another year of dominance for coach Denise Silva and her Classical squad. The Rams won the meet for the 11th consecutive time, this year with a score of 152. The Tigers placed second with a combined score of 106, followed by the Bulldogs at 68.

"It's nice to see the city of Lynn do something so positive," Silva said. "The coaches work harmoniously; we're grateful the city puts money into it and the kids all cheer for one another."

Setting the pace for Classical were swimmers Katelyn Kidney, Gabby Bono, Tia Murkison and Peter Rondeau. Kidney finished first in both of her individual races, the 200 medley (2:30.60) and the 100 butterfly (1:05.84), and broke her own Rams girls record of 106.13 she set last season in the butterfly.

Bono was also victorious in both of her individual attempts. She won the 100 free with a time of 105.97 and the 100 backstroke at 1:13.91. Murkison took diving by 33.1 points with a score of 215.95. Tech's Marcos Castellano finished second (182.85), and Chris Voyiagis of Classical (1:42.70) placed third.

Rondeau's time of 2:29.46 was fast enough for number one in the 200 freestyle, and later in the night, Rondeau's 7:00.30 performance in the 500 free was more than 25 seconds better than the runner-up.

Ram swimmers captured 11 of the 12 events, with their only defeat coming at the hands of English's Will Segal, who finished first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 27.12.

Silva's son, Eric, won his lone individual race, the 100 breastroke, with a time of 1:30.27, and was part of the 200 medley relay group, which finished first (2:18.31), with Kidney, Jetta Garrity and Eliana Field.

"I'm really proud. The kids did exceptional," Silva said. "I'm also really proud of my son. To pull out a victory in a race he hadn't been able to swim until last week is something I'm really proud of."

Eric has recently recovered from an ACL and PCL replacement in his knee to participate in the competition. He has still not been physically cleared to partake in the diving portion.

"I've been coaching this team for 17 years. He was on my hip when I started. He couldn't even walk," his mother said.

Classical's relay team of Kelsey Ylonen, Maria Renken, Field and Mary Champigny beat out Tech's group by just over four seconds to also take home first place in the 200 free relay (2:00.22).

"The kids learned to be part of a team," Tilley said.

Aside from the students, a person who received praise from all three of the coaches was assistant coach Don McKenney, who coaches the divers of all three schools.

"Don played a huge role in the improvement of Matt Segal this year," said Bulldog coach Marianne Duncan.

Segal finished fourth in the diving competition with a score of 142.25.

Omri Bernstein won the 100 back (1:09.29) and Drew Connors, the 100 breaststroke (1:20.68). Bernstein, Connors, Andler and Gevorgyan won the 200 medley relay (1:41.78).

Classical (2-6) had wins from Peter Rondeau in the 200 IM (2:41.21); Tia Murkison, diving (233.20); and Katelyn Kidney, 500 free (5:36.69). Chris Voyiagis qualified for the states in diving with 189.20 points (second place) and Jeremy Dorson, Eric Silva, Tom Schumann and Jessica Bashore all has solid performances in their respective events.

Tia Murkison Sets New Diving Record, Classical Swimmers Perform Well Despite Defeat

Tia Murkison broke her own Lynn pool record in diving Tuesday, but the Classical High swim team still came up short, losing to Salem, 97-83, at Tech.

Murkison set the old record of 223.75 points last year. She broke it with a 227.20 point-performance. She also owns the Classical girls and the school diving record.

"It's really thrilling to see her break her own record," Classical coach Denise Silva said. "She's been dancing around it most of the season."

Katelyn Kidney was a double winner for the Rams with firsts in the 100 butterfly (1:06.39) and the 100 back (1:07.36). Classical also won the 400 free relay with Peter Rondeau, Tom Schumann, Gabby Bono and Kidney (4:30.74). Chris Voyiagis took second in diving (155.25 points).

Brittani Atkinson and Mike Diaz were double winners for the Tanners (2-4). Atkinson won the 200 IM (2:36.72) and the 100 back (1:11.75) and Diaz the 50 free (25.46) and the 100 free (58.43). Peabody also had wins from Kate Fitzgerald, 500 free (6:13.56); Ryan Remington, 100 breaststroke (1:21.22); and all three relays. Atkinson, Remington, Fitzgerald and Matt Fordera won the 200 medley (2:14.32); Fodera, Diaz, Rebecca Mullen and Steve Maruzzi won the 200 free (2:08.84); and Fitzpatrick, Atkinson, Rachel Mullen and Nicole Stantial won the 400 free.

Classical (2-4) had wins from Katelyn Kidney in the 200 free (2:08.89) and the 100 fly (1:07.89) and Tia Murkison in diving (217.95).

Gabby Bono, Peter Rondeau, Eric Silva and Katelyn Kidney were all multiple winners for the Classical High swim team in a 102-64 victory over Revere at Lynn Tech.

Bono won the 200 individual medley with a 2:51.12 and she won the 500 free (6:59.57). Rondeau won the100 free (1:06.21) and the backstroke (1:17.98) and Silva won the 100 breaststroke. Rondeau and Silva were also on the winning 200 medley relay team with Jessica Bayshore and Daveth Cheth.

Katelyn Kidney had another impressive outing as well, winning the 200 free (2:06.94) and the 100 butterfly (1:07.74). She was also part of the winning 400 free relay that also featured Tom Schumann, Bono and Rondeau (4:39.41), and the winning 200 free relay that included Silva, Chris Hallissey and Chris Voyiagis. Hallissey also won the 50 free (29.83) and Tia Murkison won diving (2:02.60). Voyiagis took second in diving, but qualified for the states.

Classical is 2-3 with Peabody on tap on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Katelyn Kidney set a Classical High girls swimming record in the 100 butterfly Thursday, but the Rams still came up short against Beverly, 97-86. The meet was at Lynn Tech.

Kidney, whose 1:06.13 in the fly was good enough for first place, also anchored the winning 200 free relay (2:07.80) with Peter Rondeau, Eric Silva and Tom Schumann rounding out the team.

The Rams swept diving, led by Tia Murkison (198.90). Chris Voyagis finished second (156.80) and Catie Chipman (136.65) took third. Gabby Bono (1:13.83) and Eliana Field (1:24.62) went 1-2 in the backstroke and Rondeau (1:28.33) led a sweep of the breaststroke. Erin Mushette took second (1:33.12) and Jetta Garrity, third (1:33.41).

The Marblehead High Swim Team picked up where it left off last year, winning the Northeastern Conference Relay Carnival by a healthy margin.
The Magicians, who finished first in the conference last year and won the girls, boys and overall divisions of the NEC meet, made it look easy. They scored 412 points with Swampscott a distant second with 270 points. Danvers (208), Peabody (158), Beverly (138), Salem (134), Classical (104), English (34) and Revere, eight points, rounded out the other six spots.
Marblehead salted this one away by winning the final three relays, the 200 back, 200 fly and 200 free for 94 points. Marblehead coach Sue Guertin said she lost quite a few swimmers to graduation, but still has a good group of seniors who are looking to make this a good season.

Lynn Classical Wins 11th Straight City Swim Championship

By Pete Legasey, Lynn Journal

Lynn Classical Wins 11th Straight
City Swim Championship