“Making Waves: 2024-25 High School Swimmers in Hampshire Ready to Shine!”

The high school swimming season has begun and a selection of local teams are back in action. Below is additional information regarding each of the four area swim squads for the 2024-25 season:

Northampton

The Blue Devils girls squad welcomes back two outstanding athletes in Amalia Guerra and Caeil Killip-Leonard to the pool this year. Guerra is the defending MIAA Division 2 state champion in the 100-yard backstroke while Killip-Leonard is recognized as one of the leading divers in western Massachusetts.

Both were seniors, Guerra and Killip-Leonard are joined by Inez Dole and Max Hartley as the team captains for Northampton’s 12th graders.

Hartley and Cole Mattison-Gulotta comprise the Blue Devils’ boys roster. Cole’s elder brother, Jack, secured second place in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly during the previous season’s Division 2 Swimming and Diving Championships as a senior.

Peter Davis embarks on his second season as the head coach of the Blue Devils and aims to build on the solid foundation set during last season.

“The program has seen its share of highs and lows over recent years, including coaching changes and so forth,” Davis shared with the Gazette last January. “I believe providing these young men and women with some stability will assist us.”

Belchertown

The boys team clinched the Western/Central championship for the first time last year, in addition to the Minuteman League, and they bring back a blend of both youthful and seasoned swimmers to this year’s squad.

Belchertown’s major loss will be Luke Giguere, yet the Orioles retain three-fourths of their 400 freestyle relay team with Ryan Gould, J.R. Zlogar, and Ryan Shea.

Seniors Ben and Noah Les and sophomore Drake Dragon are additional swimmers to monitor this year for Belchertown. Dragon participated in last year’s West/Central championship meet, finishing seventh in the 500-yard freestyle.

The girls team will be spearheaded by captains Aubrey Harrington, Valerie Williams, and Destiny Ranzie. The Orioles achieved their first victory this year by defeating Palmer, 116-44, on December 13.

Johanna Manduley returns as Belchertown’s girls swim head coach for her fourth season.

Amherst

The Hurricanes are focused on continuing to advance in the pool with both boys and girls squads. Amherst’s program is quite young, with contributions coming from swimmers as young as seventh grade on both teams.

The girls retain several essential components of the Hurricanes team that placed sixth at the West/Central meet and 16th at the Division 2 state competition.

Among the notable returnees are Bette Sherr-Garcia, Finnley Chambers, Rowan Albertson, Sadie Cyr, and Caprial DiBartolomeo.

Seventh grader Emory Albertson, who is Rowan’s sister, is a newcomer to keep on your radar.

Amherst finished with a record of 9-2 last season during the regular season.

The boys’ roster includes nine swimmers, all set to graduate in 2026 or later. The eldest swimmer, as a junior, is Joseph Hazlip.

Hurricanes head coach Denise Leckenby returns for her third season. 

“A well-rounded girls team and a rebuilding phase for both boys and girls with an emphasis on social emotional well-being and mental health as student-athletes,” Leckenby stated.

Easthampton

Head coach Carla Soutra returns for her 28th year at the helm of the Eagles.

Easthampton’s participation numbers have been low in recent seasons, and much of the same is true for this season as the Eagles currently have a roster of 11 swimmers.

Nevertheless, five newcomers are joining this season, including three freshmen and an eighth-grader.

Layla Gauger is the only returning upperclassman for Easthampton, while Allison St. Pierre and Lily O’Connell come back as sophomores.

Maxwell Kruger is Easthampton’s sole competitor on the boys team as an eighth-grader.