Kelly Kilgallen and Julianna Busseno will be joining their teammate Paige Bertuch at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Section 2 swimming and diving championships in November. Both qualified during the Lady Rams meet with Queensbury, won by the Lady Spartans 90-74 Tuesday afternoon at the Lynch Literacy Academy pool.
“We’re very excited for them,” Amsterdam coach Nancy Spagnola said. “Both of their times were good. They made sectionals so early and now have a chance to improve their times.”
Kilgallen posted a time of 1:09.70 in the 100 yard freestyle taking third in the event. Busseno put up a time of 1:23.57 in the 100 yard butterfly also good for a third place finish. Kilgallen and Busseno joined AHS team captain Paige Bertuch as part of the Lady Rams contingent headed to sectionals.
“That’s awesome,” Bertuch said. “I think we can get a lot more girls to sectionals. We’re looking to get more than last year, and also having people qualify for more than one event.”
Amsterdam got first place finishes from Bertuch in the 100 yard backstroke (1:21.88), and Anastacia Montalvo in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:38.66). The 200 freestyle relay team of Montalvo, Kigallen, Olivia Brahler, and Bella Porter (2:11.40) also placed first as did the 400 freestyle relay team of Bertuch, Busseno, Amelia Barkevich, and Liz Banewicz.
Earning second place for the Lady Rams was Busseno in the 500 yard freestyle (7:12.34), Sheridan Gowan in the 100 yard backstroke (1:45.00), and Brahler in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:39.25). Also placing third for Amsterdam was Bertuch in the 200 yard individual medley (2:54.97), Kilgallen in the 50 yard freestyle (31.83), Katie Hemsley in the 100 backstroke (2:18.96), Porter in the 500 freestyle (7:52.36), and Barkevich in the 100 breaststroke (1:47.39).
Taking fourth place for Amsterdam was Porter in the 200 yard freestyle (2:54.77), Azia Aldi in the 50 yard freestyle (31.84 seconds), Brahler in the 100 butterfly (1:32.94), and the 200 medley relay team of Montalvo, Bertuch, Busseno, and Aldi (2:27.45).
“We may not be able to compete size-wise,” Amsterdam coach Marisha Gennett said. “But the fact that their swimmers push our swimmers to improve our times helps.”
Many of the girls on the Amsterdam swimming and diving team participate in other activities during the fall sports season, some in other sports. The girls put in the effort to get in the pool, work on their skills, and improve their times. Managing time is important.
“For a lot of them it’s just getting time in the water,” Coach Gennett said. “They compete for us, but have other activities and sports. Pool time is important. We have to build up their times.”
Queensbury got first place efforts from Rachel Palmer, Brooke Edwards, Natalie Glumarra, Elizabeth Simmes, Genevieve Coutant, and Kayla Keddy in individual events, and picked up wins in the 200 medley relay, and with Megan Cook in an impressive diving performance (249.80 points). Queensbury entered exhibition swimmers in the last four events.
