Girls Swimming Picks Up Speed As Postseason Approaches
- Dan Fappiano
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
When Meghan Wittneben took over the role of head coach of the Blue Knight girls swimming team this year, she wasn’t unfamiliar with the position. She had served as head coach back in 2006-07 and as an assistant in 2024. The team she was coaching had also been around for a while – it predominantly featured returners, with only two new swimmers on this year’s squad. There were bound to be some changes with the new coach, but the Blue Knights didn't blink and have adapted strongly, putting forth an impressive campaign individually and as a team.
“I knew a lot of them from last year. I knew their strengths and weaknesses. It was nice to have a lot of familiar faces returning,” Wittneben said. “The girls have been super receptive and super willing to take on my coaching style, which is a little different than the previous coach’s. So far, they’ve been doing excellent. Overall the vibe on this team is really positive.”
As they prepared to begin the season, coach and swimmers spoke about their goals and what Southington overall wanted to accomplish. Wittneben convinced the Blue Knights that she could help them improve their best times. They developed a practice plan that would progress as the season went on so that they would be peaking by the end of their campaign.
Once their regular season commenced, Southington was able to show what they’re made of.
Blue Knights Make A Splash During Regular Season
The Blue Knights opened their season with five-straight wins, taking down Manchester Co-op (88-76), Plainville (102-82), East Catholic (85-83), Bristol (80-67) and Hall (105-78). Wittneben watched Southington work together to reach new heights and create a positive energy.
“The energy was really high,” Wittneben said. “My two captains are really leading by example. It’s a positive atmosphere, everybody really has the same goal in mind. They have really come together as a team. They all want to do their best but they are also really supporting each other.”
Their matchup against Hall stands out for Wittneben for a number of reasons. For starters, it was an away meet. Southington girls swimming does not currently have a diving team. That means that at every away meet, the Blue Knights enter the competition automatically down 13 points.
It’s something that could lurk in the back of each swimmer’s mind. However, Southington didn’t let it affect them against Hall. Instead, they buckled down and found a way to put up points.
“These away meets are particularly difficult. They know that we’re already starting with negative points,” Wittneben said. “But they have really focused on our relays. Relays are where you can get a lot of points. The girls realized the importance of those relays. Even if we don’t get a first or a second, the depth in our swimming has really allowed us to battle back from our lack of divers.”
In that meet, Southington’s B 200-meter freestyle relay team of senior Maren Tarfano, sophomore Grace Wittneben, senior Madelyn Pugliese and sophomore Norah Muccino placed third, a finish that helped lead the Blue Knights to victory. The squad’s A 200-meter freestyle relay team of junior Niya Villanueva, sophomore Brooke Scott, freshman Emma Niro and senior Alexandra Szczepanik finished first place in their race, showing off the team’s relay prowess.
Eventually Southington suffered its first loss, going down 84-72 against Farmington on October 1. Wittneben says the team felt a bit defeated, since they had battled hard. The Blue Knights had to refocus and be prepared for their next opportunity to compete. That came one week later on October 8 against Newington. Southington earned a 85-75 victory, proving their newfound outlook successful.
“We talked about getting back in that place where we take it one meet at a time, one swim at a time,” Wittneben said. “It’s about going back out there, trying to do our best individually but also as a team. They were able to come back and produce some best times, get a few additional State qualifiers, and win the meet.”
The Blue Knights did fall in their most recent meet against Conard 99-81. However, Southington saw 11 swimmers reach season-best times while another two qualified for the Class LL State Tournament. It may not have been a win, but Wittneben was proud of how her team competed.
“They swam as hard as they could,” Wittneben said. “But with Conard having diving and some pretty solid swimmers, unfortunately we did lose. Still the girls swam great, their spirits were up and they still produced best times. That’s all that I can ask for.”
Southington is now 6-2 on the season. They’ll next compete against South Windsor away on October 17.
Southington’s Roster Full Of State competitors
The Blue Knights are led by a pair of senior captains in Marren Tarfano and Alexandra Szczepanik. Tarfano swims the 100-meter breaststroke and 100 freestyle while Szczepanik is a sprinter, competing in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle.
Wittneben calls Szczepanik, who goes by Ola, one of the strongest swimmers on the team. She leads by example with her work in the pool. Furthermore, she is always there to encourage her teammates and push them through any moments of self doubt.
Tarfano brings positivity and enthusiasm, ensuring the Blue Knights are bound by camaraderie. She organizes the team’s weekly bonding sessions, which Wittneben says she gets creative with. Tarfano is always ready to lift up her teammates.
Both seniors bring individual qualities that make the Blue Knights stronger. But it’s their work as a pair that Wittneben thinks makes them an elite pair of leaders.
