Submitted by Alison Karam
(November 22, 2024) — The Shoreline Co-Op High School Girls Swimming and Diving team won their final two dual meets of the 2024 season to finish with an unbeaten 7-0 record, and then topped it off with a 10th place finish in State Championships.
On October 22, 2024, Shoreline Co-Op swimmers from Haddam-Killingworth, Valley Regional, Lyme-Old Lyme and Old Saybrook won at home against Ledyard 102-68, and finished their regular season on October 25, 2024 with a 99-72 win against Plainville.
Prior to that, the team won dual meets against Ledyard (93-76), Windsor Locks (86-84), Suffield (96-65), Waterford (95-81) and Rocky Hill (102-72).
Head Coach Alison Karam commented that the coaching staff was in uncharted waters this year, working through the challenges of combining four high schools into a single co-op.
“What made it work was having a positive mindset from the start,” Karam said. “The girls blended beautifully and supported each other as a swim family. As coaches, we never expected an unbeaten season with a top 10 finish in State Championships. And yet, that’s where we ended up!”
The team celebrated Senior Night on October 22, 2024 honoring Senior teammates and leadership squad members Veronica “VV” Pypa, and captains Olivia “Liv” Macaluso, Olivia Campo and Sofia Campo.
Twelve Shoreline Co-Op teammates competed in individual and relay events at the Class S State Swimming and Diving Championships in November: H-K seniors Macaluso, O. Campo and S. Campo; juniors Maggie Miller (H-K), Bethany Erkkila (V) and Rose Dimmock (L-OL); sophomores Elsa Shatraw (H-K), Gianna Dabkowski (H-K), Olive Forristall (H-K); freshmen Lauren Thebeau (H-K), Claire Johnson (V) and Phoebe Spallone (V).
Shoreline Co-Op qualified for Finals in every State Championship event, including diving, and compiled a team score of 237 points to earn a 10th place finish overall. Macaluso was the team’s highest individual event placer, finishing 9th in both the 200-yard I.M. (Individual Medley) and the 100-yard butterfly. Miller placed 13th in the 500-yard freestyle and 18th in the 200-yard freestyle. Forristall finished 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke and 22nd in the 200 I.M. Sofia Campo finished 24th in the 100-yard breaststroke and Dabkowski finished 24th in the 50-yard freestyle. All three Shoreline Co-Op relays swam season-best times, finishing: 9th (200-yard Medley Relay: Spallone, S. Campo, Macaluso, Dabkowski); 11th (200-yard Freestyle Relay: Johnson, Thebeau, Dimmock, Miller); and 11th (400-yard Freestyle Relay: Johnson, Miller, Spallone, Macaluso).
Other swimmers who competed for Shoreline Co-Op this season were senior team leader: Veronica “VV” Pypa (H-K), juniors: Emma Wakelee (OS) and Sasha Dziebel (OS), sophomores: Sophia Langer (H-K) and Zi Abbott (H-K), freshmen: Aria Cummings (H-K), Kinsley Grenier (L-OL) and Maddie Cummins (L-OL).
