Amherst Dominates Monson in Thrilling High School Swim Showdown: A Visual Recap

AMHERST — Both the Amherst swimming and diving squads achieved victories against Monson on Friday afternoon at the Amherst Middle School pool.

The girls team of the Hurricanes improved to 2-2 for the season with a 132-44 success while the boys secured their first win of the year with a 60-53 result.

Amherst is currently in its second year of restructuring its overall program after the girls team won back-to-back Central/West championships in 2022 and 2023. Head coach Denise Leckenby praised the contributions from the middle-school athletes, who constitute nearly 40 percent of the entire roster, as vital elements in maintaining the Hurricanes’ competitive edge.

“This year, I can at least include them; some of them are incredibly fast, and their enthusiasm and spirit greatly benefit the team,” Leckenby stated. “Currently, I can accommodate them and don’t need to make cuts for the team, which is one of my objectives since having six lanes in a pool presents limited space.”

Leckenby further mentioned that middle-school swimmers in Amherst have participated in the high school varsity team for many years. Not all school districts can claim the same.

Twelve out of the Hurricanes’ 31 total swimmers are still in middle school, which includes six of the nine boys swimmers.

“I’m thrilled that the team’s depth, referring to the numbers, the heart, and the spirit of the team, is beginning to yield results from the previous three years,” Leckenby expressed. “Three years back, we had extremely fast relays, won state titles, and now we are rebuilding to reach that level again with the foundational swimmers who have been here from the outset.

“Additionally, we are welcoming some new middle schoolers who are effectively contributing to the team’s energy and scoring,” Leckenby added. “In every relay they participate in, they are adding value, making it really enjoyable.”

Several middle schoolers performed admirably on Friday against the Mustangs, including Emory Albertson in the girls’ 100-yard breaststroke (1:19.80) and Lewin Halasz in the boys’ 100-yard butterfly (1:04.97).

Caprial DiBartolomeo, a junior, surpassed her seeding time with a sectional qualifying achievement in the girls’ 100-yard butterfly, finishing in 1:07.63 as Amherst’s highlight swimmer of the meet, according to Leckenby.

“[DiBartolomeo] and Sadie [Cyr] both attend [Hopkins Academy]; they have been integral to the Amherst swimming community since its inception,” Leckenby reported. “[Cyr] is a senior while [DiBartolomeo] is a junior, and I’m really eager to see the fruits of all the dedication that [DiBartolomeo] has put in, particularly focusing on that butterfly technique, which she executed perfectly tonight, in a week when I didn’t anticipate it. I’m very excited for her.”

Cyr swam as the first leg in both of the Hurricanes’ girls relay teams against Monson. This marks Cyr’s second season in the pool for Amherst after playing basketball during her initial two high school years.

Leckenby also highlighted senior diver Bette Sherr-Garcia as another outstanding performer for the girls team.

“[Sherr-Garcia] excelled once again tonight,” Leckenby remarked. “I’m looking forward to observing her progression for the remainder of the season. She will be a tremendous asset for us on the diving board.”

Rowan Albertson qualified for the state competition in the 100 backstroke with her performance on Friday.

On the boys’ side, Leckenby noted the performance of freshman Soren Castenson in the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 1:20.15.

Amherst will return to action next Friday, Jan. 10, when they host Ludlow at 5:15 p.m.