Sports: Frosh Quartet Crush Record as Belmont Boys’ Swimming Begins Season

December 23, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: New Belmont record holders in the freshman 4×400: Sam Thompson, Damien Autissier, Luke Moore-Frederick and Ricky Ye.

In only their second competition as members of Belmont High School Boys Swim Team, a quartet of freshmen has already left its mark on the program.

Sam Thompson, Damien Autissier, Luke Moore-Frederick and Ricky Ye set a new 4×400-yard freestyle relay record of 3 minutes, 56 seconds in the team’s Dec. 18 meet at Lexington High School, chopping nine seconds off the old record (set 20 years ago in 1995) while breaking the four-minute barrier.

“Although they’re only underclassman, the team has high hopes and big expectations for its newest swimmers in the weeks ahead,” said Belmont High Boys’ Swim Head Coach Bobby Reardon, pointing to the many new and talented athletes who have joined the program this season.

In the first two meets of the year against Needham (69-103) and Lexington (73-92), the Marauders’ young swimmers were a bit over their heads against more experienced competition.

Already a few swimmers have placed themselves as those athletes who will be swimming well into the post season. Thompson qualified for states in the 200 (1:56.0) and 500 (5:18.09) yard frees winning both events against Lexington and Needham as fellow 9th grader Autissier finished second in the 500 (5:44.1) against Lexington.

Another Marauder touching first was Antony Bulat (1:12.11) in the 100 breaststroke with Ye in second (1:12.93) less than a second behind vs. Needham.

Owen Luo took second in the 50 yards free (24.65) and Luc Durand also picked up a second in the 100 butterfly (1:02: ) against the Rockets while Will Findlay took second in the 100 free going under a minute (55.05 vs. Needham) and then lowered his seasonal best to 54:81 against Lexington.

Taking a break from competition for the holidays, the squad is back in action Jan. 5 against Haverhill High School.

Sports: Belmont Girls’ Basketball Goes 3 for 3 with 54-42 Win over Wilmington

December 22, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Senior Samari Winklaar at the free-throw line vs. Wilmington.

Belmont High Girls Basketball senior forward Samari Winklaar is not just a double threat; a defensive stalwart and one of the toughest forwards on the court. She is a triple talent: this young lady can sing!

Those in the stands during the opening announcements heard Winklaar give a soulful, emotional rendition of the National Anthem that would have knocked your socks off if you weren’t wearing shoes.

Winklaar then joined her fellow starters onto the court and played a big role in Belmont’s victory at its home opener, defeating Wilmington High School Wildcats, 54-42, on Monday, Dec. 21 at the “Wenner.”

Winklaar’s 13 points including a pair of baskets in the third quarter allowed the Marauders keep a double-digit lead through the second half for its first game in which Belmont did not see an offensive dip that occurred in the first two games. Its point production – 13, 15, 14 and 12 in each subsequent quarter – allowed Belmont Head Coach Melissa Hart to include many players from her large bench which reach 17.

The Wilmington game also was the return of last season’s suffocating full-court defense that Belmont used to great effect in 2015’s playoff run. The result of the night’s pressure was that Wilmington did not have a player in double figures in points.

For the third consecutive game, sophomore point guard Carly Christofori quarterbacked the offense with her passing and her signature slashing move towards the basket resulting in 16 points. Her final six points – all in the final eight minutes – came from the free throw line, reminiscent of Christofori’s performance in last year’s sectional quarterfinals against Bedford.

Overall, Belmont went 19 for 23 from the charity stripe, an atypical result from a team that has at times struggled from the line.

Working hard at both ends of the court included senior co-captain forward/center Sarah Stewart with 9 points (7 in the first half) while matched up with Wilmington’s taller centers and freshman Megan Tan who took on the quickest Wildcat guards while contributing four points.

Due to fouls on the starters, Hart gave Belmont fans a glimpse of the future as she sent out Marauders tallest players, junior Margaux d’Arbeloff (6′) and freshman Jess Giorgio (6’1″).

Sports: Belmont Boys’ Basketball Cruise to 4-0 Defeating Wilmington, 89-50

December 22, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Cole Bartels (center) heading up court on the break against Wilmington.

