Both the boys and girls posted winning records

By Chris Villani

The Milford High swimming program came into the 2023-2024 season with only 20 athletes, 11 boys and nine girls. But the small rosters did not keep the Scarlet Hawks from success in the pool, with the boys finishing the season 6-1 and the girls posting their first winning record in several seasons with a 4-3 mark.

“It was a very successful year for us,” said head coach Dave Chaplin.

Swim meets are often won with depth, something MHS did not have this year. For the girls to win more meets than they lost with only nine swimmers in the pool was an incredible feat.

“It was mentally challenging,” Chaplin said. “The girls knew what they had to do. To win the meets they did, they almost had to swim perfectly each time, and they did it.”

Sarah Wengel served as the girls’ team captain and Chaplin described her as the “consummate leader.”

A sprint freestyler, Wengel often competed against the top swimmers in the Hockomock League.

“She always held her own, and she won many races,” Chaplin said. 

Bridget Howland added points for Milford in the distance events and freshman McKenzie Roy made an impact in her first season.

“She didn’t stop smiling,” Chaplin said of the freshman. “She is a breath of fresh air.”

Samantha Da Silva and Camilla Costa were two more contributors who, like Roy, came through the Milford Community Use Stingray program.

The boys were led by captain Oscar Khoury, a senior who Chaplin said “did yeoman's work” and established himself as the leader of an otherwise young team.

A trio of juniors, Aaron McIsaac, Ben Pezza, and Corey Rattray, stood out for the Hawks all winter and joined with sophomore Ethan Fielder to break school records in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay events. Lucca Ramos, Connor Hayes, and Owen Enright were among the swimmers who also became key cogs for MHS at various points this winter.

The boys placed second in the Hockomock’s Kelley Rex Division and fourth overall in the league meet. Their only dual meet loss came against Attleboro, the team that won both the league and South Sectional championships. Chaplin said he was pleased to see both teams turn in stellar performances at the league meet, which was hosted at Milford High.

“We have kids who are dedicated to that meet and it paid off,” he said. “We had 100 percent of our kids swim their best times of the year at the most opportune moment.”