BAAC has Ten High School Girls Competing in NYS Swimming Championship Meet
BUFFALO, NY, November 13, 2024 - The Buffalo Area Aquatic Club (BAAC) will be represented by the largest number of Section VI and Catholic High School swimmers in the Western New York area who will compete in the New York State Championship on November 22nd - 23rd in Webster, New York. The ten BAAC swimmers represent seven high schools in the region:
- Keira Curvin, Sophomore, Starpoint High School
- Ellie Gaskill, 8th Grade, Lockport High School
- Leah Gaskill, Sophomore, Lockport High School
- Lauren Golden, Junior, Williamsville East High School
- Maya Huntress, Junior, Sacred Heart Academy
- Kylie Kwoka, Junior, Starpoint High School
- Amelia MacKinnon, Sophomore, Kenmore High School
- Isabelle Ocque, Freshman, Williamsville East High School
- Veronika Puzanovova, Junior, Nichols School (swim team with Buffalo Seminary)
- Kate Stancliff, Freshman, Nardin Academy
Gaskill, Golden and Huntress Ranked Top 8 in State for 50 Freestyle;
Stancliff Qualified in Diving and Swimming
The BAAC swimmers competed for their high schools in the Section VI and Monsignor Martin Swimming Championships over the past two weeks. Lockport High School finished second in the Section VI Class A Championships led by Leah Gaskill who won the 50 and the 100 freestyle and also set a new pool record at Sweet Home in the 50 Freestyle. Amelia MacKinnon of Kenmore won the 200 Freestyle and finished 2nd in the 100 freestyle. Additional top ten BAAC finishers included Ellie Gaskill of Lockport, 4th and 6th in the 500 and 50 freestyle. Cadence Pisa of Kenmore placed 4th in the 100 backstroke and 5th in the 200 individual medley. Leonora Bogunovic, a sophomore from Williamsville North placed 5th in the 100 butterfly and 8th in the 100 backstroke. Lilianna David, 8th grade from Lockport, placed 10th in the 200 freestyle. Lockport’s Gaskill sisters were also in the winning 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Williamsville East won the Class B Championships led by Lauren Golden who won the 50 and the 100 freestyle breaking her own school records at Williamsville East and setting new pool records for both events at North Tonawanda High School. Lauren’s 200 and 400 freestyle relays also set pool records. Kylie Kwoka of Starpoint won the 200 freestyle and placed 2nd in the 500 freestyle. Keira Curvin of Starpoint won the 100 backstroke and placed 2nd in the 50 freestyle. Additional top ten BAAC finishers included Isabelle Ocque of Williamsville East who placed 5th in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Lydia Fraas, a junior from Williamsville East, placed 7th in the 200 individual medley and 8th in the 500 freestyle. Giada Mendel, a sophomore from Grand Island placed 6th in the 100 butterfly and 8th in the 50 freestyle. Chase Martineck, a sophomore from Grand Island, placed 7th in the 50 freestyle.
In the Monsignor Martin All Catholic Championship, Sacred Heart Academy won the meet led by five BAAC swimmers. Maya Huntress placed 1st in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly; Isabella Ryan, a junior, won the 200 freestyle and placed 2nd in the 500 freestyle; Molly Fulco, a senior, placed 2nd and 5th in the 100 and 200 freestyle; Natalie Ryan, a freshman, placed 2nd in the 100 breaststroke and 6th in the 200 individual medley and Annie Brown, a freshman, placed 3rd and 5th in the 100 and 50 freestyle events. Sacred Heart also won the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays including Huntress and the Ryan sisters. Buffalo Seminary’s Veronika Puzanovova won the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. Nardin’s Kate Stancliff won the 100 freestyle and placed second in the 100 backstroke. Maya Huntress also received the Natalie Lewis Award for Swimmer of the Meet.
The final state qualifying meet for Section VI was held on November 7th in Buffalo while the Monsignor Martin qualifiers competed in the Catholic High School Championship in Long Island on November 9th-10th. Highlights from the Section VI Qualifier included Lauren Golden winning the Richard Pauly Memorial Award for Most Outstanding Performer winning the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Leah Gaskill won the 50 freestyle and helped the 200 freestyle relay team, including her sister Ellie, win with a state qualifying time. Kylie Kwoka won the 200 freestyle and placed 3rd in the 100 freestyle. Keira Curvin placed 2nd in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke and set new school records. Amelia MacKinnon placed 2nd in the 200 freestyle and 4th in the 50 freestyle. Cadence Pisa placed 3rd in the 200 individual medley. Highlights of the Catholic Championship included Maya Huntress winning the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly to also win the Catholic Championship Swimmer of the Meet. Veronika Puzanovova won the 100 backstroke and placed 2nd in the 200 individual medley. Isabella Ryan and Kate Stancliff placed 5th in the 200 and 100 freestyle respectively. Sacred Heart set new school records in the 100 butterfly by Huntress, the 200 freestyle relay with Huntress and Ryan and the 400 freestyle relay with Huntress, Ryan and Molly Fulco.
According to the current times recorded in New York State, Leah Gaskill, Maya Huntress and Lauren Golden are seeded in the top 8 of 46 qualifiers for the 50 freestyle, less than 0.20-0.28 seconds away from the top seeded swimmer from Section IX. Kate Stancliff is qualified in the diving and swimming events, an unprecedented achievement at this level of competition. Stancliff qualified for the state meet in diving by placing 3rd in the Iroquois Diving Invitational in September where she also set a new diving record for Nardin. Stancliff qualified in the 100 backstroke at the Monsignor Martin Championship and the 100 freestyle at the Catholic Championship. The State Championship will be held at the Webster Aquatic Center on Friday, November 21st with prelims and finals on Saturday, November 22nd.
Media Contact:
Dana Golden, media.baac@gmail.com
ABOUT BAAC:
The Buffalo Area Aquatic Club (BAAC) is a year-round, USA Swimming competitive team that offers professional coaching and technique instruction. Originally founded in the 1960s as UB Amherst Swimming, BAAC has a tradition of excellence, producing many of the area's premier swimmers. Athletes who have trained and competed with the club have achieved success at the regional, national, and collegiate level. Under the leadership of our dedicated coaching staff and a passionate family of athletes and parents, BAAC is committed to setting the tone for excellence in Western New York swimming.
BAAC is part of the Niagara Swimming LSC and is a nonprofit organization run by an elected Board of Directors.
