Being the best team they could be in November when the postseason meets take place is one of the goals of the Greenwich High School girls swimming/diving team.

Though the Cardinals are aiming to achieve such a goal, five meets into the season, they already resemble a team primed for the postseason.

Greenwich has passed each test it has faced as the season has reached its halfway point and this past Wednesday (Oct. 2) it got past its toughest challenge to date in the form of Darien. Winning most of the events, host Greenwich swam to an impressive 101-77 victory over formidable FCIAC rival Darien.

The Cardinals (5-0) are coming off an outstanding 2023 season that saw them capture the team title at the CIAC State Open Championships and also finish first in the team standings at the CIAC Class LL and FCIAC Championships.

“I feel really great about or team, we’ve been working so hard in practice and especially after coming off a great season last year – we’re so motivated to do well this year,” said sophomore Ellison Charette, who helped pace the Cardinals past the Blue Wave. “I’m so proud of the team, everyone is working so hard in practice.”

In 2023, Greenwich won the team title at the FCIAC Championships with 465 team points, giving them the conference crown for the 31st time. At the 2023 Class LL Championships, the Cards posted a winning score of 925 points, good for their 22nd Class LL team championship. The Cardinals’ 2023 campaign concluded with them winning the State Open championship for the 23rd time, amassing 633 points.

Greenwich has competed well thus far in each event during its first five meets of the 2024 season, yet coach Brendan Heller’s squad knows they have to continue their rigorous training regimen.

“Our goal is to be at our best in November for the FCIAC Championships and for the state championships,” said Heller, who coached the Cardinals to the triple crown last fall. “Ridgefield is strong. I think each week we are getting a little closer to getting ready to go in November.”

The Cards travel to rival Ridgefield Wednesday for a showdown against the Tigers in what should be a meet featuring standout times. GHS has a significant amount of momentum heading into its matchup versus Ridgefield, especially after defeating Darien, which like Greenwich and Ridgefield is a contender for the FCIAC and state championship.

“We knew this was going to be a tough one against Darien, it usually is every year,” said Cardinals senior Sena Bozkurt, who won multiple events against the Blue Wave. “We’ve been working really, really hard. We’ve had a plan since Day 1, he mapped it out for us what we have to do every single meet. So, tonight that’s what we did, we executed what we’ve been planning the entire season.”

In Wednesday’s meet against Darien, the Cardinals’ 200-yard medley relay team of Julia Kozma, Isabel Guzman, Melissa Geiger and Kensington Worden combined for a first-place finish with a time of 1:53.45. Wesley Wales, Sara Jee, Bozkurt and Emma Stehmann were a close second for the Cardinals in 1:53.92, followed by Darien (1:58.46).

Charette gave Greenwich a victory in the 200-yard freestyle race, touching the wall in 1:57.75. Cardinals teammate Isadora Nassa placed second in the 200 freestyle (2:02.98), while Ainsley Sahrbeck, also of Greenwich, took third in 2:02.94.

“I’m really proud of myself, but I have to give all thanks to my team,” Charette said. “They always hype me up before my races and they make me feel so good. I want to give them all the credit.”

Despite swimming in an event she doesn’t compete in regularly, Bozkurt was victorious in the 200-yard individual medley against the Blue Wave. Bozkurt posted a winning time of 2:15.09. Stehmann took second for the Cardinals (2:19.51), followed by Jee (2:20.53).

“My goggles fell off during the 2 IM, we had to dive to get it,” Bozkurt noted.

It certainly didn’t bother Bozkurt, who won the race in impressive fashion.

“I think we’re going to switch it up a little bit,” Bozkurt said of swimming the 200 individual medley. “I’ve been doing a lot more diversity in my training. He (Heller) put me in that 2 IM to see where I stand with it. It’s really fun, because it’s something that I don’t really swim. It was fun to get in give it a test run before the championship.”

In the 50-yard freestyle race, Darien’s Charlotte Van Derzee earned a winning time of 24.70 seconds. Wales was a very close second for GHS (24.85), while her teammate Worden was third (24.96).

Megan Hayes of Darien was the winner in the 1-meter diving event. She totaled 207.45 points over six rounds of diving. Greenwich’s Kristen Jacks was the runner-up (189.20) and Courtney Timmeny of the Blue Wave placed third (179.90).

Bozkurt recorded a first-place finish in the 100-butterfly, clocking in at 58.32 seconds. Geiger, a junior, was second (59.68) and Kozma finished third (1:01.90), as Greenwich extended its lead to 65-29 with an exceptional showing in the 100 butterfly.

“I give all credit to these girls, they’re the hardest group of people I’ve ever met and I honestly think if it weren’t for the people we have on the team we wouldn’t be able to do what we did today,” Bozkurt said. “I owe it all to them.”

Wales won the 100 freestyle race in 53.33 seconds, finishing just ahead of Darien’s Van Derzee (53.78). Worden was third for GHS (55.32) and Jee took fourth (57.73).

Charette showed her stamina and speed in outlasting the competition in the 500 freestyle. She took top honors in the race, registering a time of 5:14.52. Sahrbeck was second (5:27.11), while Olivia DeVries placed third for the Cards.

“I’m really proud of myself, but I have to give all thanks to my team,” Charette said. “They always hype me up before my races and they make me feel so good. I want to give them all the credit.”

Greenwich continued to excel in the relays. Bozkurt, Jee, Lily Norton and Charette combined for a winning time of 1:43.32. The Cardinals’

“Our team stepped up, Darien is a good team and they’re well coached,” Heller noted. “They’re 19-or-21-time state champions, so you can’t ever take them lightly. Our team came out ready to go from the jump. I’m proud of how they handled their approach. Everybody had been training really hard. They have come together and pushed each other in training.”

Greenwich swam exhibition in the 100 backstroke, the 100 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay, meaning it opted to not score in the events, since it had already clinched the victory in the meet.

Geiger had the meet’s top time in the 100 backstroke (1:03.21), while Kozma swam a time of 1:04.53. Stehmann had the meet’s best time in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.93).

In the 400 freestyle relay, Ellison, Sahrbeck, Kozma and Geiger clocked in at 3:45.58.

“Our relays were really good, I was really happy with how everyone did, we did really well,” Geiger said. “I think everyone is getting to know each other really well. I’m happy with the team dynamic and everyone is settling in their own events.”

“Everyone wants to do well in their personal events and in the relays and become better friends and teammates,” Geiger said of some of the squad’s goals.

Greenwich’s meet against Ridgefield Wednesday is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Barlow Mountain Pool.

“We have Ridgefield coming up, but I think we’re pretty confident in ourselves,” Charette said. “We’re definitely getting ready at practice this week, we’ve had some tough practices, but I think it’s going to pay off next week.”