Madison Girls Dominate Villa Walsh To Grab Their Second Win

On December 16th at the Morristown Beard School, the Madison Girls’ Swim Team had their best meet performance of the season so far in a blistering 129 to 38 victory against Villa Walsh, and their overall season record improved to 2-2.

The girls won nine of the eleven events they swam and finished 1-2-3 in three of them. They also did not finish lower than fourth place in any event, which meant that every swimmer that swam in an individual event scored at least two points for the team.

The Dodgers started off their meet with the 200-meter medley relay, which was won by the “A” relay team of sophomore Erin Barisonek, senior Lily Barisonek, junior Bella Guarino, and junior Karen Wu in a combined time of 2:16.70. The Dodgers’ “B” relay, consisting of senior Shannon Kelley, freshman Emily Brown, senior Allison Lee, and junior Fiona Beacom, touched the wall second in a time of 2:30.69.

The 200-meter freestyle was one of the only events that the Dodgers’ did not win, as Villa Walsh’s Danielle Cartar touched first. However, Erin Barisonek, junior Amanda Beneventano, and freshman Layla Knoll finished 2-3-4 with times of 2:24.47, 2:36.32, and 2:38.79 respectively.

In the 200-meter individual medley, Lily Barisonek picked up the Dodgers’ first individual victory by finishing first in a time of 2:40.53, while Guarino followed behind with a time of 2:46.38. Kelley finished fourth in a time of 3:20.97.

The Dodgers’ first podium sweep of the night came in the 50-meter freestyle, where Brown, Beacom, and freshman Evelyn Juliano finished 1-2-3 in times of 31.78, 32.38, and 32.54 respectively. This event was Brown’s first-ever individual event victory for MHS.

The 100-meter butterfly saw a first-place finish from Wu, who went a time of 1:08.15. Beneventano and Layla Knoll followed behind in third and fourth, going times of 1:22.41 and 1:29.48.

A second sweep occurred in the 100-meter freestyle when Erin Barisonek won with a time of 1:08.85, Juliano finished second in a time of 1:16.07, and Beacom touched third in a time of 1:19.44.

Danielle Cartar again denied the Dodgers a first-place finish in the 400-meter freestyle, sweeping the two mid-distance events of the meet. Guarino, sophomore Isabella Sarullo, and junior Alexa Leo went 2-3-4 with times of 5:20.49, 6:07.38, and 6:59.28.

Perhaps the most impressive race for the Dodgers was the 200-meter freestyle relay where all three of their relays were in scoring position. The Madison “A” relay of Brown, Beneventano, Juliano, and Layla Knoll finished first with a time of 2:13.70, the “B” relay of Kelley, junior Nina Kornchankul, junior Sasha Knoll, and sophomore Sophia Modi got second at 2:24.25, and the “C” relay of junior Louise Nielsen, junior Nino Pasikashvilli, junior Susan Wilson, and freshman Helen Kilman touched third with a time of 2:43.21. However, the two points earned by the third-place relay were given to Villa Walsh’s fourth-place relay team, due to the rule that no more than two relays from one school can earn points in one event.

Another Dodger sweep came in the 100-meter backstroke. Wu, already the fastest-ever girls’ backstroker in MHS history, finished first in 1:08.60, a time only 0.19 seconds away from her school record set last season. Lee and junior Kaitlyn Engel finished second and third with times of 1:27.18 and 1:38.19.

The 100-meter breaststroke was won by another team record holder, Lily Barisonek, who put out a time of 1:22.74. This event was the fifth instance where the Dodgers took the top three positions, with Brown and Kelley following behind with times of 1:24.84 and 1:38.80 respectively.

The night concluded with the 400-meter freestyle relay, where the Madison “A” and “B” relay went 1-2. The team of Guarino, Erin Barisonek, Wu, and Lily Barisonek finished first in a time of 4:35.90, while the team of Beneventano, Beacom, Juliano, and Lee finished second in a time of 5:14.92.

“Our girls’ team certainly showed its depth in winning every event but the 200 & 400 free. Several girls’ events placed 1,2 & 3 along with each of our relays placing 1st & 2nd. Double individual winners were Karen Wu & Lily Barisonek.” head coach Nan Leib said, to close off the meet. 

For full results, see https://highschoolsports.nj.com/game/699643.