The final meet of the season is not only important because it determines a team’s final record and measures their total season success, but also because it is a testament to what they have done all throughout the season and the overall progression of individuals in their athletic careers.
Since December, the Silver Lake girls swim team gave it their best effort and at the Division 1 State meet on Saturday, Feb. 18, four of their top swimmers showed what they were capable of in several different events.
The end result of the meet held at Boston University was definitely a positive one for the Lakers. While they did not win a State Championship, they came close. The team amassed 154 points so in the end, they came in fourth place among 37 competing programs despite only competing in 10 of the meet’s 12 events. The Lakers lacked competitors in the diving events.
While the Lakers were not team state champs, it did not stop junior Maddie Milbert from winning a state championship of her own. Her time of 56.99 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke was good for a first place finish. Milbert was also within a second of a first place 200 yard individual medley win, but her 2:07.66 was still good for second place in the event.
As a team, the Lakers also came within a second of a title in an individual event: the 200 yard medley relay (1:51.01). They also came in seventh in the 400 yard freestyle relay (3:44.57).
Senior captain Lindsay Kalinowski, sophomore Katherine Morrissey and freshman Alexa Connors also competed for the Lakers.
In her final meet with the Lakers, Kalinowski came in seventh place in the 100 yard breastroke (1:10:08). She also had a 15th place finish in the 500 yard freestyle (5:31.29).
Morrissey took ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.17) and 12th in the 100 yard butterfly (1:00.78) while Connors finished third in the 200 yard freestyle (1:55.53) and fourth in the 500 yard freestyle (5:11.40).
With three of their top four swimmers returning, the Lakers should be in position for another successful season next school year.