Dynamic duo leads Long Beach

At 7-0, Long Beach girls’ swimming is mirroring its undefeated season of 2015 that ended with a third-place showing in the county finals.

Seniors Maggie Aroesty and Kristen Romano, two of the top high school swimmers in New York State, have returned to the squad after competing in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials this summer. But John Skudin, who in his 12 years as Long Beach’s head coach has not won the counties, knows that having such an exceptional duo doesn’t necessarily make his team a favorite to win it all.

“It would be awesome and icing on the cake,” Skudin said of the prospect that his stellar seniors finish their high school careers with a county title. “It’s been a great ride and it’s not over yet. But it’s part of the trip that we haven’t experienced yet.”

By Long Beach’s fifth meet, a 102-72 win over Oceanside, Romano won the 50 freestyle (24.46) and 100 breaststroke (1:07.83) to qualify for the state tournament in every individual event.

In their next and biggest meet, the Lady Marines defeated Garden City 101-83, and Aroesty qualified for the state championships in the 200 individual medley (2:06.30) and 500 freestyle (5:00.85), while Romano qualified in the 100 fly (56.16) and the 100 backstroke (56.90.) 

They also joined seniors Samantha Chase and Megan Sofield in the 200 medley relay and Caroline Farrell and sophomore Kaley Skarren in the 400 freestyle relay to earn state-qualifying times, 1:51.46 and 3:39.38 respectively.

“Garden City is the county champions, so when we can go out and beat them in a dual meet it’s important,” Skudin said.

In an earlier 97-84 win against Port Washington, Romano, Aroesty, eighth-grader Joan Cash and freshman Isabella Defonte finished 1:51.58 to qualify for the states.

The Lady Marines earned another state-qualifier when Aroesty, Romano, Cash and Farrell took the 200 medley relay in 1:50:49 and topped Bellmore-Merrick 101-82. The quartet also broke a school record with a state-qualifying time of 1:39.70 in the 200 freestyle.

At last fall’s state championship, the Lady Marines racked up five titles. Aroesty repeated as 200 individual medley champion and set a state record in the 100 breaststroke, finishing in one minute flat. Romano took home the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke titles. They also contributed to Long Beach earning a state-record-setting 200 medley relay along with Cash and then-senior Morgan Harrington. Aroesty received Most Outstanding Swimmer honors for the second consecutive year at the meet. 

During the Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, Aroesty and Romano competed against the nation’s elite swimmers in the 200 and 400 individual medleys. Aroesty also swam the 100 and 200 breaststroke; Romano the 200 backstroke.

“They are a level above that people aspire to be,” Skudin said. “And they don’t talk about it. They just work hard and they’re good kids.”

Long Beach has two regular-season meets remaining against Sewanhaka this Friday and Manhasset on Oct. 18.