Girls swimming entered their season with a championship mindset and wanted nothing less. With tough losses and equal competition all year, the girls had a remarkable fight but fell just short of their goal. With an incredible senior class and numerous records broken, the 2023-34 season will be hard to forget.
In the Blue Devils’ opening performance against Governor Livingston, they dominated in a blowout win to start their season.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood is always an exciting matchup for Westfield. With fully-packed stands, the girls were able to cruise past SPF, 114-56.
The first tough meet for the girls all season came against a well equipped Summit team. Westfield was not going to back down easily which was clear from the start. The girls fought through the entire meet for absolutely any points they could. Everything came down to their finish in the last event of the day, and even after they were able to secure first and third place, a controversial rule violation cost Westfield their win.
Unfortunately, one loss turned into two for a defeated Westfield team falling by just six points to Immaculate Heart Academy in one of the most contentious matchups all season.
Trinity Hall proved to be Westfield’s best meet of the season, according to Whittington. Only three days before, Westfield took a narrow loss to Immaculate Heart, 88-82. With a chip on their shoulders, the girls came into this meet ready to prove themselves.
Little moments defined the big win. By sweeping the board on the 100 free, it allowed the girls to go up midway through the meet and the first place finish in the last relay sealed the victory.
“It was a super close meet and we saw a lot of best times from a bunch of different girls,” said Logan.
At the Union County Tournament, the girls won 6 out of the 11 events, sweeping all the relays. “It really showed us all what we could be capable of for the coming season,” said Constable.
Westfield breezed past competition like New Providence and Elizabeth until the sectional semifinal where they faced rival Bridgewater. Falling only points behind, Westfield fell to Bridgewater, 91-79, ending their tournament season.
However, Westfield had one last meet, the Meet of Champions, where relays would prove to be their secret weapon. With relays being the biggest point producers of each meet, Westfield was able to win big with just a few races.
Junior Brooke Mcandrew, freshman Jane Kavanagh, Logan and Constable broke two school records and secured two first place finishes at the Meet of Champions.
“We were facing some tough competition but each of us gave it our all and were able to come out on top,” said Logan.
By breaking the 200 and 400 freestyle relay records, their legacy will live in Westfield record books while the 200 free relay and the 200 medley relay earned Westfield first place medals in the meet.
“Our top athletes are among the finest in the state, they have found success at this meet in the past and know how to compete at the elite level. For the first time in Westfield girls swimming history, we were state champions in two relays… I am so proud of them,” said Whittington.
As the season comes to an end, thoughts of next year’s team linger in the minds of the team.
“Graduation will be rough for the girls swim team as we are losing multiple elite athletes. The goal will remain the same – keep improving, keep pushing. Effort, drive and dedication are the building blocks of all success, in and out of the pool.”
Constable remarked, “I hope that next year there is a positive outlook for their season to come and motivation to make it as far as they can.”
