Sometimes it is the smaller group that maximizes its potential. That wins not by overwhelming force, but by sheer intensity of talent.
The 2021 edition of Monticello girls swimming’s state qualifiers is exactly that kind of group.
“Our team is tiny but we definitely do big things,” said Monticello senior Athena Vanyo. “That’s what makes us really special.”
That tiny but talented group — the Mustangs had just seven swimmers score individually or on relays in the meet — won Monticello’s first ever team state championship in a girls sport and the first state title in program history Thursday night in Christiansburg.
“I think swimming for the school trumps everything — just representing Monticello is always an honor and to do it with such a fast, strong group of girls was the best,” Bradley said.
Bradley and Vanyo led the way with another huge set of performances for the Mustangs. Bradley took home four gold medals and scored the maximum 40 possible points for an individual swimmer with victories in the 50 freestyle sprint and the 100 backstroke to go with legs of the first place 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays by the Mustangs that each set new state records.
That pair of relay titles was huge in helping the Mustangs hold off runner-up Independence, third place York and fourth place Western Albemarle in a highly competitive girls meet with four squads scoring over 200 points.
“These past few years we’ve stuck with each other and that’s really helped our relays,” Vanyo said. “Breaking records over and over again is just amazing.”
Vanyo swam on those same two title-winning relay teams and won an individual event state title in the 100 butterfly while she grabbed second in the 200 IM. It was her final outing for the Mustangs as she’ll move on to UVa this fall. She finishes her career as one of the most decorated swimmers in Monticello history, a title that only Bradley is capable of challenging with a year left in her career.
“I’m so proud of her, she’s been chasing after this since she was a freshman and she’s grown so much over the last four years,” said Monticello coach Jennifer Csapo. “This is huge for her, I’m really excited.”
Bradley and Vanyo did a lot of that Thursday, but they’ve done that before. The difference-maker this season was the Mustangs’ added depth outside that star tandem that helped power the Mustangs to a state runner-up finish a year ago. That group stepped up in a big way. Elisabeth Bendall led that pack with a fifth place in the 100 breaststroke while she was all but running on fumes late in the day and a seventh in the 200 IM. She also swam on both first place relays.
Monticello celebrates the program’s first-ever state title
Sophomore Eloise Weary took seventh in the 200 free and eighth in the 100 free while swimming on the 200 free relay title winners and the fourth place 400 free relay. Allisan Bendall took sixth in the 100 breaststroke and swam on the fourth-place 400 free relay. Katie Jordan took sixth in the 500 free and 12th in the 200 free while swimming on that 400 free relay. Mariam Mithqual swam on both the title-winning 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay.
It was a huge moment for the Monticello athletic department as a whole as it was the first female sports team state title in school history and just the second team state championship for the Mustangs, who won a football state title in 2007.
“These girls wanted it so bad, we had a lot of incredible swims and it’s just the fact that all these girls are so close,” Csapo said. “And we have a lot of youth on the team which is exciting for us in the future.”
Western girls take fourth place in Class 3
Western Albemarle finished fourth in the meet, ending a two-year reign for the Warriors as state champions, but after a couple of big-time classes graduating, the Warriors were focused on getting the opportunity to compete.
“We’re so lucky we got to have it this year because of the pandemic,” said Western senior Lily Fitzpatrick who was the state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke after swimming a personal best that shattered the school record in the event. “We’re so lucky because I love racing, I love our team and I love seeing what we can do. It’s just fun to watch everyone go out and race.”
Fitzpatrick also added a fourth place as part of the 200 medley squad. Emory-bound senior Kathryn Burr took sixth in the 50-free and swam a leg on the state runner-up 400-free relay. Sophomore Julie Addison finished sixth in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke and also swam legs of the 200 medley and 400 free relays. Elke Beaumont finished 12th in 50 free and swam on the fourth-place medley relay. Maya Chatterson took ninth in the 100 butterfly, Elle Schundler swam on the 200 medley relay and took eighth in the 100 butterfly. Virginia Smith took eighth in the 200 free and ninth in the 500 free.
In diving a couple of weeks ago, Emily Mandell took third place and Cecilia Dagner took eighth.
Libby Addison, Grace McCardle and Casey Phillips all swam relay legs for the Warriors.
Other Local Performances
Fluvanna County’s Abby Fuller was the Flucos’ lone competitor on the girls side and Fuller was incredible on the night, taking second in a lightning-quick 50 free and third in the 100 free. Fuller finished up four years of impressive work at the state meet.
“I’m just really happy we had a state meet, I know some people that didn’t have anything,” Fuller said.
William Monroe’s Eliah Dojack finished 10th in the 500 free, 13th in the 200 free and 12th in the 200 free relay, an impressive outing for the sophomore. Goochland’s Anneliese Rogerson took 10th in the 200 IM and 12th in the 100 breaststroke. Charlottesville’s 200 freestyle relay took 10th overall.
Monticello seniors Katie Jordan and Athena Vanyo talk about winning the state championship in First Out of the Pool presented by @physical_therapy_acac pic.twitter.com/KP0cVmVVYk
— scrimmageplay (@scrimmageplay) February 26, 2021
