Megan Deuel Wins Four as Pittsford Claims New York Girls State Title

Photo Courtesy: ADRIAN KRAUS / Democrat & Chronicle

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The 2018 New York Federation Girls Swimming and Diving Championships took place on Nov. 17 at the Aquatics Pavilion on Ithaca College’s campus.

Backed by junior Megan Deuel who won two individual events and was part of a pair of winning relays, Pittsford earned their fifth-straight NYSPHSAA title with 222 points, narrowly edging out Sleepy Hastings Edgemont who took second with a score of 219. Northport junior Chloe Stepanek was named Outstanding Swimmer for winning both the 100 free and 200 free.

Click here for full results.

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. Pittsford – 222
2. Sleepy Hastings Edgemont – 219
3. Sacred Heart – 161
4. Bethlehem – 135.5
5. Brighton – 124

The meet began as Pittsford’s Linnea Braun, Sarah Cooper, Deuel and Nora Smillie won the opening 4×50 medley relay in 1:45.09, about a second ahead of runner-up Ward Melville (1:46.12) and Sleepy Hastings (1:46.23).

Stepanek cruised to first in the 200 free as the only swimmer in the field under the 1:50 mark, doing so in a swift 1:47.66 to defend her title and just three-tenths shy of the state record. Horace Greeley’s Kristin Cornish was second in 1:50.35 while Pittsford’s Molly Brennan took third in 1:50.77.

Port Jefferson’s Kyra Sommerstad found herself with an individual gold in the 200 IM, posting a narrow victory in 2:02.89 to dethrone last year’s champion Josephine Panitz (2:03.07) of Ursuline. Benjamin N. Caardozo’s Vanessa Chong wound up third in 2:03.75.

The Mary Louis’ Maggie Donlevy sprinted her way to a narrow 50 free gold, doing so in a swift 23.32. Oceanside’s Catherine Stanford took a close second in 23.38 while Fonda Johnstown’s Alayna Gray was a tenth behind for third in 23.48.

Not too long after helping her team to win in the medley relay, Deule grabbed an individual gold in the 100 fly, where she flew to first place with a time of 53.83 to defend her title. Chong finished second in 54.55 as Morgan Rinn of Oceanside placed third in 55.85.

Stepanek added a victory in the 100 free to match her 200 free gold from earlier. The junior was the only swimmer in the field under the 50-second barrier, racing to the wall in 49.64. Stanford again took the silver in 50.96 and Gray grabbed the bronze in 51.48.

Cornish was back in the water after taking second in the 200 free to earn the State title in the 500 free, claiming victory by two seconds with a final time of 4:51.26. Bronxville Tickahoe’s Emily Gjertsen (4:53.12) and Sacred Heart’s Lauryn Johnson (4:53.82) finished second and third, respectively.

Brighton’s Hannah Butler dove to first on the 1-meter board, posting a final score of 530.60 for first place. Pelham’s Jennifer Bell posted a score of 522.70 for second while Greece’s Alaina Kosko finished third with 485.20 points.

Sleep Hastings’ Ava Franks, Kate Hoestery, Mikayla Klein and Theresa Milio combined to win the 4×50 free relay in 1:35.56. Bethlehem was over a second and a half behind in 1:37.08 for the silver while Sacred Heart grabbed the bronze in 1:37.27.

Not too long after winning gold in the 100 fly, Deuel found herself on top of the podium yet again after winning the 100 back to successfully defend her title; she dropped over a second from her prelims time to win in 54.86. 200 IM champion Sommerstad was the runner-up in 55.95 while North Rockland’s Lauren Aylmer was third in 56.12.

Great Neck South senior Jessica Whang got her hands to the wall first in the 100 breast, stopping the clock in 1:02.55 for the win. Panitz swam to second in 1:03.25 while Milio touched the wall third in 1:03.86.

Pittsford concluded the meet just as they started, as relay champions: the quartet of Meghan Corby, Cooper, Brennan and Deuel won the 4×100 free relay in 3:30.40, holding off runner-up Sacred Heart (3:30.56). Clarks town was third in 3:31.33.

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