If senior co-captain Cole Bartels hadn’t committed to pitch for Division 1 Penn State, said Belmont High School Head Coach Adam Pritchard, “there would be a few colleges looking at him.”

Pritchard’s praise for the 6’2″ shooting guard came after Bartels scored 16 points in the first eight minutes of the home opener before finishing with a game high 24 points to lead an up-tempo Marauder squad over visiting Wilmington High, 89-50, on Monday, Dec. 21 at the Wenner.

In the first varsity basketball game on the newly installed court, Bartels stroked six three-point baskets in the first half, threatening the school record of nine threes in a game. His 22 first half points led Belmont (4-0) to a 25-9 first quarter advantage that soon extended to a 56-25 halftime lead over the winless Wildcats (0-3).

Belmont High senior guard Damian Bitsikas (#10) and Deron Hamparian (#11) heading up court against Wilmington,

“We’ve played well in the past three games. And while it’s easy to dismiss a good start because of the records of the teams we’ve played, it’s because [the team] has bought into this type of basketball,” said Pritchard whose team is coming off a solid win, 72-56, over Boston English High School this weekend.

Belmont quickness and height advantage coupled with Wilmington’s less than stellar shooting percentage allowed the Marauders to run and hide with the big lead.

Senior point guard Matt Kerans (13 points with three threes) controlled the tempo, Dylan Ferdinand came off the bench for some big points in the paint (6 of his 7 points came in the second quarter) while big men senior forwards, Justin Wagner (9 points) and Joe Shaughnessy (2 points), controlled the boards on both ends of the dark blue and stone gray court.

With a big lead in the second half, Pritchard gave his role players extended minutes on the court.

Senior guard Damian Bitsikas hit for double digits (11 points) with a trio of threes, backcourt mate Deron Hamparian tossed in a deuce of treys finishing with 9 points while football players senior center Lowell Haska (2 points) drained a brace of free throws while junior guard Ben Jones (2 points) connected with a jumper. And finally, junior guard Nick Volante knocked down a shot.

Next up for the Marauders is a visit with the SpyPonders of Arlington High on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. before fighting a gauntlet of three physical and tough teams beginning with Everett over the winter recess.

“We’ll find out what we are made of,” said Pritchard.

Sports: Seniors Pull Belmont Girls Basketball Team to Opener Win at Melrose

December 17, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Senior co-captain Samari Winklaar going in for a lay up vs. Melrose.

Belmont High Girls’ Basketball is a young, energetic team filled with talented underclassmen led by a sophomore point guard, Carly Christofori, who can seemingly pull a rabbit out of the hat when needed to spark the team.

But when the squad found itself floundering against a scrappy Melrose team on opening night, it was a trio of seniors – each co-captains – who pushed the Marauders across the finish line as Belmont won its 2015-6 season opener, 61-54, over the Lady Raiders on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

For the aforementioned Sarah Stewart (11 points), Irini Nikolaidis (6 points) and Samari Winklaar (5 points), it was a bit of a “did that, done that,” approach from the veterans of last year’s deep playoff run as they worked with Christofori to grab the victory that only six minutes previous looked in doubt.

“A win’s a win especially now since [games are] never pretty early in the year,” said Belmont’s Head Coach Melissa Hart.

Belmont opened the game on the front foot with Stewart anchoring the defense as the sophomore backcourt duo of Christofori and Jenny Call (10 points including a pair of 3s in the first half) managed the offense, feeding Stewart (11 points) and her replacement junior Reagan Haight (first 2 varsity points) who had a height advantage over Melrose’s forwards. Fellow sophomore forward Greta Propp (9 points) converted a steal and a jumper while Nikolaidis and Winklaar were playing both ends of the court. The result, a 6 point lead at the end of the first eight minutes.

The second quarter was a bit ragged for both sets of players – missed free throws for Melrose, fouls on Belmont – with a Call three giving the Marauders its biggest lead at 13 (29-16) with three minutes in the half before leaving the court with a nine point (31-22) half-time advantage.

