Bellmore-Merrick Swimmers Honored for Excellence

Editor's Note: This article was written and submitted by representatives of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.

The swimmers of the All-Long Island Bellmore-Merrick Aquatic team were recently honored at the January Board of Education meeting at Brookside.

Jessica Arana is a sophomore at Calhoun. This is Arana’s second year swimming for the Sharks. She qualified as All-Division in the 100 yard Butterfly. At the County Championships, she qualified as All-County in the 100 yard Butterfly and 500 yard Freestyle.

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She also qualified as All-Long Island as a member of both the 200 yard Medley and 400 yard Freestyle Relays that won Division and County titles. Arana qualified for the State Championships on both relays and individually in the 500 yard Freestyle and the 100 yard Butterfly. Arana finished seventh in the State in the 100 yard Butterfly and 15th in 500 yard Freestyle. She also holds the school record for the 100 yard Butterfly.

Kerry Giovanniello is a sophomore at Mepham. This is Giovanniello’s second year swimming for the Sharks. Giovanniello is the Division A Champion in both the 200 and 500 yard Freestyle events.  

At the County Championships, Giovanniello won the 200 yard Freestyle and placed second in the 500 yard Freestyle, qualifying as All-County. She qualified as All-Long Island as a member of both the 200 and 400 yard Freestyle Relays that won Division and County titles. Giovanniello also qualified for the State Championships on both relays and individually in 200 and 500 yard Freestyle.  At the State Championships Giovanniello placed ninth in both of her individual events. She holds individual school records for the 100, 200 and 500 yard Freestyle events.

Jaimie Kaefer is a sophomore at Mepham. This is Kaefer’s fourth year swimming for the Sharks. Kaefer qualified as All-Division in the 200 yard Individual Medley and was a member of both the 200 yard Medley and 400 yard Freestyle Relays, both of which won Division titles.

At the County Championships, Kaefer was a member of both the 200 yard Medley and 200 yard Freestyle Relays, both of which won county titles and qualified for the State Championships, as well as qualifying as All-Long Island. The 200 yard Medley Relay finished tenth in the state and set a new school record.

Paige Kaplan is a sophomore at Kennedy. This is Kaplan’s second year swimming for the Sharks. Kaplan qualified as All-Division in the 200 yard Individual Medley and is the Division A Champion in the 100 yard Butterfly. At the County Championships Kaplan qualified as All-County in the Individual Medley and the Butterfly.

She also qualified as All-Long Island as a member of both the 200 yard Medley and 200 yard Freestyle Relays that won Division and County titles. She also qualified for the State Championships on both relays and individually in the Individual Medley and the Butterfly. Kaplan holds individual school records in the 200 yard Individual Medley and 100 yard Breastroke.

Gabrielle Toback is a senior at Calhoun and this is her sixth year swimming for the Sharks.  Toback qualified as All-Division in the 50 Yard Freestyle and is the Division A Backstroke Champion. At the County Championships she won the 100 Yard Backstroke, defending her County title.

She also qualified as All-Long Island in the 100 Yard Backstroke. As a member of both the 200 Yard Medley and 400 Yard Freestyle Relays, that won Division and County titles, Toback qualified for the State Championships on both relays and individually in the 50 Yard Freestyle and the 100 Yard Backstroke.

Liz Walsh is in seventh grade at Grand Avenue Middle School, and this is her first year swimming for the District team. Walsh qualified as All-Division in 100 yard Freestyle and the 100 yard Backstroke. At the County Championships Walsh qualified as All-Conference in the 100 yard Freestyle.

She was also a member of the Shark’s 200 and 400 yard Freestyle Relays, both of which won division and county titles and qualified for the State Championships, as well as qualifying as All-Long Island. The 400 Freestyle Relay posted the fastest time on Long Island and set a new school record.