Mary-Benham Nygren
Watertown senior Taylor Nygren swims freestyle for the new Alrington-Watertown girls swimming team.
The fledgling Arlington-Watertown girls swimming team got its first taste of success over the weekend when the team defeated Burlington 52-41 for its first dual meet win.
The team is a cooperative team and includes swimmers from both high schools, including six from Watertown. While Arlington has had a program for several years, this is Watertown’s first swim team.
Head coach Aldar Su said it took a little bit of adjustment, but the students from different schools have come together over the first few weeks.
“It took a couple of weeks for them to warm up to each other,” Su said. “That’s the nice thing with fall sports. We started Aug. 24, before school starts.”
Some of the girls knew each other from the Boys & Girls Club swimming competitions, Su said. The clubs also play a big part of the swim program. The team practices three days a week at the Watertown club and two at the Arlington club. Meets are held on Sundays at the Arlington pool.
The Watertown High School swimmers on the team are: Katherine Nilov (captain, senior), Taylor Nygren (senior), Li Ping Titterington (senior), Catherine Hickey (sophmore), Niamh Murphy (freshman) and Liana Rice (freshman). They join 12 athletes from Arlington.
The combined number bolsters the team’s competitiveness, Su said.
“We could run a meet with 12 swimmers and fill all the relays, but 12 is tough,” Su said. “Even 18 is a challenge.”
Mary-Benham Nygren
Watertown senior Kat Nilov, swimming butterfly, is a captain on the Arlington-Watertown co-op team, which recently won its first meet.
Before the schools joined together to form a co-op team Arlington had a co-ed team, with boys competing in meets along with the girls, Su said. Watertown and Alrington will also combine to form a co-op boys team in the winter season.
“It is good for the schools. Clearly there is a difference racing against the same gender,” Su said.
Su hopes to bring back some boys swimmers who have not competed at the high school level because fall swimming clashes with other sports, such as soccer.
The girls are competing against some tough competition in the Middlesex League, Su said. With the addition of Watertown, 10 of the 12 schools in the league have a girls swim team, he said. Arlington-Watertown has struggled to compete with some of their foes, but the team had a good meet against Burlington.
“Its always great to get a win, but more important we had a lot of improvement,” Su said. “Against Burlington we swam very well and improved times.”
Su said he encourages swimmers to swim against the clock and themselves. As they improve, they can then shoot for first or second in the race and score points for the team.
The team has a handful of dual meets left before the Middlesex League Meet on Nov. 1 and 2, followed by the sectionals and state meet.