Girls' swimming

Elizabeth Mancuso, Andover SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
		Like most awards and championships in girls' swimming in recent years, Andover keeps the Swimmer of the Year award in the family for the 2003 season, as Mancuso succeeds former teammate Connie Brown (who succeeded her sister, Sally), as the top swimmer in the state. A National Honor Society student, Mancuso finished first in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle in the Merrimack Valley Conference, at the North sectionals, and at the states. She did the same as a member of Andover's 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams (see below). Mancuso, a member of the Andover/North Andover YMCA Hurricanes swim team and the YMCA All-American team, plans to attend Dartmouth College next fall.

Juliet DeFrancisco, Newton North DIVING
		A second-place finish at the states last year and DeFrancisco's 2003 campaign would have given her three straight undefeated seasons. But let's not sweat the small stuff, as DeFrancisco added to her impeccable career accomplishments this season. She went undefeated in her dual meet season and won her fourth Bay State championship, in addition to winning her second overall state title. The honor student graduates with the school 6 and 11 dive records, and is the New England champion on the 1- and 3-meter boards. The peer mediator and educator is a member of the Charles River diving team.

Andrea Doherty, Needham 50 FREESTYLE
		Doherty was a dominant swimmer in the 50 freestyle this season, finishing first in the Bay State Conference and at the MIAA South sectionals (25.67), and second at the states (25.34). Doherty was part of an undefeated season for the Rockets. She also finished second in the conference in the 100 butterfly. The honor roll student holds career-bests of 25.34 seconds in the 50 freestlye and 1:00.71 in the 100 butterfly. Doherty is also a member of the Shawmut Aquatic Swim Club.

Caitlin Doherty, Andover 100 BUTTERFLY, 500 FREE
		Doherty is one of those dominant swimmers who makes competitors cringe not because of her performance, but because she's going to be around for another two seasons. The sophomore is the two-time state champion in the 100 butterfly, and added a state title in the 500 freestyle to her resume this season, also earning the Merrimack Valley Conference Swimmer of the Year award. She is a member of the state champion 4x200 medley relay team. Doherty, an honor roll student, is a member of the Magnus Aquatic Group and the MVC All-Conference team.

Kara Ernst, Seekonk 200 MEDLEY, 100 BREASTSTROKE
		Ernst was a force at this year's South sectionals, winning the 100 breast stroke and the 200 individual medley, and finished first as a member of the 200 medley and 200 free relay teams. At the states, she finished third in the 200 individual medley and second in the 100 breast stroke, as well as fourth in her relays. She has finished less than one second off of the US Open cut time in the 200 breast stroke (2:42) and was a Junior National qualifier in that event. An honor student and USA Swimming Academic All-American, Ernst also volunteers with the Special Olympics.

Caitlin Grant, Seekonk 50 FREE, 100 BACKSTROKE
		There isn't much that Caitlin Grant hasn't done, academically or athletically, in her four years at Seekonk High School. She is a member of the school record holding 200 medley, 200 free, and 400 free relay teams and holds the school record in the 100 backstroke. At the Southern Conference meet this year, she won the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. She won the 100 backstroke at the South sectionals and finished second in the 50 freestlye. At the states she was third in the 100 back and fifth in the 50 freestyle. Grant is a National and Spanish Honor Society student, as well as a Wendy's High School Heisman nominee, and a Yale Book Award winner.

Meghan Healey, Needham 100 BREASTSTROKE
		Healey went undefeated in dual meets this season, finishing first in the 100 breaststroke in the Bay State Conference, as well as at the South sectionals (1:07.84) and states (1:06.61). She also won the 100 freestyle (55.32) at the MIAA South sectionals and the Bay State meet and was part of an undefeated season for the Rockets. A junior, Healey clearly improved on a sophomore season in which she finished second at the states in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 100 freestyle. Healey is a Junior National qualifier and also plays lacrosse and swims for the Shawmut Aquatic Club.

Sarah Kearns, Milford 200, 500 FREESTYLE
		Kearns, a four-time Globe All-Scholastic, finished second in the 500 freestyle at states (5:10.83) and first at the MIAA South sectionals (5:17.16). In the 200 freestyle, she finished third at the states and second at sectionals. She also anchored the 200 free relay team and swam fly for the 200 medley relay team. She won the state title in the 200 freestyle in 2002. Kearns also holds the Bay State Games 400 and 800 freestyle records and plays cello for the school orchestra. Kearns, who enjoys writing and photography, plans on attending the University of Connecticut.

Katie Omstead, A-B 100 BREASTSTROKE
		Omstead had a successful sophomore campaign for the Colonials, finishing the 100 breaststroke first at the MIAA North sectionals (1:08.43) and third at the states. In the states, her 100 breaststroke time of 1:07.52 set a school record. In the 200 individual medley, she finished second at the sectionals and fourth at the states. At a school with a long list of All-Scholastic swimmers, Omstead also holds the Acton-Boxboro record in the 50 freestyle. Omstead is an honor roll student and plays junior varsity softball. She also rides horseback and is a member of the Patriot Swim Club.