But all the hard work nearly went for naught as Belmont was hit by a regenerated Red Raider squad – depleated to eight players after an injury – which used its physicality and an aggressive press to throw the Marauders completely off its stride and complete a 10-1 run to tie the score at 32 with three and a half minutes remaining in the third.

The score see-sawed into the fourth quarter until Melrose’s star guard and captain Sarah Foote hit a three with exactly six minutes to go in the game to give the Raiders its biggest margin of the night, 41-38.

“Melrose is good, they are going to do OK because they have some great shooters,” said Hart.

In came the seniors which helped cool Melrose momentum as Stewart’s height advantage stopped the Raiders getting more than one shot at the basket while Winklaar threw in an offensive rebound and hit the resulting foul shot to give Belmont a five point lead at 48-43.

On the defensive side, the seniors were joined by freshman Megan Tan whose outstanding speed and positioning gives some thought of her being a future designated “stopper,” placed in the face to the opponant’s best player.

Nikolaidis downed one of two free throws (all six of her points came from the charity stripe) after a Christofori (who finished the game with a team high 17 points) driving hoop to up the lead to a comfortable nine, 53-44, with 2:47 left.

“It was good to have this one out of the way. A lot of nerves when we were pressed. Friday is the next challenge,” said Hart, as Belmont prepares for Stoneham away on Friday. The first home game is Monday at 7 p.m. at the Wenner vs. Wilmington.

Sports: Boys’ Basketball Takes Opener Defeating Melrose, 66-58

December 16, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Cole Bartels fouled vs. Melrose.

Belmont High Boys’ Basketball went “small” in the second half to shrug off a sluggish first half to win going away, 66-58, over a game Melrose squad in the 2015-16 season opener on the road.

“We have an advantage of being able to change our lineup when the circumstance arises,” said Belmont’s long-time head coach Adam Pritchard, who spoke highly of “the juniors who stepped up” during the third quarter when Belmont’s defense held a quick Red Raider team to eight points.

Belmont was led by its senior all-star backcourt of co-captains Cole Bartels (20 points) and pre-season Middlesex League all-star point guard Matt Kerans (16 points) who threw in three threes (his only baskets of the game) to stem a Melrose surge that saw Belmont at one point trail by five (25-20) midway through the second quarter.

Belmont came out the gates strong with big men senior Luke Peterson (6 of his 8 points in the first quarter) and co-captain Justin Wagner (8 points) who put in a banked three (!) and a hoop early to lead the Marauders to an 18-13 lead at the end of the first.

At the start of the second half, (Belmont held a 37-34 lead at the half) the Marauders substituted to what at times appeared to be a four guards and one forward formation to counter the speedy home team. And Pritchard’s gamble paid off as Belmont’s perimeter defense forced the Red Raiders to take shots from distance that, turned out, was not their forte.

On offense, the inclusion of sophomore Tomas Donoyan (4 points) and three juniors; Dylan Ferdinand, Bryan Goodwin (his four points on 2-2 shooting were the only baskets for the Marauders in the final quarter) and Paul Ramsey (6 points), opened the court for Bartels who stroked a pair of threes to end the quarter with nine points as the Marauders outscored the Raiders 14-8 to grab a nine-point lead (51-42).

While the hosts cut the lead to two possessions at 62-56, there only remained half-a-minute on the clock, with Belmont feasting on the charity stripe in the final eight minutes as Bartels went 4-4 and Kerans 6-6 from the line.

Next up for Belmont is a road match at Stoneham on Friday before the home opener at the Wenner (on the new court) on Monday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. vs. Wilmington.

Belmont Swimming, Field Hockey Standouts Honored as Globe All-Scholastics

December 14, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Jessie Blake-West (left), Nicoletta Kalavantis and AnnMarie Habelow, Belmont High School Boston Globe All-Scholastic fall 2015.

Three Belmont High School student-athletes were named Boston Globe All-Scholastics, which recognizes the best participants in each sport during the recently completed 2015 fall season, with one earning the prestigious title of Swimmer of the Year.

