With two challenging meets in a 48-hour span, the Skaneateles girls swim team had an exciting start to its 2012 season.
Head coach Jill King’s Lakers began with a trip to Auburn last Wednesday night for a non-league meet, and stayed right with the Maroons through most of an 89-81 defeat.
Nikki Cole stood out with a pair of individual titles. Cole swam the 50 freestyle in a top time of 26.18 seconds, and added a victory in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.07.
Haley Buchholz contributed a first-place time of 1:10.75 in the 100 butterfly, just before Rachel Teixieria earned a victory in the 500 freestyle in 5:42.27.
Auburn built its winning margin by earning victories in all three relay events and getting double titles from Mary Jane Leja (200 and 100 freestyle) and Micheala Elliot, who was first in the 200 individual medley (2:29.20) and 100 backstroke (1:05.12).
Two nights later, Skaneateles had its home opener against New Hartford, and while the Spartans had too much depth and prevailed 100-80, the Lakers again had its own fair share of strong moments.
Bucholz improved her 100 butterfly time to 1:10.16 and prevailed again, adding 100 backstroke in 1:09.33. Teixeria went to the 500 freestyle and nearly matched what she did at Auburn, winning in 5:42.31, later joining Bucholz, Chezeki Boudreau and Halie King as Skaneateles took the 400 freestyle relay in 4:11.11.
On the Spartans’ side, Cassie Papaleo claimed the 50 freestyle (26.92 seconds) and 100 freestyle (56.21 seconds), with Maya Smith prevailing in the 200 freestyle (2:04.78) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.00).
Skaneateles again swims twice in three days in the week ahead, starting with Wednesday’s trip to Baldwinsville and continuing with Friday’s home meet against Holland Patent.