Swimmers race past Knights in big finale win

Caitlyn Reynolds competes in the backstroke versus Stoughton. (Mike Tureski photo)

With a fifth consecutive dual meet sweep and a final combined record of 12-2, Canton High’s varsity swimmers have solidified themselves as bona fide contenders heading into Hockomock championship weekend in Milford.

Already the girls team, a perennial league powerhouse, can call themselves title winners after going unbeaten in the Davenport Division for a third consecutive season. In fact, other than the COVID winter of 2021, when teams had to compete separately at their home pools, the Canton girls have won the last five division championships with a perfect 25-0 mark against Davenport opponents since the start of the 2018-19 season (29-1 including the 2021 virtual meets).

This year, the girls won all five division contests by an average of 36 points while splitting their two other meets to finish with a league-best record of 6-1 overall.

The Canton boys, meanwhile, also went 6-1, but they could not catch up to rival Sharon, who finished as unbeaten Davenport champs for the fourth straight year. It marks the sixth time in the last seven seasons — and eighth time in the last decade — that the Bulldogs have finished in the runner-up spot with only one division loss.

Since splitting their first two matches of the season against Sharon and Dedham, however, both Canton squads have been red-hot, matching each other win for win, culminating with a dominant showing against Stoughton in last week’s season finale.

On the girls’ side, the Bulldogs demolished their neighbors 96-18 behind stellar performances from the team’s three state qualifiers — Keeley Harney, Annie McLean and Atina Lee.

All three swimmers had a pair of individual wins and teamed with Olivia Hickey to win both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. The Bulldogs also won the 200 freestyle relay behind the quartet of Amy Murphy, Caitlyn Reynolds, Lillia Ivaniv and Julianne Gilchrist.

Other top performers for the Canton girls included Murphy, who won the 200 IM and took second in the 100-yard butterfly; Maegan Horrigan, who placed second in the 200 and 500 freestyle; Daphne Bui, who took second in the backstroke and third in the fly; and Ivaniv, a freshman, who took third in the 500 freestyle and breaststroke. Also placing in the top three were Reynolds and Keira Yu in the 200 IM, Siya Bais in the 200 free, Hickey in the 100 free, and Yu in the breaststroke.

The boys team also defeated Stoughton convincingly, 99-59. Senior Talis Veidis, Canton’s lone state qualifier, led the way with victories in the 50 and 100 freestyle while also contributing to two winning relays in the 200 and 400 freestyle along with Ryan Hickey, Daniel Bui and Hunter Rice.

Smith added wins in 100 fly and breaststroke; Rice was a double winner in the 200 free and 100 back; and Hickey took second in the 100 freestyle. Other standouts included Anderson Lee, who won the 500 freestyle and placed second in the 200 IM; Aidan Pham, who finished first in the 200 IM and placed third in the 100 back; and Bui, who took second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free.

Also contributing with second-place finishes were Ben Howe in the backstroke; Jonathan He in the 200 freestyle, Nick Murphy in the 500 free, and Ryan Hart in the breaststroke. Canton also swept the 200 medley relay with the team of Pham, Smith, Bui and Jonathan He placing first.

The Hockomock Championship is next Friday and Saturday, with the qualifiers then moving on to sectionals February 10-11 at WPI followed by states February 16-17 at MIT.

In addition to the individual qualifiers, the girls 200 medley relay has punched their ticket to sectionals while both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays has qualified for states. Head coach Cheryl Cavanaugh is still finalizing the lineup for the postseason relay events.

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