Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Bellmore-Merrick Lady Sharks were unable to snap the Garden City Trojans’ winning streak at the Nassau County Girls Swimming and Diving Championships this year. But the district-wide team has plenty to celebrate as its successful season comes to a close, as the squad is sending seven swimmers to this weekend’s state championship meet.
The Sharks’ 449 points at county meet, which ended on Nov. 9 at the Nassau County Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park, were not enough to top Garden City’s 458.5. The Trojans have now won the title for 15 consecutive years.
Approximately 49 points separated the second place Sharks and third-place Manhasset. Bellmore-Merrick coach Robert Kaefer noted that his squad swam exceptionally. “The girls obviously gave it everything they had,” he said. “We had great times - almost every time was a best time. We just didn’t have enough swimmers in the meet compared to Garden City.”
The Sharks dominated in relays, finishing first in the 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard freestyle and the 200-yard medley. Kaefer noted that the 200-yard freestyle team – Jessia Arana, Paige Kaplan, Jaimie Kaefer and Kerry Giovanniello – and the 400-yard freestyle team – Arana, Kaefer, Giovanniello and Liz Walsh – shattered county records at this year’s championship. The Sharks’ 3:34.38 finish in the 400-yard event topped Garden City’s 3:36.28 record from 2007, while the team competing in the 200-yard event bested a 1:39.47 record time already held by Bellmore-Merrick with their 1:38.94 finish.
The members of each relay team previously made state championship cuts for their finishing times from the dual meet against Garden City last month. The medley relay at the Oct. 26 meet consisted of Walsh, Kaplan, Kaefer and Georgeanne Zimmerman. The 200-yard freestyle relay participants were Kaplan, Kaefer, Arana and Giovanniello. Walsh, Arana, Giovanniello and Danielle Auty competed in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
