The storied postseason history Greenwich High School’s boys swimming team/diving team has enjoyed for decades is always preceded by a successful regular season.

Winners of 10 consecutive State Open and Class LL team championships, the Cardinals have always entered the championship portion of their season with plenty of momentum after having an outstanding regular season.

That’s certainly the scenario once again this season, as Greenwich put the finishing touch on another undefeated regular season with a decisive 128-55 Senior Night win over Norwalk/McMahon, one of its toughest competitors, on Feb. 21. With the victory, Greenwich concluded its regular season a perfect 11-0 for legendary coach Terry Lowe. Ahead for the Cardinals is the FCIAC Championships, which they have finished first in the team standings 53 times the past 54 seasons.

The CIAC Class LL Championships follows the FCIAC finals, then it will be on to the State Open Championships for the Cardinals, who are accustomed to winning all three titles – the Triple Crown, as they describe it.

“As a team the goal is pretty much always the same – the triple crown – FCIAC, LLs and Opens,” Greenwich senior Luke Mendelsohn said of the Cardinals’ goals following the victory against Norwalk/McMahon.

“To get that triple crown that is the No. 1 goal,” GHS senior Hadden Wood added.

In the Cardinals’ Senior Night triumph against a Norwalk/McMahon team they tied last winter, they certainly looked like a team on a mission to complete an undefeated season and take valuable momentum into the postseason, championship meets.

“It’s a great boost leading to the end of the season,” Cardinals senior Calvin Donat said of the squad’s unbeaten record. “We are just looking to keep up the work. The way the season works, the end of the season is when we get our best times.”

Against Norwalk/McMahon, Greenwich showed its depth, winning nine of the 12 events, but also posting a number of all-important second and third place finishes. The meet began with Norwalk/McMahon’s Wyatt Vitiello, David Delong, Christian Sanchez and Noah Mora combining for a winning effort in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:43.13. Right behind them in second place was Greenwich’s quartet of Wim McCarthy, Colin Bucaria, Wood and Donat (1:43.52).

In the 200-yard freestyle, GHS freshman Noland Barrett raced to a first-place finish with a time of 1:47.42. Teammate Charles Koven, a junior, was second in 1:48.87 and Sebastian Camille of Norwalk-McMahon took third (1:49.19).

Mendelsohn touched the wall first for the Cardinals in the 200 individual medley, clocking in at 1:55.44. Norwalk/McMahon’s Vitiello finished second in 2:04.01 and Bucaria was third for GHS (2:04.59).

“Norwalk obviously has some of the best swimmers in the state, so it’s always good to have a nice competitive meet before the championship season,” Mendelsohn noted.

Cardinals senior Jake Melley was the 50-yard freestyle winner, registering a time of 22.30 seconds. Noah Barrett, also a GHS senior, was a close second in 22.50, followed by Delong from Norwalk/McMahon.

“We’ve been working hard, we had two double sessions over the break in February and this is a really good, dedicated group,” Melley said. “The team is ready for the postseason, we built up a nice base and we’re ready to see what we can do.”

On the 1-meter diving board, freshman Niko Kassaris was excellent with his execution nearly each of the six rounds. Kassaris, in his first season on the team, earned a winning score of 247.75 points. Freshmen teammates Matthew McFarlane and Reilly Anderson were second and third, respectively, in the diving event for the Cards.

Wood provided a winning effort in the 100 butterfly, recording a time of 54.16 seconds. Noah Barrett was second (54.47) Norwalk McMahon’s Christian Sanchez took third (54.63). GHS senior Matthew Rogliano finished fourth in the butterfly in 57.43.

“To be able to go undefeated, overcome all our challenges and have a victory on Senior Night meant a lot to me,” Wood said. “We saw so many great swims, so many best times. We knew we were going to be challenged, last year we tied them. I’m very proud of the team, they should all be proud.”

Melley earned top honors in the meet’s 100 freestyle race, registering a time of 48.44. Delong was the runner-up (49.92) and Camille took third (49.94).

“In the 100 free there were two nice guys next to me, that was a good race,” Melley said. “Any competitive meet we have is great and Norwalk is definitely one of our most competitive meets of the year. We were happy to have them on Senior Day.”

Noland Barrett gave GHS a second-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.16), which was won by Vitiello of Norwalk-McMahon (4:47.26). Mendelsohn, Melley, Noland Barrett and Noah Barrett teamed up for a first-place showing in the 200 freestyle relay (1:30.66).

Charles Koven, Luke Merrill, Donat and Wood were second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.03). McCarthy, a junior swam to a second-place finish for the Cards in the 100 backstroke (56.65), which was won by Norwalk/McMahon’s Sanchez. Cardinals sophomore Hunter Bodey took third in the 100 backstroke (58.58).

Mendelsohn was the 100 breaststroke winner in 1:01.38, while teammate Connor McMahon, a sophomore, was second (1:05.27).

Melley, Noland Barrett, Noah Barrett and Mendelsohn were victorious in the meet’s final race – the 400 freestyle relay – in 3:22.76.

“I’m very proud of the team, it’s very impressive that everyone has continued to put in the hard work day in and day out,” Mendelsohn noted. “That’s really what brings the team to where we want it to be at the end of the season. It’s all about the consistency, the dedication across the pool.”

Indeed, Greenwich has always been a squad of athletes that push each other to be their best.

“Within our own team is where we find our competitiveness and drive to make some best times,” Donat said.