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GREENWICH, Conn. Alexandra Walsh had a dominating performance, winning 10 gold medals for the Greenwich YWCA Dolphins in the Connecticut Age Group Swimming Championships last weekend at Wesleyan University in Middletown.
Old Greenwich resident Alexandra, 10, helped the Dolphins win 35 medals in the meet for swimmers ages 8 to 18. More than 40 teams from the state competed.
Alexandra led the charge, winning six individual races and participating on four winning relay teams.
Alex was very determined this weekend," Dolphins coach Nick Cavataro said. "She really enjoys the challenge, not only on race day; but, in practices, too. For her to break records held by USA National swimmers like Beisel and Pelton, demonstrates she is on a strong developmental track. All our coaches, team members are very proud and excited for her.
Other Dolphins individual gold medalists included Parker Scott, who earned four golds. Aedan Lewis, Jack Montesi and Emily Warner won one gold each. The Dolphins collectively gained 18 silver and bronze medals.
Walsh dominated her events, winning titles in the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke (33.83 and 1:14.14), the 50- and 100-yard backstroke (30.57 and 1:04.74) and the 100- and 200-yard individual medleys (1:05.72 and 2:22.62).
In the 100 IM, Walsh broke the state and resident event records of Kira Wallace of 1:07.02 and Elizabeth Pelton at 1:05.74. Pelton, a former Wilton YMCA swimmer and the current American record holder in the 200 backstroke, represented the USA at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Pelton took gold at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, swimming on the USAs 400 medley relay.
In the 200-IM, Walsh lowered the state record of 2:22.93 set in 1998 by Kristen Fros, who later was an All American at Southern Connecticut State University and the resident record of 2:23.80 set in 2003 by Elizabeth Beisel of Rhode Islands Bluefish Swim Club. Beisel, now at the University of Florida, last week captured a gold medal in the 200 back and a bronze medal in the 400 IM at the Womens Division 1 NCAA Championships at Auburn University.
Walshs four relay gold medals came as she teamed with Samantha Scott, 10; Emily Warner, 10, and her 9-year old sister Gretchen, breaking respective state records in the 200 and 400-yard freestyle and medley relays with times of 1:54.31, 4:13.81, 2:06.38 and 4:45.27.
Scott, 10, took home gold in the 10-and-under 50 and 100 back and in the 100 and 200 IM with respective times of 32.17, 1:07.88, 1:08.97 and 2:28.81. The Greenwich resident also claimed silver in the 50 fly (30.82) and bronze in the 50 free at 28.52. Scott also teamed with Matthew Ryckman, 9; William Montesi, 9; and, Kevin Zyskowski, 10, for a silver in the 400 medley relay at 4:56.06; and a bronze in the 200 medley relay at 2:15.33.
Aedan Lewis, 12, claimed gold in the 11-12 age group 100-yard breaststroke at 1:09.12. Lewis also took silver in the 50 breast at 32.14 and bronze in the 200 breast at 2:31.15.
Montesi, 13, posted a gold medal time of 54.90 in the 13-14-year old 100-backstroke and in a battle with his first cousin and Westport YMCA rival Ed Stolarksi, 14, took silver, three seconds behind at 1:59.52. Montesi and Stolarksi's maternal grandmother, the late Marie Corridan Mortell of Norwalk, won a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. Montesi was also third in the 100 butterfly at 56.07.
Emily Warner, 10, won her career state title when she took gold in 50 free at 28.01 in addition to her four golds on the 10-and-under relays.
Other Dolphins medalists included: Graham Hazlett, 14, who was third in the 100 back at 56.72; William Montesi, 9, was second in the 100 fly at 1:10.55 and third in the 50 fly at 31.11; Samantha Scott, 10, was third in the 50 back at 32.84 and third in the 100 at 1:11.60 and third in the 200 IM at 2:31.23. Gretchen Walsh, 9, was second in the 50 fly at 30.93 and third in the 100 yard fly at 1:11.59.
Phillip Zyskowski, 14, and John Dustin, 13, combined with Jack Montesi for bronze in the 13-14 boys 200 medley relay at 1:49.78.
All of the Dolphins medalists qualify for next weekend's USA Swimming Eastern Zone Age Group Championships in Webster, N.Y.
Other Dolphins reaching the top 18 scoring heats in the meet included: Allison Brea, 10; Porter Carlson, 15; Brooke Collins, 14; Madeleine Dunn, 17; Gillian Giangrande, 12; Catherine Hamilton, 10; Kate Hazlett, 11; Sydney Heath, 12; Tyler Jester, 12; Megan Lynch, 8; Ryan Lynch, 12; Claire Michalik, 9; Kelly Montesi, 11; Taylor Moore, 15; Peter Mullen, 12; Emma OConnor, 10; Nicole Rogers, 17; Haley Sylvester, 15; Kevin Zyskowski, 10; and, Phillip Zyskowski, 14.
Other Dolphins meet qualifiers included: Tim Agro, 16; Hannah Bear, 16; Kellen Carlson, 12; Charlie Clark, 10; Henry Cobbs, 15; John Dustin, 13; Regina Frias, 9; Olivia Hallisey, 13; Eliza Keller, 10; Remy McGuire, 13; Zachary Moore, 11; Allison Opuszynski, 10; Alex Plavoukos, 8; Matthew Ryckman, 9; Caroline Scotti, 14; and Ray Warner, 13.
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