MVRCS Eagles swimmers’ speed sweeps Minutemen and Blue Hills

  The Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (MVRCS) Eagles swimmers swept their meets last week, turning away both league rival Minuteman and perennial state contender Blue Hills.

  Opposite Minuteman, a balanced effort of both veteran swimmers and newcomers led to a great start to the season and a 92-65 victory. The Eagles came out very fast across the board to achieve 10 state or sectional cuts between relays and individual efforts. The team atmosphere was electric – due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first in-person dual meet in almost two years.

  Junior Jeremy Cheng led the way for all Mystic Swimmers, scoring two state cuts in individual events: the 100 butterfly and the 50 freestyle leading off the 200 freestyle relay. Cheng’s 100 butterfly was the second fastest in school history and one of the fastest times in the state so far this season. Junior Armando Indresano added an additional two state cuts in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Senior captain Deanna Guo chipped in with a sectional cut in the 200 individual medley (IM) and led two girls’ relays, the 200 Medley and 200 Freestyle relay, to state cuts. Sophomore Jason Yan contributed two additional first-place finishes for the Eagles: in the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

  “It was great to have the full meet experience again across the board. We are an exceptionally young team and being able to compete in person always leads to better times and excitement. The veterans on the squad are doing a phenomenal job guiding and mentoring our younger swimmers on the excellence expected in the Eagles varsity program. We could not ask for a better start to the varsity season,” Coach Andrew DiGiacomo said following the victory.

  The team then competed in its second meet against Blue Hills in Canton, coming away with a 95-57 victory. The Maroon & Gold dominated, achieving six new state cut times along with two sectional cut times in individual and relay events. The Eagles finished either first or second in every event, including going 1-2-3 in all relays.

  Cheng continued to lead the way for the MVRCS swimmers, scoring two more state cuts in individual events: 200 IM and 100 Backstroke. Indresano added his second-best time in the 50 freestyle, which qualified him for states. Guo continued to lead the girls with a sectional cut in the 100 freestyle. The girls 200 medley relay of freshman Lana Santos, eighth-grader Britney Nayiga, Guo and eighth-grader Lucia Antonucci posted a state cut time. Yan delivered with a state cut time in the 200 individual medley; this was his first-ever state cut and a Top 10 all-time Mystic Valley swim. The boys 200 freestyle relay team of Indresano, junior Ramy Elaafer, Yan and Cheng posted a state cut time and a sectional cut time in the 400 freestyle relay.

  The younger group of Eagles continue to shine: Eighth-grader Thomas Sodeyama-Cardoso scored a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle; fellow eighth-grader Dylan Phan came in second in the 100 freestyle. Nayiga touched in second place again in the 100 breaststroke, going a lifetime best and only .05 off her first-ever sectional cut.

  “It is always fun to travel down to Blue Hills and swim fast in a different atmosphere. The coaches made sure to challenge all of our swimmers to be ready from the very first race especially when you travel on a bus for 90 minutes. I cannot be more excited for the depth on this young team. From our seniors to eighth-graders they are all dialed in to contributing and supporting each other. You couldn’t ask for a better start to the season. Having this many state/sectional cuts this early in the season is unprecedented for the program and is a testament to the hard work these young men and women are putting in every day,” Coach DiGiacomo said.