Senior Jessica Blake-West was named the Division 2’s top swimmer after winning three state championships (100-yard butterfly, 50-yard freestyle, and 400 free relays) in the State Finals in November. She topped her high school career with a meet-record time of 54.66 in the butterfly – in which she is a three-time state champion – in a time that earned her an automatic National High School All-American status. Blake-West will matriculate and swim at Brown next season.

Joining Blake-West as a swimming All-Scholastic is freshman Nicoletta Kalavantis, who like her teammate won a pair of individual events – the 200 free (1:58.91) and 500 free (5:17.97) – and joined Blake-West in winning the 400 free relay title.

Blake-West and Kalavantis were Middlesex League All-Stars as were Julia Bozkurtian, Sophie Butte, Thea Kelsey, Dervla Moore-Frederick, Sara Noorouzi and Emily Quinn.

The third Belmont High All-Scholastic is junior field hockey player AnnMarie Habelow. The MVP of the Middlesex League’s Liberty Division, “Habelow scored 22 goals and added 11 assists, running her career total to 83 points through three years. She also plays lacrosse and has committed to play field hockey at Louisville,” wrote the Globe in its write-up.

Belmont’s Middlesex Field Hockey All-Stars includes Habelow, Julia Chase, Kerri Lynch, and Serena Nally.

Joining the swimmer and field hockey players as Middlesex League All-Stars include:

Leah Brams and Sara Naumann for Girls’ Cross Country.
Faye Reagan in Volleyball.
Bob Malcolm and Michael Pergarm for Golf.
Girls’ Soccer’s Carey Allard, Kristin Gay, Katrina Rokosz.
Boys’ Soccer’s Edward Stafford.
Belmont Football is represented by senior running back Mekhai Johnson, who ended his senior year with 22 touchdowns and scoring a total of 136 points.

The All-Scholastic teams are selected by the school sports staff. Selection is limited to MIAA schools that compete in Eastern Mass leagues.

School Committee OK’s Land Survey for Possible Rink/Rec Center

December 2, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: The varsity softball field.

The promise of a new ice skating rink and multi-purpose recreation center serving Belmont’s residents and sports teams took a baby step forward as the Belmont School Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday, Dec. 1 to allow a survey of school-owned property near Belmont High School by the non-profit seeking to build the facility.

The decision gives permission for the Belmont Youth Hockey Association to hire a firm to perform evaluation work on school property currently occupied by the Belmont High Varsity Softball field to determine if the surface is suitable for the construction of a recreation center and ice surface.

“It’s a small step forward, but it is forward,” said Bob Mulroy, who has become the association’s point person for the project, that would include an NHL-sized skating rink, a second “half” skating surface that transforms into a field house for half the year, modern locker rooms, a community fitness center, and many more amenities.

According to Belmont School Superintendent John Phelan, the land survey will allow the association to return to the committee with a more detailed and concrete feasibility study.

The $6.5 million complex – which would include off-street, on-site parking – would be overseen by a non-profit public/private partnership that would incorporate a wide array of town departments, the school committee, youth hockey and funders on the board.

In exchange for the land to build the center, Belmont schools, and high school teams will have use of the facilities at no cost.

Sports: Upset-Minded Belmont Football Falls to Final Minute Watertown FG, 24-22

November 27, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont RB Ben Jones runs through a wide opening in the line to score late in the fourth quarter against Watertown.

In what will be remembered as an epic Thanksgiving Day clash, Belmont’s bid for a memorable upset of arch rivals and host Watertown was derailed by the foot of sophomore Conor Kennelly as the Raiders’ kicker hit a field goal from 35 yards out with 56 seconds remaining to give Watertown a 24-22 victory over the Mauraders on Thursday, Nov. 26 at Victory Field.

“We played a great football game, all aspects of it. Our coaches did a tremendous job, planning it up for them. I was really proud of the effort we put forth in this game,” said Belmont Head Coach Yann Kuman, who fought off his emotions to reach out to his players.

“I hope that we sent a message to people in general that Belmont football is on the rise and Belmont football is here to stay. Get ready for us because we’re going to lick our wounds and in a month we will be back in the weight room getting ready for 2016,” said Kuman.

