Taconic Swimmers 'Coming Together'

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Taconic girls swim team Friday showed its versatility in a dominating win over Hudson, N.Y., at the YMCA.

 

Against a visitor that left more lanes open than it filled, Taconic coach Marisa Plant changed things up a little bit, and her team responded in a big way, taking first in every event en route to a 112-19 win.

 

Taconic’s boys, who have their own numbers problems, made the most of their small squad, earning a 52-32 win of their own.

 

“They were in some different events tonight, so it was nice to see what they could do in a non-stress situation,” Plant said. “I think they had a lot of fun. They’re coming together as a team and really getting some good practices in.”

 

Delaney Ivas and Caitlin Hall each recorded a pair of wins for the Taconic girls.

 

Ivas also swam the butterfly lap on Taconic’s winning medley relay quartet to open the meet -- the only relay in which Hudson’s foursome did not end up disqualifying.

 

As an individual, Ivas won the 50-meter freestyle in 31.50 seconds and the 500 free in 5:49.64.

 

Hall won the 100 free (1:09.03) and the 100 breaststroke (1:33.50).

 

Hall already has qualified for the Central/Western Mass meet in 100 fly, and Plant is looking for more athletes to join her at the sectional before all is said and done.

 

“Delaney is close,” she said. “My two freshmen boys, if they continue to work really hard, I think they could be close to doing it also.

 

“And there are a few others who would also have to work hard hard to get there. But we’re trying.”

 

Taconic had four boys in the pool on Friday, and two of them were double winners.

 

Ben Bradway won two events, the 100 fly (1:25.15) and the 100 back (1:27.25). Steve Zuccalo won the 50 free (28.94), and the 100 breaststroke (1:38.14).

 

Plant is hoping that sometime soon she will be able to fill out some more lines on the lineup card in boys meets.

 

“[If the freshmen succeed] they can recruit more,” she said. “One of our old swimmers happened to be up in the stands today, and he came down and said, ‘I’m not wrestling, can I swim?’

 

“I said, ‘Yeah. I’ll call the athletic director tonight and see if that’s possible.’ Maybe I’ll have a fifth by Monday.”

 

Taconic swims its next meet on Tuesday when it goes to New York to face Taconic Hills.