WILTON, Conn. Wilton Wahoo swimmer Katy Luchansky will remember the summer of 2011 as her breakout season. In the YMCA Long Course National Championships earlier this month at Georgia Tech, Luchansky had four top-four finishes in individual events. She also helped her relay teams win a gold and a silver, setting state records in both.
"It's always a pretty tough meet,'' said Katy, who will be a senior at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull. "The Wahoos always focus on that meet, and we had a lot of high expectations. Our women's team did really well. The boys team did a great job, too. I think they showed in the years to come they'll do very well."
Luchansky said the 800 free relay, which the Wahoos won, was her favorite event in the meet. The team, which also included Maddy Smart, Verity Abel and Caitlin Cole, finished in 8:33.48, breaking by three seconds a mark that had stood since 1988.
That was only the beginning for Luchansky. She was second in the 400 free, third in the 200 free and fourth in the 100 butterfly and 100 free. She also teamed with Grace Hendee, Abel and Smart to take a silver medal in the 200 free relay, wiping out another Connecticut record.
"Since I've been with the Wahoos, I feel like I've improved in all areas of swimming,'' said Luchansky, who has been swimming for the Wilton team for two years. "I just wanted to take it to the next level, and I thought the Wahoos would help me do that."
Luchansky's times this summer also earned her a trip to the U.S. Junior Nationals in California, where she swam in four events. One of her best was a 27th place finish in the 200 freestyle. More importantly, it exposed her to some of the nation's best swimmers. "That was a whole new atmosphere,'' Luchansky said. "The competition out there was really strong."
She is hoping to carry her summer momentum to the high school season, which begins in the fall for girls. Luchansky won the 50 and 100 free in last year's Class S state championships, and was fourth in both events at the State Open. Luchansky ends up competing against girls who are members of her Wahoos relay teams. "There's usually not a lot of talk between us as competitors during the high school season,'' Luchansky said. "We like that we're a team. We're really supportive of each other."
Her sensational summer has helped put her on the radar for college coaches. No decisions have been made, but Luchansky feels like she caught the attention of some coaches. "It will be an exciting process,'' she said. "There's definitely not a frontrunner. I'm sure whatever school it is it will be the right fit."
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