“They work together excellently,” Wittneben said. “They both bring this team together. When I’m lacking in something, they’re there to fill in the voids. They’re always there to give girls some positive words, to encourage the girls. They just make the girls overall a better team.”
Ola is one of nine Blue Knights to have already qualified for the State Tournament. She’ll be competing in the 50 and 100 freestyle, her specialties. Szczepanik will be joined by Niya Villanueva in the 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter butterfly. Norah Muccino will be competing in the 200 and 500-meter freestyle while junior Rachel Alejandro swims the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly.
Junior Raegan Burdeshaw has qualified for the 200-meter individual medley and the 100-meter breast stroke. Brooke Scott will be in the 100-meter butterfly, Emma Niro in the 50-meter freestyle and junior Cassandra Landes in the 100-meter breaststroke. Furthermore, sophomore Kylie Samson, who Wittneben calls one of the biggest point scorers on the team, has qualified in the 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter backstroke and 500-meter freestyle.
Southington will have a strong presence at 2025’s State Championship. That’s a fact Wittneben is proud of, especially with the group of Knights that have qualified.
“Being able to bring so many girls works to our advantage,” Wittneben said. “That’s two full relays we’re able to bring. We have a solid group that support each other as a team. I’m hoping that a few of them go beyond State trials, moving on to Finals and Open.”
Still, the season is not done. Amongst Southington’s remaining meets is the hallowed Central Connecticut Conference Championships. Wittneben is expecting her team to get faster and hopes to see even more girls advance to States.
“These times are being swum in the middle of the season. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can produce once they’re actually tapered and once we get towards the end of the season,” Wittneben said. “That’s typically when you produce those fast times, at CCCs. We have a few other girls that may be close. It’s going to be nice to see what they can produce during the rest of the season.”
Southington High School’s girls swimming roster features seniors: Bromley Corona, Alexandra Eggers, Maria Howey, Aubrey Perugini, Madelyn Pugliese, Arsa Shabani, Alexandra Szczepanik and Maren Tarfano; juniors: Rachel Alejandro, Raegan Burdeshaw, Cassandra Landes and Niya Villanueva; sophomores: Sophia Ysabel Gamboa, Sophie Laszewski, Norah Muccino, Kylie Samson, Brooke Scott, Desara Shabani and Grace Wittneben; alongside freshman Emma Niro.
Blue Knights Compete As One
Her first year back as head coach has been an exciting time for Wittneben. She said it has been a pleasure to coach this team. The amount of hearty laughs they’ve shared is only matched by the effort they put in the pool.
For the head coach, that is what sets Southington apart. Each swimmer has a shared goal of success and wants to improve at every opportunity. However, they aren’t doing so in spite of their teammates.
If someone on the team has a bad race, Wittneben says it’s common to see three to four girls go up to her. Whatever they need at that moment, the Blue Knights are there to provide it. Their weekly bonding sessions have only strengthened their chemistry. Southington is swimming as one, making the strongest waves they can muster.
“They are a team. Swimming is more of an individual sport, but this group really comes together and supports each other continuously. They are always cheering for every girl, every single one of their races. They have put in a lot of work this season. They all want to do well, and that shows in the meets. They’re super competitive, but also demonstrate really good sportsmanship.”
Entering the second half of the season, Wittneben said she couldn’t be prouder of how her team has competed. At the same time, not all of their goals are checked off. She wants swimmers to improve on their best times, knocking seconds off of their races. Furthermore, Wittneben is hopeful for a strong showing at CCCs. “We have more in us,” she says. She knows the Blue Knights are determined and hungry to show what they can do.
When Wittneben took on the head coach job, she had an open dialogue with the team. She wanted everyone to understand each other and the plans put in place. Southington has bought in completely and has put in the work. As the Blue Knights’ head coach looks back on her first season back at the helm, she’ll never forget this how this team strove for greatness.
“This group has worked hard from the beginning,” Wittneben said, “and has been willing to put in the work. I told them it would show in their times, and it has, week after week they’re getting best times. They’re staying consistent, which isn’t a common thing for the sport of swimming. You typically have your ups and downs. But this group has not only been consistent, but improving over time. It just goes to show the amount of work that they’re putting in at practice.”
Wittneben is joined by assistant coach Francesca Ciniglio. She coached Ciniglio during her first tenure as head coach. Once Wittneben became head coach again, she thought she would give Ciniglio a call to ask if she’d be interested in joining the staff. Ciniglio accepted the offer, which Wittneben was grateful for, thinking she may have been tough on her as coach. Now back with the Blue Knights, the head coach calls Ciniglio a crucial part of Southington’s success.
See NMR Photography for more Blue Knights sports photography.
