Greenwich High School girls swimming/diving team places second at State Open Championships; Ridgefield captures the team championship

By David Fierro on November 19, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by David Fierro:** Members of the Greenwich High School girls swimming team gather with their coaches around the plaque after placing second in the team standings at the CIAC State Open Championships at Yale University.

They captured the team title at the CIAC Class LL Championships, finished second in the team standings at the CIAC State Open Championships, were the runner-up at the FCIAC Championships and enjoyed a highly successful regular season.

Yes, the Greenwich High School girls swimming/diving team had plenty to be excited about during their 2024 season.

The Cardinals capped their 2024 campaign with an excellent showing at the CIAC State Swimming Championships, held at Yale University on Nov. 17, finishing second in the team standings with 551 points. Ridgefield, which was the runner-up in 2023, won the team championship at the State Open, amassing 587 points in the 49-team meet. Cheshire placed third with a team score of 327 points, New Canaan finished fourth (262 points) and Darien was fifth (233).

Greenwich which captured the 2023 State Open team championship, used its depth to earn an impressive second place finish, while Ridgefield won an eye-opening eight events on its way to claiming the championship trophy.

**Photo by David Fierro:** From left to right: Greenwich High School senior captains Garyn Finz, Emma Stehmann and Sena Bozkurt hold the plaque after the Cardinals swimming team finished second in the team standings at the CIAC State Open Swimming Championships at Yale University on Nov. 17, 2024. Ridgefield won the team championship.

“I think we did incredible, we’ve been working on peaking at this point and I think we did just that,” Greenwich senior captain Sena Bozkurt said. “I’m very proud of how we did, we worked really hard for this. Props to Ridgefield, but I’m very proud of how we did.”

Said Cardinals senior Emma Stehmann, also a senior captain: “I think that we really came together as a team and we did a lot of bonding activities outside the pool and I think that definitely helped us inside the pool. We were all cheering for each other. We got second, yes, but I think that we really did great in terms of a team atmosphere.”

The State Open Championships began with Ridgefield winning the 200-yard medley relay. Mairead Luhman, Riley McGerald, Lily Archibald and Bridget Kelly combined for a winning time of 1:44.60. Cheshire finished second in 1:47.20 and Greenwich’s Julia Kozma, Stehmann, Bozkurt and Lily Norton combined for a third-place time of 1:48.48.

**Contributed photo:** Some members of the Greenwich High School varsity girls swimming team gather following the CIAC State Open Swimming Championships at Yale University. Holding the trophy is head coach Brendan Heller.

The State Open 200-yard freestyle title went to Ridgefield junior Ava Ward, who registered a time of 1:49.37, giving her Tigers team 30 points. Cardinals junior Wesley Wales earned the silver medal, clocking in at 1:50.82 (27 team points) and Kelly had a third-place finish for Ridgefield (1:51.78).

“I was seeded second, obviously, I wanted to stay second,” Wales said. “I tried to stay with Ava most of the way. I thought it was a good race, I felt fast, I dropped some time – I was happy with it.”

GHS sophomore Ellison Charette placed ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:55.56). In the 200-yard individual medley, Seymour freshman Ana David captured the winner’s medal with a time of 2:05.72, while Fairield Ludlowe junior Ella Gussen was the runner-up in 2:06.61. McGerald was third for the Tigers (2:08.12).

**Photo by David Fierro:** Members of the Ridgefield High School varsity swimming team gather with their coaches in the pool at Yale University after they won the team championship at the 2024 CIAC State Open Swimming Championships.

Stehmann had Greenwich’s best finish in the 200 IM, placing 15th in 2:13.50. Manchester junior Riley Anderson showcased her speed in winning the 50-yard freestyle title with a time of 22.67. Mia Hutzis of Brookfield, a senior, was second in 23.36, while Charlotte VanDerzee from Darien took third in 23.47.

Sophomore Kensington Worden of the Cardinals posted a fifth-place finish in the 50 freestyle, clocking in at 24.11 seconds. The State Open diving finals was won by New Canaan junior Emma Kelly. She totaled 526.30 points over 11 rounds of diving. Olivia DeVito, a GHS junior, was 13th with a score of 392.70 points.

In the 100 butterfly, Archibald claimed the State Open title, finishing first in 53.37. Bozkurt gave Greenwich a second-place finish in the butterfly, recording a time of 54.16 seconds.

**Photo by Brendan Heller**: Greenwich High School’s Wesley Wales, Melissa Geiger, Kensington Worden and Ellison Charette gather with their medals after finishing second in the 400-yard freestyle relay at the State Open Championships at Yale University.

“I was very proud of my butterfly, I was trying to go for my best time and I hit it, so I’m very happy with how that went,” Bozkurt said. “Props to Lilly, she is an amazing competitor.”

Junior Melissa Geiger from Greenwich took fourth in the 100 butterfly (58.17), while her teammate Kozma was ninth (58.87). The 100 freestyle saw Anderson break the State Open and state record by winning the race in 49.66 seconds. Wales posted another podium finish, placing fourth in the 100 freestyle (51.67).

