On Saturday, October 23rd, Yonkers High School Sophomore, Maichina Gennerelli, made history for Yonkers Swimming at the Conference III Swimming Championships held at The Mark Twain Pool. Gennerelli is the first female athlete from Yonkers ever to qualify for the New York State Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held at Ithaca College on November 19 – 20, 2021.
At Conference Championships, Maichina won the 500-yard freestyle event with a time of 5:14.05, which met the state qualifying time standard of 5:14.60. Gennerelli qualified last year as well, but the State Championships were cancelled due to Covid.
“I’m actually in disbelief that I made history for Yonkers,” Gennerelli said. “I want to thank my teammates for helping me make the cut. While I was swimming, I could see them cheering for me, which was great motivation. I felt like the happiest person in the world after my race!”
Coach Schoenlank added; “We are really proud of Maichina’s accomplishments this season. I’m grateful that she will actually be able to travel and compete this year.”
Last season, Section I Swimming held meets virtually, with each team swimming races at their own pool on the same day. Officials would certify the meet, and times would be entered online into a database, and results were then posted. No spectators were allowed inside the facilities. This year, all meets were in-person and limited spectators were permitted to attend.
Yonkers hosted the Conference championships and finished in 7th place. “This year, I saw my team like I’ve never seen them before, ” Captain Sneha Sarkar said. “They thrived on the competition, and this is a side I haven’t seen in two years because of Covid.”
Prior to this season, sophomore teammate Amelia McKenna had only experienced a low-key meet environment. This year was much different. “The pool deck was no longer empty but bursting with life. The cheering and energy motivated me to give it my all and made tremendous impact on all of our swimming,” she said. “We had an amazing season.”
The championship meet was close and exciting, with single digits separating teams in the final standings. “Our conference was extremely competitive all season long. All our duel-meet losses came down to the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The teams that won this relay, typically won the meet,” Schoenlank said.
Gennerelli, along with several teammates, will continue the season at Section I Championships November 1-4, before she travels to States. “My goal at States is to win my heat, drop more time, and hopefully make it back to finals the next day.” Schoenlank added, “The sky is the limit for Maichina. When she says she’s going to do something, stand back and watch, she’ll get it done.”
Good Luck in the State Championship Maichina! Yonkers is Rooting for you!
Top 16 Yonkers FinishersMaichina Gennerelli, FR, YHS: 1st place 500 freestyle, 3rd place 200 freeJaden Bascon, Jr, YHS: 5th place 100 Butterfly; 7th place 200 freeSneha Sarkar, SR, YHS: 9th place 100 Butterfly; 15th place 200 freeElina DelCastillo, FR, YMA: 4th place 100 Backstroke; 5th place 200 I.M.Arianna May, JR, YHS: 13th 50 Free; 14th 100 Breaststroke.Gianna Gennerelli, JR, YHS: 6th 100 Free; 12th place 100 Breaststroke.Elena Pruthi, SR, YMA: 14th place 500 freestyle.
200 Yard Medley Relay: 4th place (DelCastillo, M. Gennerelli, Bascon, G. Gennerelli)200 Yard Freestyle Relay: 9th place (May, Louisa Mitchell, Sarkar, Pruthi)400 Yard Freestyle Relay: 2nd place (Bascon, DelCastillo, G. Gennerelli, M. Gennerelli)
Final Standings Division III Championships:
1. Yorktown 266
2.Pelham 256
3. Our Lady of Lourdes 252
4.Harrison 250
5.Nyack 244
6.Ardsley/Dobbs Ferry 214
7.Yonkers 212
8.Byran Hills 161
9.John Jay E. Fishkill 148
10.Peekskill 50
