WPHS sends off athletes with pleasure to state swimming and diving championships

Five standout athletes at White Plains High School obtained a spirited send-off Thursday morning on their strategy to the 2025 NYSPHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Championships in Webster, N.Y.

Students lined the hallways and shouted encouragement because the athletes — Ryleigh Baumann, Neve Aikman, Kelly Constantino, Fiona Blaho and Gianna Ebert — walked by way of and waited briefly for a faculty bus to reach on the PE circle.

A squad of WPHS cheerleaders led the celebration for the 5 beaming college students, who waved at their friends as they carried their backpacks and baggage by way of the corridors.

Several police autos and a White Plains Fire Department truck – lights flashing and sirens wailing — escorted the scholars to their first cease in Edgemont, the place the athletes would switch to a coach bus for his or her six-hour journey to the Rochester space.

Among the rivals is Ryleigh, senior diver and crew captain, who was additionally acknowledged Monday through the faculty’s celebration of WPHS seniors accepted into NCAA Division I applications.

Varsity coach Cosme “Cos” Carmona shared his pleasure within the group shortly earlier than their departure.

“We have our diver, Ryleigh Baumman, a senior captain, who qualified for diving in the New York State Championships. And then we have four additional swimmers for our 200-free relay: senior captain Kelly Constantino, Neve Aikman, Gianna Ebert and our eighth-grader, Fiona Blaho,” Mr. Carmona mentioned.

“And Fiona has also qualified for two separate individual events—the 200-freestyle and the 100- butterfly. All 12 sections are involved and we’re Section 1. Swimmers from every corner of New York State will be in Rochester for the meet,” he added.

Also readily available for the send-off had been coach Rebecca Doherty, Athletic Director Matt Cameron and Assistant Athletic Director Michael Chappas.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Swimming & Diving Championships, a fruits of months of coaching, deliver collectively a whole bunch of high athletes from greater than 200 faculties statewide, representing all 12 athletic sections in New York.

Competitors participate in a full slate of occasions, together with particular person races in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and particular person medley; relay occasions; and 1-meter diving. The meet kicks off with preliminaries on Friday on the Webster Aquatic Center.

For data on the championships, click on here.