At this year’s Girls Varsity Swim State Championships, Orchard Park’s Chloe Boebel came in 10th in the 100 backstroke. The 200 Freestyle Relay team of Kelsey Duff, Lizzie Carducci, Mara Johnson, and Chloe, came in 24th. The GVS State Championships took place on November 21st for the preliminary session and on the 22nd for finals. The Orchard Park team competed at the Webster Aquatic Center in Webster, NY.
Four swimmers on the girls’ varsity swim team qualified for the State Championship after their impressive performance at the State Qualifier meet on Thursday, November 6.
Leading off the relay was sophomore Kelsey Duff, followed by sophomore Lizzie Carducci, then senior Mara Johnson, and the anchor, junior Chloe Boebol. These four girls combined for the state-qualifying time in the event, securing their place among some of the top swimmers in the State. The team’s relay time of 1:40.93 marked a season best and reflected the months of training the ladies put in.
“The training and preparation put into trying to [make] the States cut has been tough, but it makes it a lot easier knowing we are doing it together,” said sophomore Lizzie Carducci.
The relay lineup was one of the team’s strongest this season, with each swimmer contributing standout individual performances in their leg of the relay. Particularly, the anchor of the State relay, Chloe Boebel, who split an amazing 24.01 seconds. Boebel is also the only swimmer on the team who qualified for an individual event, the 100 backstroke, with a time of 59.01 seconds at the State Qualifier. Their success at the State Qualifier was the culmination of weeks of tough training and strategic preparation.
“The team has worked so hard this season to qualify for States. I know that the relay especially put in 100% effort because they knew that they only had one more chance to qualify. I’m so proud of myself and the other legs of the 200 free relay for making it as far as we did,” said Boebel.
The team is now training and preparing to get ready for the state meet, focusing on improving relay exchanges and holding speed in their final laps.
“Practicing with these girls is the best part of my day. We push each other to become better and have fun while doing it” said sophomore Kelsey Duff.
