NHS Swim & Dive beats D-R, loses to Taunton in Double-Dual

The Norton High Varsity Swim & Dive team began its 2013-14 campaign with a double-dual meet against Taunton and Dighton-Rehoboth at Wheaton College on Thursday night.

The NHS girls team defeated D-R 58-40 while falling to Taunton 55-46.  The boys defeated D-R 63-37 and fell to Taunton 68-33.

NHS had several strong performances throughout the meet.  Freshman Allison Hunt qualified for South Sectionals in her very first high school event, touching the wall first in the 50 yard freestyle.  She also placed first in the 100 breaststroke vs. D-R while coming in second to the Taunton swimmer.  Fellow freshman Amanda Moriarty also picked up two victories, winning the 500 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke.  The 200 free relay team of Renee Sanford, Moriarty, Maddie Thomson, and Hunt placed first overall, missing the sectional cut by just half of a second.  Other winners for the girls were Thomson in the 200 yard freestyle, Gabby Bergeron in diving and Sanford in the 100 butterfly.

Senior Elliot Ariola accomplished his first step in qualifying for the Sectional diving meet, winning the event with a qualifying score.  Divers must meet the qualifying score in two separate meets.  Freshman Quinn McAlear won both the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 breaststroke, junior Alex Belinsky won the 100 butterfly, and junior Eric Sanford won the 100 freestyle, breaking under 1:00 for the first time. 

The boys and girls team combined to clock 22 best times in just their first meet of the season.  Each team's record stands at 1-1.  They face Dover-Sherborn Saturday in their first TVL meet of the season.