St. Joe, Monument Have Big Days at Simon's Rock

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. -- The St. Joseph swim team is making a big splash as it prepares to exit the stage.

 

The Crusaders had two double winners and grabbed a relay title at Saturday’s Berkshire County Individuals meet at Simon’s Rock.

 

Jessie Tobin and Ellie Field each won a pair of races and swam a leg on St. Joe’s winning 200-yard medley relay quartet.

 

Tobin, who attends St. Joseph Central High School, said the school’s impending closure is hanging over everything that happens this year, including the swimming season.

 

“St. Joe closing is really sad, and being a senior there's a lot of pressure because it's the last year, and I want it to be the best year I have,” Tobin said. “There's a lot of pressure. It's really sad the school is closing, but I think we're ending on a good season.”

 

St. Joseph, like Monument Mountain in South Berkshire, is a cooperative team hosted by the Catholic high school.

 

The Crusaders and Spartans the majority of the titles on the girls side.

 

For Monument Mountain, Emma Wilber won the 100 butterfly (1:01.82) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.54), and Anna Rubino won the 100 backstroke (1:07.71).

 

Wilber also swam on Monument’s winning 4-by-50 and 4-by-100 relays.

 

Monument Mountain dominated the boys competition, winning seven of nine individual titles and two of three relays.

 

Brandon Louison and Nicholas Gray were double winners for the Spartans.

 

Louison won the 100 freestyle in 50.32 and the 100 back in 55.91. Gray won the 500 free in 5:08.17 and the 200 free in 1:54.25.

 

Dominating Berkshire County competition is nothing new for Louison, Gray and the rest of the Monument Mountain senior boys, who did not lose a dual meet in four years of competition.

 

“It does feel really special because I know everyone on the team works really hard,” Gray said. “And not many teams can say they've been undefeated. It's a great feeling, but you've got to stay modest and always encourage the other teams.”

 

Pittsfield High’s boys had a strong day Saturday with a victory in the 200 free relay and individual wins from Liam Mooney in the 200 IM (2:23.26) and 100 butterfly (57.72).

 

Pittsfield’s girls picked up a win from Szofia Lewis in the 200 IM (2:29.19). She also finished second to Wilber in the 100 breaststroke.

 

For St. Joseph, Tobin won the 200 free (2:01.04) and 500 free (5:22.95). Field won the 50 free (25.28) and 100 free (55.92) and left the meet with some thinking to do.

 

“I was really undecided about what I was going to swim at Western Mass [next week at Springfield College],” Field said. “I didn't know if I was going to swim the 200 free, the 100 or the 50. I came in here swimming the 100 and the 50 so I could see what would give me the better seed time for Western Mass, and I guess now I'm really indecisive about what I'm swimming.”