Acton-Boxboro girls win third straight swim sectional

Unlike each of her team’s last two trips to the North Sectionals, Acton-Boxboro swim coach Gretchen Turner didn’t quite know what to expect on Sunday at Boston University’s Fitness & Recreation Center.

Turner needn’t have worried as her squad stepped up on the big stage again. Led by double winner Isabela Texiera, the Revolution easily outdistanced second place Andover with 273 points to claim a third straight sectional crown.

“It definitely was a team effort (Sunday),” Turner said. “With the fact that we didn’t have the chance to taper coming into the meet, we had to trust that the girls had the maturity and drive to do this. And they did.”

The tone for the Revolution’s day got set right out of the block when they won the 200 free relay. Texiera won the first of her two events in the 50 free (23.61) where she blew away the field by over a body length.

She later completed a sweep of the sprints in the 100 free (51.25) with an even more commanding four second margin on second place. Despite all that, the team competition was still close before A-B’s depth finally began to take over.

They gained 19 points in the 500 free and then placed third in the 200 free relay to open up a 20-point lead over Andover.

And when Caroline Tyrrell placed third in the 100 backstroke behind double event winner Hannah Wieczorek of North Andover, the Revolution had built a big enough margin that they could cruise home from there.

“We had 16 swimmers at this meet a year ago and (Sunday) we only had 10. We don’t have the depth we’ve had in the past but these girls work hard and it shows.”

For Texiera, just a sophomore, holding the gold trophy again felt just as special as last season.

“I love doing this with my teammates,” Texiera said.

Winchester’s Elle Michaud won a second straight sectional title in the 500 free and anchored the Sachems winning 400 free relay, holding off a fast closing Texiera who took nearly three seconds off Winchester’s lead in the final 100.

Malden Catholic’s Therese Sanzone won the 100 breaststroke (1:07.13) and added a third in the 100 freestyle. The Lancers also got a win from freshman Julia Lembo who barely out-touched Reading’s Laila Paulsen to take the 200 IM in the day’s closest race.

In the boys’ competition, Methuen breezed past North Andover to take first place. North Andover had a pair of double winners. Jack Ventre won the 200 free (1:45.72) and 500 free (4:51.96) while Ethan Ackerman-Vallala won the 100 breaststroke (1:02.53) and the 200 IM (2:06.87).

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