“I was seeded fifth in that race, I got fourth, so I was happy I got extra points,” Wales said. “We did really good, all of us swam really, really fast. This is the meet we’ve been training for the entire season and I think we showed all the work we’ve been putting in.”

**Photo by Brendan Heller:** Greenwich High School’s swimmers put forth an excellent showing at the CIAC State Open Swimming Championships held at Yale University on Nov. 17, 2024.

Worden also had a strong showing in the 100 freestyle race, placing sixth in 52.00 for the Cards, coached by Brendan Heller. Greenwich was well-represented at the State Open, thanks to a championship effort at the CIAC Class LL finals, which was also a qualifier for the Open.

Ward gave Ridgefield a first-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle event, registering a time of 4:59.52.

“Ava is a junior, she gets to swim with all these girls every day and keeps that competitive fire,’ Ridgefield coach Paul Marchese said. “You don’t want any more from a coach than girls pushing each other in practice and wanting to be great.”

Charette swam to a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle (5:03.50), followed by Tigers senior Keira Giles (5:07.19). Geiger was fourth for Greenwich (5:07.74) and teammate Olivia DeVries placed seventh (5:11.02). Cardinals junior Ainsley Sahrbeck was 10th (5:14.81).

**Photo by Brendan Heller:** Greenwich senior Sena Bozkurt (podium No. 2) shows off her medal after finishing in second place in the 100-yard butterfly event at the State Open Championships. To the left is Melissa Geiger of GHS, who placed in fifth place.

“I was super proud of my race,” Charette said. “I was so happy to be racing next to Melissa Geiger, she was racing in the lane right next to me. The whole race she pushed me and that’s what this team is about. We all push each other during practice and I thought it was a good race for both of us.”

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Ridgefield’s quartet of Ellen Griffin, Giles, Madeline Muncy and Ward combined for a winning time of 1:35.51, just three seconds off the state and State Open time their team set at the 2022 State Open. Bozkurt, Worden, Wales and Charette were second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:36.45).

“That 200 free relay comes together through pride and hard work,” Marchese noted.

**Photo by Brendan Heller:** Wesley Wales of Greenwich placed second in the 200-yard freestyle race at the State Open, held at Yale University on Nov. 17, 2024. Ava Ward of Ridgefield was the 200 freestyle champion.

Bozkurt finished third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.31. Archibald took the title, clocking in at 55.14.

“I was a little tired going into it, I was trying to get us as much points as possible, so I was glad I moved up a place,” Bozkurt noted.

Kozma took ninth in the 100 backstroke (59.55).

**Photo by David Fierro**: Sena Bozkurt of the Cardinals, a senior captain, had an excellent meet at the CIAC State Open.

McGerald of Ridgefield was the 100 breaststroke champion (1:05.43). David of Seymour was the runner-up (1:05.96) and Greenwich junior Isabel Guzman placed eighth in 1:07.41. Stehmann finished 17th (1:09.48).

“We were a really close team and we were all supporting each other every step of the way until the last stroke of the last relay and I think that was a win in my book,” Stehmann said. “I kept trying not to think that this was my last season, because I love this team so much, but I think that I’m leaving it in really good hands and I’m really happy that I got to be a captain. I’m really grateful to be on this team.”

Photo by David Fierro: Greenwich senior captain Emma Stehmann at the State Open Swimming Championships at Yale.

Ridgefield set a state/State Open record by winning the final event of the Open – the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:23.97. Archibald, Kelly, Ward and Giles swam the Tigers to victory.

“We always like to take pride in that 4×100 freestyle relay, so we know we are going to give it our all,” Marchese said. “We know that we are going to have someone to race and push us to get there. That group of girls are so competitive and they will make sure they finish on top.”

“I think that the chemistry of this team was a reason why they did so well,” Marchese added. “That started from the beginning of the year, they all meshed very easily. To say I’m proud is an understatement.”

Photo by David Fierro: Greenwich’s Ellison Charette helped pace the team to an impressive second place finish at the Open.

Greenwich left the State Open Championships knowing it gave an optimum effort.

“I’m super happy, this meet always has so much energy and such great swims,” GHS senior captain Garyn Finz said. “I think as a team we really surprised ourselves. It was a super fun season, it was my fourth year. I’m the fifth one in my family to go through this team. It’s a little sad and bittersweet being the end of an era. This team was so much fun, we were very successful, but we always have a lot of fun, so it was great.”

Photo by David Fierro: Wesley Wales of the GHS varsity girls swimming team had a standout meet at the CIAC State Open.

Wales, Worden, Charette and Geiger combined for a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay (3:33.18).

“We had a goal in the relays, which was to come in and have good relay exchanges and good finishes and we did just that,” said Bozkurt, who will continue her swimming career at Dartmouth. “I’m very happy with how that went.”

**Contributed photo**: Greenwich High School girls swimming coach Brendan Heller holds the runners-up trophy with his son Andrew at the conclusion of the CIAC State Open Championships at Yale University on Nov. 17, 2024.

“I thought it was a really close meet and a really good performance,” Charette said. “I was so proud of all of our relays. We were able to do a really good job and place really well. I was especially proud of our 4 free relay. We’re only juniors and sophomores, so we’ll all be back next year.”