High faculty women swimming and diving: Kingston goals for an additional profitable marketing campaign – Daily Freeman

KINGSTON, N.Y. — Kingston High women swimming and diving coach Chris Sammons has a number of methods to measure whether or not a season was profitable. After all was stated and achieved, he thought the 2025 marketing campaign was an excellent one.

A yr in the past, the Tigers had a 6-3 dual-meet report, a fourth-place end out of 12 colleges on the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division 1 Girls Swimming Championships and seventh out of twenty-two groups on the Section 9 ultimate meet.

“In my opinion, it was a very, very successful year with a young team,” stated Sammons, who’s in his twenty sixth season as head coach of the ladies swimming group.

Though the Tigers misplaced three-year captain Gianna Vertullo to commencement, Sammons is optimistic in regards to the prospects for his youthful 2026 squad that has only one senior (Rory Treloar) and one junior (Ayla Boye) on the 16-girl Kingston roster. There are 5 sophomores, three freshmen and 6 swimmers who’re in both the seventh or eighth grade.

The Tigers, who open the dual-meet season at dwelling towards Pine Bush at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, even have three swimmers as a part of Kingston’s shadowing program with Onteora and Rondout Valley excessive colleges. Big issues are anticipated from senior Julia Young of Onteora.

The swimmers from the 2 colleges practice and journey with Kingston, however their finishes don’t rely in scoring for meets or championship occasions.

Sammons stated Vertullo was an incredible chief for the Tigers, despite the fact that she battled by accidents throughout her profession.

“That’s a big loss in leadership,” Sammons stated. “She was the glue of the team. She kept everyone in line. She worked through a lot of stuff physically, but she ended up qualifying for sectionals and was in the A final in the 100 freestyle, finishing eighth. She also finished 10th in the (100) breaststroke.”

Natalie Cascio, one other captain who graduated, completed sixth in each the 100-yard backstroke and 200 particular person medley on the sectional meet.

Both Vertullo and Cascio have been a part of two relay groups that made the A finals at sectionals. The Tigers’ 400 freestyle relay completed fifth and the 200 freestyle relay took sixth.

“It’s going to be very difficult to replace those points,” Sammons stated. “But replacing the people is more important.”

Treloar, who was fourth within the 100 freestyle and sixth within the 50 freestyle as a junior in sectionals, is trying to have a very good senior yr.

Treloar is hoping to be wholesome all season lengthy after coping with again accidents the previous couple years.

“This year I’m hoping to overcome that and see what there is for this year,” she stated.

Young, who was sixth within the 100 breaststroke and seventh within the 50 freestyle eventually yr’s sectional meet, stated she hopes to take the subsequent step and get to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls Swimming and Diving Championships in November.

“I’d definitely like to make states in both of those events, but really just improving more on my times from last year,” Young stated. “My senior year is really important because I’ve been watching everybody else since I started here in the seventh grade. It’s been a long time coming. It’s kind of sad, but I’m looking forward to sharing my senior year with Rory because we’ve been good friends for a long time.”

Other sectional qualifiers who return embody Boye (500 freestyle), sophomore Emma Catenacci (500 freestyle), freshman Madysen Quinn (100 freestyle) and sophomore Chloe Assa (relays).

“I’m looking for all of them to qualify in multiple events this year and make that next step,” Sammons stated.

Sophomores Tess Gallo and Anna Lasecki can be swimming in relays and different occasions.

Sammons stated seventh-grader Honey Igoe has been spectacular within the preseason.

“I’m probably going to put her into a lot of different events just to see how she kind of lands for championships,” Sammons stated.

Peyton Zell, one other rookie from the seventh grade, has been trying good within the 100 breaststroke.

Eighth-grader Fiona Kerrigan is one other teenager who can swim in lots of completely different occasions.

While the aim is at all times to contend for a sectional title, Sammons is practical in regards to the Tigers’ probabilities towards powerhouse Pine Bush.

“Going up against a seven-time defending champion is tough,” he stated. “I’d like to see this year’s team at least equal last year’s dual-meet record. We certainly have the ability to be an over .500 team. My goal is to win as many meets as possible and have some fun doing it.”