Windham Middle School swim team ends season on high note

By Matt Pascarella

In their final meet of the season, the Windham Middle School swim team did very well in their home meet against Falmouth at St. Joseph’s College on Friday, March 31.

Windham seventh grader Timothy Slabbinck-Unser quickly
reaches the end of his lane during a swim meet against
Falmouth at St. Joseph's College on Friday, March 31.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Windham showed marked improvements as they came in first in several events throughout the meet.

“I was super happy to see all of their improvement on the smaller scale throughout the season,” said Windham Middle School swim coach Anne Fougere. “Their swims drastically change from start to finish. They also continue to grow as a team with their sportsmanship and I just couldn’t ask for a better moment with that.”

Sportsmanship was a big part of this season and this meet. Windham cheered for all swimmers. This meet also saw Windham swimmers stepping out of their comfort zone and into events they normally wouldn’t attempt.

Boys

In the 50-yard backstroke, seventh grader Timothy Slabbinck-Unser finished first with a time of 46.55 seconds. He also finished third in 100-freestyle with a time of 1:13.87 minutes.

Also, in the 50-backstroke seventh grader Gabe Kidson finished second with a 49.25 time.

“I think that lots of people improved over the season, and it was fun to watch that,” said Slabbinck-Unser. “The integrity improved as well. That’s something really cool to see because not all swim teams have that.”

Seventh grader Peter Funk finished first in the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 1:12.78. He finished third in the 50-butterfly with a 31.91 time. He also won a ducky from Coach Fougere for improvement over the season.

Funk said he didn’t think he was going to get a ducky, so it felt cool when he did.

In the 50 butterfly, Windham eighth grader Sullivan Scharf finished first with a 28.31 time.

Eighth grader Will Blyther finished sixth with a 50.60 time in the 50 butterfly event.

Seventh grader John Mace finished third in the 50-freestyle with a 44.58 time.

Girls

Eighth grader Allison Shardlow finished first in the 50 breaststroke with a 49.36 time. She finished third in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:28.35.

Shardlow said she thought things went wonderful today. One of the big things that went well was sportsmanship.

“I think we’ve improved in cheering not only for our team, but also the other team, and just overall technique. A lot of the newer swimmers really improved this year,” she said.

In the 50 freestyle seventh grader Stephanie Roghelia finished first with a time of 29.14. In the 100-yard individual medley, Roghelia finished second with a 1:19.05 time.

In the 50 freestyle, sixth grader Amelia Richards finished third with a time of 44.43.

Also, in the 50-freestyle, sixth grader Ceclia Lytle finished fifth with a 45.64 time.

In the 50-yard backstroke, seventh grader Mareina Lavalle finished third with a time of 49.86.

“They swam well,” said Coach Fougere. “We worked a lot on our flip turns and our starts and fine tuning the little things; the little things are what end up winning races – they have done an amazing job with barely any disqualifications throughout the season and that is a win.” <