Calling his team’s performance Thursday, “the season’s most complete game from both sides of ball,” Kuman said the players and coaches stayed with the plans mapped out in the past two weeks in preparation for Watertown’s rushing attack and strong defensive line

“We stuck with [our plan] even though we had some execution problems in the first quarter of defense, we didn’t abandon what we practiced and prepared for,” Kuman said.

But for the fourth time in time this season, Belmont could not find a way to score or hold the lead at the end of the game.

“We have to be like the experience teams and know how to close out a game,” said Kuman.

One of Belmont’s season-long bugaboos raised its head once again as Watertown quickly marched down the field – aided by four offsides penalties against the Marauders – towards a go-ahead score. But Belmont’s interior defensive line spearheaded by senior Justin Aroyan and stopped Watertown’s running game inside the 5-yard line.

“The guys did a lot of work this week, and the coaches put in a lot of hours on the grease board and we came up with a good package,” said Kuman.

“We had faith in the guys in doing the job, and they did it,” he said.,

On his first passing attempt, Watertown junior QB Deon Smith threw the ball into the arms of junior Marauder defensive back Kevin Martin in the end zone at 4:43 in the first quarter.

After gaining a first down, Belmont’s drive stalled and on the subsequent punt attempt, the ball sailed over punter Aidan Cadogan’s head. When all was said and done, Watertown had the ball on the Marauders’ 19 when on their first play, Watertown’s Smith juked down the right side 19 yards for the opening touchdown with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.

After the kickoff, Belmont kept the ball for nearly eight minutes, mixing short runs by senior Mehki Johnson – which Watertown successfully bottled up for most of the game – and junior Ben Jones and passing by junior QB Cal Christofori to senior WR Justin Wagner (including a six-yard pickup on fourth down and four yards at the 18 yard line) culminating in Christofori finding senior WR Joe Shaughnessy on a seven-yard slant for the game-tying touchdown at 4:07 to the half.

Watertown quickly went downfield – helped by a Smith 30-yard run – finishing with senior running back Kyle Foley scoring on a 7-yard run with 41 seconds left.

But that was enough time for Christofori to complete three passes and for Johnson to break a 30 yard gain that allowed Cadogan to hit a line-drive field goal with three seconds remaining to cut the halftime lead to 14-10.

Watertown caught a break when the third quarter pooch kickoff eluded Belmont’s return team, and the Raiders recovered the ball on the Belmont 22. A few plays later, the score was 21-10 as Foley ran the ball in from 2 yards out early in the third.

But Belmont would not fold, coming out with a masterpiece of a drive,a 19 play, 11-minute possession (including a 15-yard roughing the passing personal foul on the Raiders) in which Belmont, behind the ever-improving offensive line – sophomores Dennis Crowley and Ryan Noone along with seniors Chris Piccione, Lowell Haska and Aroyan – and the bruising blocking from sophomore fullback Adam Deese saw Jones and Johnson eat up yards while Christofori connected with his favorite target Wagner.

The Marauders took the ball 81 yards where Johnson busted through for his 22nd touchdown of the season to shrink the lead to 21-16 with 9-minutes remaining. While it appeared Johnson had scored on the two-point conversion, the referees said the Belmont runner’s knee had first hit the ground.

A good kickoff return by Watertown was negated by a 15-yard personal foul penalty, and Belmont’s defense stuffed the Raiders on three consecutive plays. On fourth down, Wagner used his basketball reach to block the Watertown punt, and Belmont recovered the ball on the Raiders 10-yard line. Two plays later, Jones scored on a 4-yard run with 6:05 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving Belmont a 22-21 lead after missing the two-point conversion.

Watertown had the ball on the Belmont 45 and nearly lost the ball on a fumble and a near interception. On fourth down and 4 yards at the 38, Smith’s pass was a poor one, and Belmont took over on downs with 3:56 to play and up by a point.

A Christofori sprint pass to Wagner and Deese run gave Belmont a first and ten at its 48-yard line with 2:56 remaining. It appeared Belmont had sealed the upset when Johnson sprinted to the Raiders 20-yard line with 2:39 left, but the Marauders were penalized for holding. Belmont punted with 1:39 left giving the Raiders the ball on its 19.

