Mahopac takes third at league championships

In what coach Erica Burlenski dubbed "an exciting meet filled with first-place finishes, personal bests, and some incredible swims," the Mahopac-Putnam Valley-Carmel varsity swim team finished third while seeing two swimmers qualify for the state championships.

With Mahopac set to compete in the sectionals this week (after our deadline), Burlenski called the performance — which saw the Wolf Pac finish behind Ardsley–Dobbs Ferry and John Jay–North Salem — a momentum builder.

MPVC opened with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay, with Chloe Forger, Elisabeth Knuth, Kira Furfaro and Keira Troccoli. The quartet had already earned a state-qualifying time in the event Oct. 9 against John Jay–North Salem, when it also moved into first place in Section 1.

Furfaro followed with a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle, setting a personal best and coming close to the state qualifying standard. Alyza Laufman finished seventh with a personal best, followed by Adelina Loza in 17th and Savannah Jarrett in 21st.

In the 200 individual medley, Troccoli placed third and Laura Svrcek finished 12th. Forger then won the 50 freestyle, while Liv Brady placed 20th.

Furfaro reached the state qualifying standard in the 100 butterfly, taking first place with a personal-best time. Knuth also earned a state qualifying time, winning the 100 freestyle. Loza finished 20th.

Troccoli took second place in the 500 freestyle, while Laufman finished seventh with another personal best. Troccoli had already earned a state-qualifying time in the event Oct. 9 against John Jay–North Salem.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Forger, Knuth, Furfaro and Troccoli added another first-place finish. Forger also won the 100 backstroke, with Svrcek placing 10th with a personal best.

Knuth captured her second individual victory in the 100 breaststroke, while Allie Calvert finished 21st. The 400 freestyle relay team of Laufman, Jarrett, Svrcek and Loza rounded out the meet with a seventh-place finish.

Furfaro and Knuth will represent MPVC at the state championships after qualifying in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle, respectively.

"Overall, it was a fantastic meet for MPVC," Burlenski said of the league showdown. "The girls came ready to race, and it showed. Between the first-place finishes, state qualifying times, and numerous personal bests, there was so much to celebrate."

Representing MPVC at Sectionals will be Kira Furfaro, Chloe Forger, Keira Troccoli, Elisabeth Knuth, Alyza Laufman, Savannah Jarrett, Adelina Loza and Laura Svrcek. Preliminaries are Nov. 9, with finals Nov. 10.