LYNN — Going into this season the Lynn English swim team is returning a group of experienced seniors and juniors that will help to lead a small Bulldog’s team.
“I have a really strong group of juniors and I’ll be graduating eight seniors this year,” Bulldog coach Lisa Trahant said. “Overall the team is pretty small this year with only 26 kids.”
Despite the lack of numbers the Bulldogs have already found some success this season with a few individual performers and a relay team qualifying for sectionals.
“As the year goes on we are just looking to improve,” Trahant said. “We already have a sectional qualifier in Hannah Trahant in diving and a relay that qualified for sectionals as well. That’s a great start to the season for us.”
English added to that great start in Thursday night’s meet against Danvers when Mary Lawlor (105.75) qualified for states in the 100-yard backstroke.
“She came in second place with that time, which is a great time for her,” Lisa Trahant said. “She’s a junior from Winthrop and its her second year on the team. That was a great performance for her.”
The Bulldogs senior class, led by Amanda Fabrizio, Caroline Zuffante and captains Cole Story and Peter Phelan, have helped create a good mentality at practice for more improvement going forward.
“The mentality at practice has absolutely been there,” Trahant said. “We have been working really hard the last couple weeks and have already had some kids improve their times.”
Phelan (116.77) finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke, Story (27.41) finished third in the 50-yard freestyle, Zuffante finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (556.50) and Fabrizio (110.82) finished third in the 100-yard butterfly.
“Caroline Zuffante was very close to qualifying for sectionals in the the 500 free,” Trahant said. “Cole has been improving his time everytime he gets into the water and that was a great time for Amanda tonight.”
Hannah Trahant (junior) had another good night for the Bulldogs diving, scoring a 174.23 and just being out scored by Danvers John O’Neil (175.20) for first place in the event.
“The diving was so close,” Lisa Trahant said. “It was less than a point difference and it was just a great competition in diving. That was fun to watch.”
English has also had some newcomers shown improvement early in the season.
“We have some kids on the team that have came in this year that have never swam before so when they come in it’s all a learning process,” Trahant said. “Giuliana Gasca is one freshmen to watch for us. She did the 100 butterfly tonight and came in fifth place and the 100 backstroke and placed third. She had a great meet, when you come in as a freshman sometimes it can be a little nerve racking jumping right into main events. She has done well.”
The Bulldogs lost the meet to Danvers 99-75, but overall Trahant was pleased with the performance and improvement on the night.
“Tonight I was actually really pleased,” Trahant said. “I just want everybody most importantly to have fun. This is a really close group and they are all enjoying the season right now. We want to give it our best shot. If they get in the water and improve their time and they are having fun it makes it a good time for everyone involved.”
English will host Peabody Tuesday night at Lynn Tech.
