Senior Night was a winning celebration for the Mahopac/Putnam Valley/Carmel varsity girls swim team, which honored captains Liv Brady and Kylie Quackenbush with a hard-fought 92-78 victory over Yorktown/Somers.
The evening recognized two seniors who have been part of the program since eighth grade, growing into leaders and mentors for their younger teammates.
The team got off to a strong start in the 200 medley relay, with Keira Troccoli, Elisabeth Knuth, Kira Furfaro and Chloe Forger taking first place. Macie Thompson, Laura Svrcek, Brady and Adelina Loza added a third-place finish.
Troccoli returned to the pool for the 200 freestyle, where she captured first place with a state-qualifying time. Alyza Laufman finished third and Savannah Jarrett took fifth. Knuth followed with a victory in the 200 individual medley, while Thompson placed fifth.
Forger won the 50 freestyle, with Loza finishing fourth and Brady fifth, helping the team build a 10-point advantage.
One of the evening's most competitive races came in the 100 butterfly, where Furfaro battled Yorktown/Somers swimmers Ansley Edelman and Olivia Sun before pulling out a first-place finish. Jarrett added a fifth-place finish.
Laufman turned in a personal-best time of 58.25 seconds to win the 100 freestyle. Troccoli collected another victory in the 500 freestyle, with Loza finishing fourth.
The 200 freestyle relay tightened the competition. Knuth, Jarrett, Laufman and Furfaro finished second, while Allie Calvert, Abbie Long, Quackenbush and Brady placed fourth.
At the conclusion of the relay, the teams were tied 62-62, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Mahopac/Putnam Valley/Carmel responded with a sweep of the top three places in the 100 backstroke. Forger finished first, followed by Svrcek and Thompson, putting the team back in front.
Knuth extended the lead with a victory in the 100 breaststroke, while Calvert contributed a fifth-place finish.
The outcome came down to the final 400 freestyle relay, where Troccoli, Laufman, Furfaro and Forger teamed up for first place. Jarrett, Thompson, Svrcek and Loza added a third-place finish, securing the 92-78 victory.
“It was a true team effort from start to finish," coach Erica Burlenski said. “Every swimmer played a role, and the girls showed tremendous determination, teamwork, and heart, especially when the meet was tied and the pressure was on.”
The victory provided a fitting backdrop for the celebration of Brady and Quackenbush, who have devoted five years to the program.
Beyond their contributions in the pool, both seniors have been supportive teammates and role models, encouraging younger swimmers and helping foster a positive team environment.
“Their leadership, positivity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on this program,” Burlenski said.
It was a memorable sendoff for the two captains, combining a competitive victory with a celebration of their contributions to the team.
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