2015 Girls championship trophy. Holding the hardware, from left: Sarah Chopko, Kate Murray, Grace McCaffery
In 2014, Bishop Ireton’s men’s team joined the women as northern Virginia’s Catholic school swim champions. In 2015, both teams solidified their hold on the titles with convincing wins in the event. Bishop O’Connell finished second to the Ireton girls, while Paul VI finished second to the Cardinal guys at the Freedom Fitness and Aquatic Center of the George Mason University Manassas campus.
Competing against schools such as Bishop Denis J. O’Connell , Paul VI, Saint John Paul the Great and others, the BI swimmers splashed their way to a first place for the second year running for the Men and the third year for the Women.
The Cardinal Women Divers Kate Wimbush and Kate Murray (both freshmen), kicked off the meet with 4th and 5th places in the one-meter event against three seniors from O’Connell, putting the first points on the scoreboard for Ireton.
Sophomore Anna Shumate broke two meet records with incredible swims in the 50 Free and the 100 breaststroke. The women’s 200 Medley relay team of sophomores Emma Klein and Anna Shumate, junior Anna Fracasso and senior Hayley Snell snagged first place in a breathtaking finish that was a National Catholic qualifying time. Emma Klein also grabbed first place in the 100 Fly with a powerful finish that was a VISSA qualifying time.
The Men’s Most Valuable Swimmer, as voted by all the coaches at the meet, was senior Ben Gorski, with first place swims in the 200 Free and 100 breaststroke as well as his role in the 200 Medley relay’s team first place result (with senior A.J. Salvatori, junior Michael Morrison and senior Ryan Scott, also a National Catholic qualifying time) and the 200 Free relay team’s second place finish (with sophomore Jermaine Thompson, senior Ryan Scott and senior Jimmy Grant, another National Catholic qualifying time).
Michael Morrison took a commanding first place in the 200 IM (and a National Catholic qualifier) and A.J. Salvatori landed a stunning first place in the 100 Back (another National Catholic qualifier).
Along with all these impressive swims was a supporting team of second through fourth team swimmers , all of whom contributed to the winning totals and team spirit at the invitational meet. Sportsmanship was also evident with Ireton swimmers cheering friends from other schools at the meet.
Final standings:
Boys Girls
BISHOP IRETON 299 BISHOP IRETON 275
Paul VI 221 Bishop O’Connell 218
Bishop O’Connell 213 Seton School 210
Seton School 154 St Gertrude 198
St John Paul Great 123 Paul VI 173
Benedictine 119 St John Paul Great 133
St Michael 90 Oakcrest 53
St Michael 34
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