The Nottingham Girls Swim Team celebrates in the pool after defeating Steinert for the first time this century. Photo by Michael A. Sabo

By Rich Fisher
Fish4Scores

Jan. 18: No one knew for sure, but everyone was positive it has been a long time.

“Not in my lifetime,” Nottingham girls swim coach Andrew Parsons said.

Well, actually it has been in his lifetime, but Parsons was a much younger man when it happened.

Parsons Northstars defeated Steinert for the first time this century today, taking a 94-76 victory in the Spartans pool. Former boys coach Dave Tees thinks the last Northstar girls coach to lead their team past Steinert was Kim Shinkle in the 1990s.

“It’s so amazing,” said junior Rachel Soto-Garcia, who won the 200 free in 2:19.41. “I never thought we’d actually do this. It’s been so many years and it took so much time and dedication for us to make it this far. To actually see it happen is incredible.”

Nottingham Girls Swim team’s Nikita Kouznetsova during the backstroke event against Steinert. Photo by Michael A. Sabo.

Nottingham was able to win thanks to its depth, as Steinert took seven of the 11 first-place finishes. Aside from Soto-Garcia, Nottingham got three wins from standout Nikita Kouznetsova. The senior won the 200 IM (2:18.23) and 100 back (1:01.37), and was also on the winning 200 medley relay with Paige Rocco, Brianna Radke and Emily Hubbard (2:13.28).

Asked if this had always been a goal of hers, Kouznetsova smiled and said, “No, I’ve just loved meeting people outside of school.”

But when it happened, she certainly felt the same joy as her teammates.

“I’m really proud of my team,” Kouznetsova said. “It’s really exciting. We all came together and worked hard toward it, it’s a great way to end the season.”

Soto-Garcia, who plays three sports for Nottingham, hasn’t experienced many wins against the Spartans in any of them. This one was special for her.

“When I thought we could win this I was so stoked,” she said. “I told myself when I was swimming ‘I gotta go hard because I know they’re not gonna let down. The second I let down, they’re gonna win.’”

She didn’t let down and they didn’t win, despite strong showings by several Spartans.

Hannah Devine was a four-time winner in the 500 freestyle (6:26.15), 100 breast (1:20.96) and the 200 and 400 free relays (1:59.71, 4:37.17). Woolf won three times in the 200 and 400 free relays and 100 freestyle (59.53) , while Cascone was also a triple winner in the 50 free (29.0) and the 200 and 400 relays.

Marissa “Daughter of Rocco” Shiarappa, continued to impress her sophomore year after not coming out as a freshman, as she won the 100 fly for Steinert (1:32.35). Allison Barsoum was in the 200 free relay and Andie Bedford swam the 400 free relay.

But Nottingham countered with points from Kylie McGuire, Hazel Cox, Allison D’Abronzo, Julianna Martinez, Hubbard, Samanta Bryk, Dasha Raywood, Valerie Cain, Soto-Garcia, Julianna Martinetti and Rocco, who all had top-4 finishes in individual events. The victory makes Nottingham the Queens of Hamilton Township this year as they defeated Hamilton in a close meet earlier this season.

The Northstars finished the regular season at 5-8 and the teams will now prepare for next week’s Mercer County meet.

Kouznetsova will definitely be a swimmer to watch during the weekend.

“I’m getting to do my sprint events this year,” she said. “I’m doing the 50 free and 100 back. I’m going to try and get the technique down and see how fast I can go.”

Steinert boys top Nottingham to finish with .500 record

Steinert’s Spencer Oliver backstrokes to victory against Nottingham. Photo by Michael A. Sabo

Steinert’s boys handled Nottingham, 127-42, to finish the year at 6-6.

“That shows that our team is full of fighters,” said junior Alan Sun, who had three firsts and a second against the Stars. “We came in this season after we lost a lot of seniors, so just being able to be on par with the record we had last year (7-5), it shows the integrity our boys have.”

Felipe Bargo led the Spartans, winning the 200 free (2:04.03) and 500 free (5:13.07) while swimming on the winning 200 free relay (1:41.08) and 400 free relay (3:45.35). Sun was on the winning 200 medley relay (1:54.23) and 200 free relay and claimed the 100 breast (1:09.42).

Other triple winners were Christian Devine (200 MR, 400 free relay, 200 IM in 2:15.41), Gavin Shin (50 free, 24.74, 200 free relay, 400 free relay) and Spencer Oliver (200 MR, 400 free relay, 100 back, 1:06.66). Dylan McGettigan swam in the 200 MR and 200 free relay, while Kyle Calamia took the 100 fly in 1:03.82.

Steve Wilfing won the 100 free for Nottingham in 55.03.

Sun and coach Jen Smith are both excited to see how the Spartans fare at MCTs.

“I think we’re gonna do fantastic,” Smith said. “All season long we’ve been dropping our times, so now we’re gonna start our taper. They should have a good showing at counties. I’m bringing the largest group I’ve brought to counties in a long time.”

“Our relay teams are really strong,” Sun added. “We’re hoping to go A final in all three of our relays. We’re really looking forward to it.”