By David Fierro
A decisive season-opening win against Trumbull was the first of what should be, many victories for Greenwich High School’s varsity girls swimming/diving team, a program that indeed, boasts a championship pedigree.
One season ago, the Cardinals captured the team title at the CIAC Class LL Swimming Championships for the second straight season, giving them 31 Class LL crowns overall. Greenwich, which also has 22 State Open championships to its resume and a wealth of FCIAC team titles, begins its 2025 campaign with plenty of talent, depth, experience and of course, high expectations.
The Cardinals captured the CIAC Class LL championship last fall with an astounding 1,012 team points and placed second behind champion Ridgefield at the State Open Championships by 36 points. Greenwich was also the runner-up to Ridgefield at the FCIAC championship meet.
“We have a great group back from our State Open runner-up team and 11 new members to our team, so we have a lot of new faces, which is great too for the continued strength of the team,” Greenwich coach Brendan Heller said. “It will be a fun season.”
The Cardinals opened their season with a 97-65 home win over Trumbull High School on Sept. 3, showcasing their depth in each event. Captaining the Cardinals are, in alphabetical order are seniors Olivia DeVito, Melissa Geiger, Isabel Guzman, Ainsley Sahrbeck and Wesley Wales.
DeVito is one of the Cards’ divers, while Geiger, Guzman, Sahrbeck and Wales will be looked upon to power the squad in multiple swimming events.
“I’m feeling really pumped, the team is super amazing,” Guzman said. “We have great spirit, we have a lot of talent and I’m really pumped to see what we can accomplish this season.”
Guzman posted a third-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.30) at last season’s CIAC Class LL Championships. In Greenwich’s season-opener versus Trumbull on Sept. 3, junior Julia Kozma, sophomore Sara Jee, Geiger and Wales started the meet by combining to win the 200-yard medley relay in 1:54.62.
Sophomore Olivia DeVries was the 200-yard freestyle winner for Greenwich, registering a time of 2:01.70. Junior Isadora Nassa placed second for the Cardinals in the 200 freestyle, clocking in at 2:02.20 and teammate Anna Whitridge took third in 2:06.13.
Geiger won the 200-yard individual medley race against Trumbull, recording a time of 2:16.08. Jee was the runner-up in 2:16.83, while Guzman had a third-place finish (2:21.21).
“It’s really amazing to be a part of a team that is so honored and has had so many accomplishments over the past couple of years,” Geiger said.
At last year’s Class LL Championships, Geiger finished second in the 100-yard butterfly (58.33) and had a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle (5:05.35).
“Being able to help lead the team is something I’ve looked forward to the past couple of years,” Geiger said of her role as one of the Cards’ captains.
Alexis Abellard of Trumbull was the 50 freestyle winner, touching the wall in 25.49 seconds. Elsa Wang, a freshman, was the runner-up for GHS in 26.66, followed by teammates Lily Norton (a senior, 27.74) and Florence Kim (freshman, 28.36).
Geiger touched the wall first in the 100-yard butterfly race (59.28 seconds) and Sahrbeck placed second (1:02.71). Trumbull’s Jessica Nagelo finished third 1:03.06) and Jee was fourth (1:05.75).
Like her teammates, Sahrbeck is looking forward to helping lead the team to its goals this fall.
“It’s really exciting, I’m really happy to have the role,” Sahrbeck said. “This is such a great team, it’s been such a special place for me and now to be one of the leaders of it officially is super exciting and I’m really honored.”
Sahrbeck had a fourth-place finish in the 200 freestyle at the 2024 Class LL Championships and will be looked upon to help propel the squad at the postseason meets once again this season.
“It was amazing, it was so much fun,” Sahrbeck said of last season’s team victory at the CIAC Class LL championship meet. “We got over 1,000 points, so that was super cool, making history.”
In the 100 freestyle race against Trumbull, junior Ellison Charette earned a winning performance, posting a time of 55.24 seconds. Close behind her was teammate Kensington Worden, a junior (55.91). Kozma was third in 57.16.
Wales won the 500-yard freestyle, showing her endurance by winning the race in 5:23.89. DeVries placed second (5:27.21) and Whitridge was third (5:45.72).
Especially impressive to Wales is how well the freshman on the squad have adjusted to competing at the varsity level.
“They’re all amazing, they got right into it,” Wales said. “They’ve put their heads down, they’re training really hard and they’re all doing amazing.”
Heller appreciates the effort, commitment, production and leadership skills of his senior captains.
“The captains are great,” Heller said. “They came in their first year and set the tone. They have embodied what this team is all about. To have them as captains now is great.”
Wales was the 200 freestyle champion at the 2024 Class LL finals (1:51.32) and placed second in the 100 freestyle (51.66). She was second in the 200 freestyle at the 2024 State Open at Yale University (1:50.82).
“For the team, our goal is to see where we are at, see what we can do as a team and build up our depth,” Wales noted. “Ultimately, at the end of the season, our goal is to win Opens. Obviously, we want to win FCIACs, LLs, but the Open is our really big goal.”
Greenwich swam exhibition against Trumbull in the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay, meaning they opted to not score points in those events, since they already clinched a victory in the meet.
Freshman Alden Charette of GHS had the best time in the 100 backstroke in the meet (1:02.47). Teammate Elsa Wang, also a freshman, had the second best time (1:05.50).
Sophomore Kensington Worden had the meet’s best time in the 100 breaststroke, finishing the event for GHS with a time of 1:11.81. Ellison Charette had the second best time (1:12.68).
Geiger, Jee, Nassa and DeVries teamed up to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:46.64). Alden Charette, DeVries, Sahrbeck and Wang combined for the best time in the 400 freestyle relay (3:51.42). The Cardinals’ meet against Trumbull did not include diving. DeVito and Kristen Jacks are Greenwich’s senior divers. Sophomores Alina Khilko and Clementine Whittle are sophomore divers and Alden Charette is also a diver. Jacks won the Class LL 1-meter diving championship in 2024 with an 11-round score of 400 points. DeVito placed second with 399.10 points.
Greenwich’s next meet is Sept. 16 when it travels to FCIAC foe Danbury. They will then host Westhill/Stamford on Sept. 17.
“There were a lot of good races, everyone was super loud and it was super fun,” Guzman said of the Cardinals’ season-opener. “Everyone swam great and I’m proud of the team. We want to do very well at State Open and LL and get the triple crown.”
“This is a supportive group, everyone cheers for each other all the time and it’s super special,” Sahrbeck said. “It’s good to be back, it’s such a great environment and I’m really excited for the season.”
“We all want the same thing, we want the same goal so it’s a great place where we can work together to achieve the same thing.”
Said Heller: “We want to work really hard during the regular season, be competitive in the dual meets and use the FCIACs to build on for the state meet. That’s always the goal, to be our best in November. We are going to be training hard for November.”