Some hard running by Smith and a timely pass to senior Tyler Poulin coupled with two near interceptions by Belmont where Watertown receivers had to play “defense” gave Kennelly the opportunity to play the hero of the day.

Watertown now leads the yearly contest 46-43-5.

Players and coaches were resolute in defeat, showing their disappointment but also congratulating each other for the season they completed.

“The big statement of this game would have been winning it. But we’re proud of what we accomplished. This was a program with one win in two seasons, and now we’ve won seven in two [years] and competitive in all but two games this season,” Kuman said.

“The only emotion I have right now is pride. I’m proud how the kids played this year, how the coaches led the players. We’re proud where we are and really proud of what we did,” he said.

Sports: Nally Steals Show at All-Star Showcase

November 24, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Serena Nally at the “Best of 60” all-star game.

Belmont High School senior Serena Nally stole the show at an all-star game for the best field hockey players in Massachusetts on Sunday.

A co-captain on Belmont’s 16-3 team, Nally scored two goals and handed out an assist as the North team defeated the squad from central Massachusetts, 4 to 1, at the “Best of 60 Senior All-Star Game” held Sunday, Nov. 22 at Bentley College.

Nally is only the second Belmont High player to have been selected for the showcase game sponsored by the Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association, joining Becca Moore, who went on to play four years at Bentley.

Sports: Despite Blake-West, Kalavantis Double Firsts, Belmont Second Again in Swimming Championships

November 22, 2015 By Franklin B. Tucker 1 Comment

Photo: Belmont High’s Swimming and Diving with their Finalist Trophy.

Despite winning five events from a veteran superstar and a young phenom, Belmont High School Girls’ Swimming and Diving team could not match the depth of Bishop Feehan High School of Attleboro as the Marauders finished second behind the Shamrocks for the third consecutive year at the MIAA Division 2 Swimming and Diving Championships held at Harvard’s Blodgett Pool on Sunday, Nov. 22.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these girls and how they swam,” said Ev Crosscup, Belmont’s long-time coach at the end of the meet.

“Give all credit to Bishop Feehan, they have excellent swimmers and great coaches. I take the blame for not having the girls ready for this meet. I thought we could get some of the same times as in the sectionals but, I can’t think of it right now how we could have prepared any better than we did,” said Crosscup.

Belmont’s 293 points total tops last year’s 239 points and the team’s previous high of 287.5 points in 2013. Bishop Feehan’s 21 point margin of victory, 314 to 293, is half the difference of 2014. It is the second time Belmont has finished second for three consecutive years, the first time in 1984-6, behind Acton-Boxborough.

“We had to swim an almost historic meet to win,” said Assistant Coach Gretchen Turner. “We just missed it.”

While Belmont topped Bishop Feehan in overall event victories, five to one (the Shamrock’s only win was senior Hannah Phelan narrow victory in 1-meter diving), Feehan’s overall strength were swimmers who scored high in each event – coming in third six times and second once with two swimmers scoring in the top 10 several times – while Belmont and Reading, which finished third, did not score or only garnered a few points in a handful of events.

But this year’s meet will be known for the performance of two Belmont swimmers; senior powerhouse talent Jessie Blake-West and freshman sensation Nicole Kalavantis.

The most versatile and complete athlete seen in Division 2 in years, Blake-West stole the show with a pair of memorable victories in her final high school meet.

Blake-West’s most impressive performance was her solo swim in the 100-yard butterfly, where she was the two-time defending champion, winning in a season’s best 54.66 seconds, destroying the previous meet record by nearly two seconds and solidifying her automatic National Scholastic All-American status, the only swimmer who came close to that honor at the event.

“It’s a challenge when you’re out-in-front, and you have to race the clock and yourself rather than people next to you,” said Blake West.

“But it’s a lesson that I’ve learned throughout all my [state championship] races and I’ve definitely learned to race myself. So it was great, I definitely going for my own record from last year and I got it! I’m really happy with that,” she said.

What made Blake-West’s accomplishment even more impressive is it came less than 30 minutes after the state’s most dominant swimmer took apart a veteran field to win the 50-yard freestyle sprint in 23.85 seconds, defeating season leader Lily Gribbel of Wellesley by .40 seconds. Blake-West, who is expected to attend and swim for Brown next year, declined to defend her 200 Individual Medley title in a strategic move to allow her to have something left in the tank for a possible deciding final relay.

