STORY BY CHRIS BROOKS, PHOTOS COURTESY LORI BRANDES
Sea Lions go back-to-back, tops 2nd place Livonia to claim LCAA Championship behind several title-clinching finishes, will now prepare for Section V title defense in two weeks time
BATH — If there was anything that the Sea Lions could take away from their performance of epic proportions on Saturday, it’s this — they’re ready to defend their Sectional title in the water.
In Bath, Wellsville was simply unstoppable. Although the Livonia Lady Bulldogs were chasing them down in the rearview mirror, the Sea Lions would not be denied their second straight Livingston County League Championship title, as the team garnered eight first place finishes, including a sweep of all three relay events to pair alongside multiple secondary finishes to put the bow on their title-clinching, 564-point first place finish.
“It was a good meet all around,” said Sea Lions coach Steve Hand. “The girls showed up ready to swim, and swam some of the fastest times they have posted all year. Hayden (Waldon) and Grace (Kinnicutt) winning two individual events, and Allie (Bidzerkowny) winning a third really set a good tone throughout the meet. All of our relays swam fast and scored a lot of points. Kaylee and Ashley (Oswald) both dove excellent on Thursday and brought home some great finishes to help us get this win.”
Aside from a sweep of all three relay events to help set a massive tone for their back-to-back League championship, the Sea Lions saw five more victories come individually — two of them each from Hayden Waldon and Grace Kinnicutt, with Waldon scoring winning times in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, while Kinnicutt earned gold with both her second half victories coming in the 100 butterfly, and later in the 100 backstroke.
Allie Bidzerkowny would add the last League-title clinching win for Wellsville, scoring the fastest time in the 100 breaststroke.
The full results from the League Championship meet can be seen down below.
The Sea Lions will now take the next week and prepare to defend their back-to-back Class C Championship, which will begin on November 4 at the Webster Aquatic Center. First swim is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
The Preliminary round will begin one week prior, next Tuesday, November 1 at 5 p.m.
“I hope the girls feel proud of their accomplishments, and feel some confidence that they will swim fast at Sectionals,” said Hand. “We’ll try to clean up some little things this week, and show up ready to swim hard at Preliminaries up in Webster, next Tuesday.”
Team Scores: 1. Wellsville 564, 2. Livonia 521, 3. Wayland-Cohocton 311, 4. Bath-Haverling 292, 5. Letchworth/Perry 216.
Results
200 Medley – 1. Wellsville (Brandes, Waldon, Kinnicutt, Mattison) 2:02.14, 2. Livonia, 3. Way-Co.
200 Free – 1. Ella Frazer (DAN) 2:10.70, 2. Kendall Allen (W-C), 3. Morgan Mattison (WLSV).
200 IMR – 1. Hayden Waldon (WLSV) 2:20.47, 2. Isabelle Hart (WLSV), 3. Allie Bidzerkowny (WLSV).
50 Free – 1. Lila Meyers (LIV) 25.45, 2. Claire Donlon (W-C), 3. Tiernee Brandes (WLSV).
Diving – 1. Sidney Simmons (L/P) 429.50, 2. Claire Donlon (W-C), 3. Ashley Oswald (WLSV).
100 Fly – 1. Grace Kinnicutt (WLSV) 1:03.79, 2. Kaitlyn Lee (DAN), 3. Isabelle Hart (WLSV).
100 Free – 1. Lila Meyers (LIV) 56.30, 2. Morgan Mattison (WLSV), 3. Kaylee Oswald (WLSV).
500 Free – 1. Hayden Waldon (WLSV) 5:41.04, 2. Ella Frazer (DAN), 3. Kendall Allen (W-C).
200 Relay – 1. Wellsville (Mattison, Brandes, Hart, K. Oswald) 1:49.39, 2. Livonia, 3. Way-Co.
100 Back – 1. Grace Kinnicutt (WLSV) 1:05.80, 2. Kaitlyn Lee (DAN), 3. Tiernee Brandes (WLSV).
100 Breaststroke – 1. Allie Bidzerkowny (WLSV) 1:21.61, 2. Emma Olsheski (LIV), 3. Sophie Beikirch (LIV).
400 Free – 1. Wellsville (Waldon, K. Oswald, Budinger, Kinnicutt) 4:10.72, 2. Dansville, 3. Livonia.
