Soaring to another memorable season.

That’s exactly what the Greenwich Cardinals varsity girls swimming/diving team is doing with the regular season just past its midway point.

The defending CIAC Class LL champion Cardinals are a perfect 5-0 in their 2025 campaign, their latest win coming on Oct. 7 against visiting FCIAC opponent Staples.

Showing its outstanding depth in each event, Greenwich earned a decisive 188-57 victory over visiting Staples for its fifth triumph of the season. This coming week is a significant one for Greenwich, which hosts defending FCIAC champion and conference rival Ridgefield High School on Wednesday (Oct. 15) and also holds a home meet against a strong Norwalk/McMahon team on Friday (Oct. 17).

The Cardinals’ meet against the Wreckers began with the hosts winning the 200-yard medley relay race. Sophomore Norah Eldredge, freshman Alden Charette, freshman Meredith McDermott and Siobhan McCauley, also a freshman, teamed up for a winning time of 2:01.98, giving the Cards eight points. Greenwich senior Lily Norton, freshman Elsa Wang, Maria Gomez (freshman) and Kim Florence (freshman) were second, combining for a time of 2:05.43.

In the 200-yard freestyle event, senior captain Wesley Wales gave Greenwich a first-place finish, touching the wall in 1:57.40. Junior Ellison Charette was the runner-up for the Cardinals in the 200 freestyle (1:57.75). Melissa Geiger, a senior captain, had the third-best time in the 200 freestyle, clocking in at 2:00.26. The 200 freestyle is one of the numerous events that sees the Cardinals possess depth.

“Coach told us that me, Melissa Geiger and Wesley Wales were going to be together,” Ellison Charette said of competing in the 200-yard freestyle. “We were all in three lanes next to each other, which is how it’s been in practice. Usually that makes us go faster and I think it really did. We had some really good performances.”

Alden Charette, Ellison’s younger sister, won the 200-yard individual medley race, registering a time of 2:16.96. Teammate Isadora Nassa, a junior, took third in 2:18.67. Alden Charette is also a diver during her first season with the Cardinals.

“It’s going great, it’s so much fun, being with all my teammates, they’re all so amazing,” Alden Charette said of her freshman season on the squad. “Diving definitely brings me closer to the team. I can be friends with the swimmers and the divers and it makes me feel I’ve bonded with everyone.”

Meredith McDermott, a freshman, was third in the 200 IM for GHS (2:25.48) and senior teammate Ainsley Sahrbeck had the fourth best time in the race (2:27.81). Sophomore Norah Eldredge took top honors in the meet in the 50 freestyle race, posting a time of 26.65 seconds. Wang was an extremely close second for GHS in 26.77 seconds and Staples sophomore Samantha Maldonado finished third (27.93). In the 100-yard butterfly competition, Ellison Charette earned a winning time of 1:00.94, while Alden Charette took second in 1:03.35. McCauley placed third (1:07.56).

“I just try to enjoy all my races, I like racing my teammates they’re amazing,” said Alden Charette, who also appreciates the opportunity of being on the same squad as her sister, Ellison. “She pushes me to become a better swimming. It’s so much fun being with her.”

The 100-yard freestyle saw Eldredge touch the wall first for Greenwich in 58.27 seconds. Senior captain Isabel Guzman had a second-place finish in the race for the Cardinals, clocking in at 1:03.35, while McCauley took third (1:07.56).

Sophomore Olivia DeVries won the 500 freestyle race for the Cards in an impressive time of 5:19.18. Finishing in second place was Cardinals teammate Julia Kozma, a junior, who registered a time of 5:22.92. Junior Carly Waldman of Staples was third (5:26.81). Junior Kensington Worden, sophomore Ava Mendelsohn, junior Ava Burnstine and sophomore Schuyler Pennings combined for a winning finish of 1:53.77 in the 200 freestyle relay. Staples placed second in the relay race (1:56.00).

Geiger, who also captains the Cardinals, finished first in the 100 backstroke, posting a sparkling time of 1:03.36. Wales, a captain as well, placed second in 1:05.09 and freshman teammate Meredith McDermott took third (1:06.23). Wang had the meet’s top time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:13.99).

Greenwich went exhibition in the 400 freestyle relay (as it did in the 100 breaststroke) and Guzman, Nassa, Geiger and Alden Charette combined for the meet’s fastest time in the race (4:22.66).

“The relays are looking great, there are so many different people we can put in the relays and no matter what, it’s still strong,” Guzman noted. “Our relays are pretty tough.”

Indeed, is well represented in every event it competes in in each meet.

“I think we did a really great job as a team, there was a lot of energy, a lot of cheering and I think that’s what’s important,” said Sahrbeck, also a team captain. “We try to feed off each other’s energy and it showed.”

“I think we have a ton of really good returners and a ton of new freshmen who are really good and contributing to the team,” Sahrbeck continued. “I feel like when championships come, we are going to have a lot of top times.”

Prior to defeating Staples, Greenwich topped New Canaan at home on Sept. 30, 119-62. The Cards’ contest versus Ridgefield on Oct. 15 is scheduled to begin at 4 p,m., as is their meet against Norwalk on Oct. 17.

“New Canaan was a good meet, we were excited for that one,” Ellison Charette noted. “That one was going to be one of our tougher meets. We had to come together and work hard and I think we did that.

“I’m really happy with how we’ve been doing and I’m confident for the rest of the season,” Ellison Charette continued. “Everybody has been working so hard. We have a really good group of freshmen, we have a really good returning class, so I’m really excited for how the rest of the season is going to go and I’m really confident in our abilities. I think diving is going to be a huge part of our next meet, the Ridgefield meet. I think our divers are really going to really going to come in handy, so I’m really excited to see how they do.”