Brittany Sasser, Belmont 200 MEDLEY, 100 BACKSTROKE
		The top swimmer on the Middlesex League champion Marauders, Sasser excels in the backstroke. She won the state title this season in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.77 seconds. She also finished second at the states in the 200 individual medley (2:10.11). Sasser is a four-time Middlesex League All-Star, an All-American in the 100 backstroke, and is a national qualifier in the 200 backstroke. She also competes on the varsity track team and hopes to swim for Amherst College in the fall.

Jen Vogel, Notre Dame (H) 200 MEDLEY
		This youngster is one of Mike Riley's prize pupils at Notre Dame of Hingham. She was dominant at the states this year, finishing first in the 200 individual medley (2:09.08), second in the 100 butterfly (58.35), and was a member of the 400 free relay team that took first at both the MIAA South sectional (3:51.88) and state meet (3:41.32). A two-time Globe All-Scholastic and honor roll student, the Hingham resident is also a member of the South Shore YMCA Strypers. Vogel was part of a Notre Dame team that finished second at the South sectional and third at the state meet.

Lindsay Woodward, Apponequet 200 FREE
		Woodward will graduate riding the wave of an impressive senior year and with six school records to her credit. She finished first in the 200 freestyle and second in the 100 butterfly in the Southern Conference and at the South sectionals. At the states, she was the 200 freestyle champion (1:56.66) and second in the 100 freestyle (54:05). A National Honor Society member and team captain, Woodward is hoping to swim at Miami University of Ohio, a Division 1 school, and to study zoology. When not swimming for the Lakers, Woodward competes for the Bay and Ocean State Squids. With Woodward leading the charge, Apponequet finished fifth in the South sectional.

Mike Riley, Notre Dame of Hingham COACH OF THE YEAR
		Notre Dame's 14-0 season improved Riley's three-year record at the school to 36-5. He guided the Cougars to the South sectional finals and a third-place finish at the state finals. Riley, who graduated from Catholic Memorial (1988) and Northeastern University (1994) and swam and played baseball as a student-athlete, was very impressed by his squad's performance this season. "The girls definitely exceeded my expectations," he said. "[They] really know how to 'set the tone' when it counts. As a coach, I couldn't be prouder." Riley's 4x400 free relay team prevented Andover from sweeping the state relay events for a fourth consecutive season. Riley also coaches a new US Swim team, the Weymouth Waves, out of the Weymouth Club.

Andover's 200 free relay team (left, clockwise), Tiffany Petzold, Candice Peak, Jennifer Geary, and Elizabeth Mancuso. (Globe Staff Photo / Kathleen Johnson)

4 x 200 free: Andover

This team was expected to be one of Andover's strongest because it only lost one swimmer to graduation last year. Coach Marilyn Fitzgerald ended up making two additions to the squad for 2003, and it still didn't miss a beat. Swimmer of the Year Elizabeth Mancuso and sophomore Candice Peak remained on the squad, while All-Scholastic Caitlin Doherty shifted to the weaker 200 medley team. To fill the two holes, Fitzgerald did what few other coaches in the state can feel comfortable doing: She looked to her freshman class. Jennifer Geary and Tiffany Petzold stepped in and showed why Andover's depth makes it such a feared program. The Golden Warriors won the North sectional title (1:42.11) and the state championship (1:40.94). In both cases, Andover was able to hold off Acton-Boxboro, a key factor in leading the Golden Warriors to the state title.

Andover's 200 medley team (back L-R), Caitlin Doherty and Elizabeth Mancuso; (front L-R) Amy Caron and Diana Harlow. (Globe Staff Photo / Kathleen Johnson)

4 x 200 medley: Andover

Caitlin Doherty was a great addition to this team, which lost 2002 Swimmer of the Year Connie Brown and All-Scholastic Holly Hinds to graduation. Doherty teamed with senior Amy Caron, a three-time Globe All-Scholastic, and Swimmr of the Year Elizabeth Mancuso to give Andover a formidable lineup in the event. Junior and returning All-Scholastic Diana Harlow was also added to the squad. Harlow finished in the top five at the states in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke this season. The jumbled lineup (Caron was the only returning member of last year's team) had little effect on the outcome at states, as Andover took its fourth consecutive 4 x 200 medley by 1 seconds over Notre Dame of Hingham. At the North sectional meet, Andover edged Acton-Boxboro for the title, giving the Golden Warriors a sweep of the relay titles at that meet.

Notre Dame of Hingham's 400 free relay team (L-R), Molly Hallin, Nicole Lorigan, Jen Vogel, and Caroline Brokamp. (Globe Staff Photo / Katthleen Johnson)

4 x 400 free: Notre Dame of Hingham

All things must pass. George Harrison said that, and so did we last year, when we suggested that graduation would slow the Andover 400 free relay team enough to end its three-year domination of the event. This year's champion? Notre Dame of Hingham ended Andover's reign with a time of 3:41.32, just over six-10ths of a second better than the Golden Warriors. The Cougars' young squad should pose a threat to repeat next year, as all four members will return, including sophomore Jen Vogel. The rest of the team is comprised of juniors Caroline Brokamp, Molly Hallin, and Nicole Lorigan. All three are honor roll students. Brokamp finished seventh at states in the 100 butterfly. Hallin was a member of the runner-up 200 medley relay, and finished the 100 breaststroke sixth in the states. Lorigan was also a member of the medley team and finished seventh in the 100 freestyle at states.