Girls swimming: Poughkeepsie captures first conference title since 1994
The tears flowed when Linsay Perez and her teammates were handed the championship plaque, the group still in disbelief about having earned it, and overcome with emotion about what it required.
"Looking at it," the Poughkeepsie senior said, "it means being able to push forward against challenges and accomplish something. It means all the hours of practice and travel and sacrifice got rewarded."
Really, they rewarded themselves. The Pioneers ended a drought in the pool last Saturday, capturing their first Section 1 conference title since 1994.
Sophomore Renata Martinez took second in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 26.70 seconds, and was second in the 500 freestyle (5:47.85), helping Poughkeepsie total 369 points to edge host Peekskill (363) in the five-team Conference 4 tournament.
Beverly Ruiz, a freshman, placed second in the 200 freestyle with a personal best (2:38.38) and fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:18.79).
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Poughkeepsie had finished second in the competition the previous two years and, through the disappointment, there was optimism because a young core was steadily improving. That the team succeeded with several underclassmen starring, coach Galen Franchek said, is encouraging and "speaks to the growth of swimming and its popularity in the community."
The celebration afterwards, Perez said, included "lots of tears and lots of Mexican food." There is a level of pride in the team being almost entirely Hispanic, she said, because their roster demographics aren't typical of competitive swimming.
Most of the girls also train with Franchek on her Mid Hudson Heatwaves club team, which also offers lessons to infants. Many of them, the coach said, were the first in their families to learn to swim.
This triumph, she said, "is a credit to their dedication in our 2-3 hour practices, showing up and never wavering under difficult circumstances. I'm on top of the world proud of them."
The group was given their flowers. It was a literal gesture, during a ceremony afterwards, coinciding with the figurative meaning of the phrase.
"I've always wanted this sport to become what it is for these girls," Franchek said. "They need support to grow, and it's incredible that we're having so many more kids and families show interest, and we're getting better."
The quartet of Jocelyn Rojas, Allyson Perez, Martinez and Ruiz took second in the 400 freestyle relay (4:37.58). Yana Perez-Lopez took third in the 100 breaststroke with a personal best (1:38.66), and Paulina Olivarez set a personal best with her fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (1:24.58). Eighth-grader Camila Juarez took fourth in the 100 freestyle in a personal best 1:10.02.
Given its success in recent years and this victory, Franchek said, it's likely the team will be moved up to Conference 3 next season. That, of course, will come with its own challenges as the level of competition raises. But, with a talented young group, there is obvious potential for the Pioneers to improve.
"Seeing how much our team has gotten better over the years is unbelievable," said Perez, who placed sixth in the 100 butterfly. "It's gonna be awesome to see these young kids blossom and become great in the next few years."
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Girls swimming: Poughkeepsie wins first conference tile since 1994