Championship Sunday was also the coming out party for potentially Belmont’s next great swimmer. Kalavantis took her first title in dramatic fashion, storming from behind in the final 50 yards to shot by the leader, Central Catholic’s Kylee Dion, to win by two lengths, dipping under two minutes with a 1 minute, 58.91-second mark.

“I was seeded first and I knew I was really far behind so I said, ‘I got to win this for Belmont so I kinda like sprinted and I won,” said Kalavantis.

If her first victory was close, Kalavantis’ second, the 500-yard freestyle marathon, was a runaway as the 9th grader left fellow freshman standout Molly Williams of Melrose after 100 yards and put together a command performance as she took the title in 5:17.97, just off her season’s best of 5:16.45 set last week at the North Sectionals.

“It was really exciting, I was a thrill,” said Kalavantis of her duel victories.

Belmont started the meet behind the eight-ball after the first event when Reading defeated the defending champions Marauders, 1:51.76 to 1:52.04, with seniors Emily Quinn (breaststroke) and Blake-West – both were seeking to be on the victorious relay for the third time – could not bridge the gap and provide enough of a lead to allow Belmont to take the title. Coming in second saw Belmont give up six valuable points.

In the 100 breaststroke, co-captain Quinn broke 1:10 (1:09.57) to finish third behind freshman Olivia Mozoki from Marshfield, who was the only other winner of two individual events, going along with the 200 IM. Quinn was joined by junior Dervla Moore-Frederick, who took sixth (12 points) in 1:12.17 and freshman Angela Li in 13th (4 points) in 1:14.12. Sophomore Caroline Daskalakis rounded out the field in 21st.

While giving back a bit of time from sectionals, Belmont’s swimmers took the challenge and swam with a lot of guts as they faced a steep climb against two talented teams (Reading defeated Belmont at Higgenbottom Pool last month).

Freshman Sophie Butte swam backstroke in the medley relay, scored 7 points each time finishing 10th in both the 50 and 100 yards free (25.89 and 56.78). Sophomore Julia Bozkurtian also swam on the medley relay and finished 16th in the 50 yard free.

Senior captain Sara Noorouzi and Elizabeth Levy scored in the 200 free in 13th and 14th while Moore-Frederick took 9th in the 200 IM in 2:20.80 with Li in 14th (2:24.36) in the same event. Quinn took a 13th in the butterfly (1:03.51).

Joining Kalavantis in the 500 with points were Levy in 9th (5:35.15), and Noorouzi (5:40.70) and junior Allie Beecroft (5:40.93) in 14th and 15th.

Junior Molly Thomas placed 12th in the 100-yard backstroke (1:03.90) joined by sophomore Stephanie Zhang and junior Grace Newberry in 17th and 19th.

Belmont’s freshman-laded 200-yard relay of froshs Butte, Li and Kalavantis with senior Solvay Metelmann (who also swam the 50 free) swam under its qualifying time by nearly half-a-second to claim 5th in 1:44.73.

By the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, Belmont was seeking to place its own explanation point on the night while nailing down second place. Bozkurtian led off with a stellar swim keeping up with a pair of strong swimmers from Reading and Bishop Feehan.

Levy in second held the gap to a reasonable distance in third as Kalavantis entered the pool for the fourth time having gone nearly half-a-mile in the water against two fresh swimmers.

As with her earlier races, it took some time for her to get up to speed but was able to touch off to Blake-West even with Reading and Bishop Feehan.

Swimming against 100 yard free specialists who finished third and fourth in the event, Blake-West separated from the pack early and hammered home in 3:40.84, defeating Bishop Feehan by a three-and-a-half seconds, giving her and Kalavantis their third title of the afternoon.

“I loved going out on a high note with a third win. High School season is definitely has been one of the best experiences I’ve had so I’m really excited to take these successes and take them to college and see how I’ll do with them there,” said Blake-West, just before joining the team and Crosscup for photos with the state finalist trophy.