Swim Team Off to Fast Start, In and Out of the Pool

The Garden City High School girls swim team is off to a fast start this season as it seeks to defend its county championship title.

Under the stewardship of Coach Anne Sullivan, the team is 4-0 so far with victories over Hewlett, Plainview, Massapequa and long time rival Long Beach.

While the season is still in its early stages, the depth of the team has become evident. Led by captains Deirdre McGrath, Kristen Noonan and Jackie Vani, the team is as large as any in recent memory, and important points have been scored by many contributors.

This depth will become critical as the team heads into the county championship meet Nov. 9, where each team can qualify up to four swimmers in each event, with points scored by those reaching finals and consolation finals.

The three relay teams, the 200 and 400 yard Freestyle and the 200 Individual Medley, are all ranked number one in Section 8 (Nassau County), with several of their times very close to New York State championship meet qualifying times.  Six girls have at least one individual Top Ten time in Section 8 – senior Deirdre McGrath, juniors Gabby Clarkson and Julia Hall, sophomores Caroline Bonvissuto and Finola Heaney and eighth grader Gabby Meringolo.

The girls have been busy outside the pool as well, continuing their time honored tradition of organizing and participating in a number of philanthropic activities.

The team raised money in support of both pancreatic and breast cancer months and collected food and gift items for charities as varied as the INN in Hempstead, hospital-bound children and chemotherapy patients.

Submitted by Katherine Hall