08-02-2025
Depth points Franklin girls' swimming to second South sectional title in three years
'I wasn't expecting that we would get it again. It felt almost like a one-off thing,' said Birali, a senior captain. 'But we all worked really hard together and we came together and we were able to do it.'
Franklin won just two races — Birali's triumph in the 100-yard backstroke (59.17) and the 400 free relay (3:43.87) — but relied on its depth. The Panthers gained points in nine of the meet's 12 events.
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'The depth is what gave us all the points for the championship,' said first-year Franklin coach Carl Cederquist, who previously coached for 45 years with the Crimson Aquatics club team. 'Third-, fourth-, fifth places, those all add up, and all the kids were getting some amount of points, even the ones with two points. They all help us.'
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Birali said she realized the title could be in play after analyzing the psych sheet beforehand. Once the Panthers began to stack points, her confidence grew.
'Coming in, I was like, this could be a possibility,' Birali said. 'Then, 'Hey, wait, this is getting more real.' Honestly, I'm just happy we could do it.'
Brimming with confidence after
The University of Florida-bound senior captured individual titles in the 500 free (5:09.12) and 200 IM (2:06.98) — winning each by 9-plus seconds — and powered the Bombardiers to wins in the 200 medley relay (1:52.28) and 200 free relay (1:42.54).
'I was just looking to enjoy myself as much as possible, because for me personally, with enjoyment comes better swimming,' Ferguson said. 'I just try to do myself, let myself loose because there's nothing to hold back.'
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New Bedford sophomore Serenity Coleman was another double winner, taking the crown in the 50 free (24.63) and 100 free (54.12). Sharon junior Feining Huang emerged with a pair of individual wins, too, notching victories in the 100 butterfly (55.87) and the 200 free (1:53.29).
Attleboro senior Zuri Ferguson won both 500-yard freestyle (above) and the 200 individual medley by 9-plus seconds each at MIT.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
Franklin captain Harikalal Birali was determined in her stroke on the way to winning the 100-yard backstroke.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
Dover-Sherborn swimmer pose after placing second at the South sectional meet at MIT.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
Franklin's Ava Pecora competes in the 500-yard freestyle at MIT. She placed sixth to secure 13 points.
Erin Clark/Globe Staff
MIAA South Championship
at MIT
200 medley relay — 1. Attleboro, 1:52.28; 2. Franklin, 1:53.8; 3. Seekonk, 1:57.02.
200 freestyle — 1. Feining Huang, Sharon, 1:53.29; 2. Cora Shea, Sharon, 1:55.99; 3. Lydia Craft, Seekonk, 1:56.27.
200 IM — 1. Zuri Ferguson, Attleboro, 2:06.98; 2. Sarah Pescod, Norton, 2:15.96; 3. Emily Tonino, Seekonk, 2:18.16.
50 freestyle — 1. Serenity Coleman, New Bedford, 0:24.63; 2. Anna Szafran, Duxbury, 0:24.72; 3. Samantha Lee, Norwood, 0:24.83.
Diving — 1. Rachael Silva, Durfee, 435.200 points; 2. Maddie Reif, Norwell, 424.050; 3. Sadie Him, Norton, 419.250.
100 butterfly — 1. Feining Huang, Sharon, 0:55.87; 2. Annie McLean, Canton, 0:58.73; 3. Kseniya Baghdasaryan, Franklin, 0:59.21.
100 freestyle — 1. Serenity Coleman, New Bedford, 0:54.12; 2. Audrey Hannigan, Marshfield, 0:54.31; 3. Taylor O'Neil, Franklin, 0:55.12.
500 freestyle — 1. Zuri Ferguson, Attleboro, 5:09.12; 2. Sarah Pescod, Norton, 5:18.58; 3. Cora Shea, Sharon, 5:20.73.
200 freestyle relay — 1. Attleboro, 1:42.54; 2. Dover-Sherborn, 1:43.94; 3. New Bedford, 1:44.21.
100 backstroke — 1. Harikalal Birali, Franklin, 0:59.17; 2. Lydia Craft, Seekonk, 0:59.48; 3. Olivia Erwin, Bishop Feehan, 1:00.36.
100 breaststroke — 1. Molly Connors, Ashland, 1:07.59; 2. Anna Szafran, Duxbury, 1:07.75; 3. Norah Yang, Dover-Sherborn, 1:11.1.
400 freestyle relay — 1. Franklin, 3:43.87; 2. Seekonk, 3:47.7; 3. Sharon, 3:51.26.
Team results — 1. Franklin, 229; 2. Dover-Sherborn, 173.5; 3. Attleboro, 173; 4. Sharon, 148; 5. Seekonk, 142; 6. Norton, 137; 7. Marshfield, 115; 8. Bishop Feehan, 109; 9. New Bedford, 106; 10. Duxbury, 104; 11. Norwood, 100; 12. Nantucket, 99; 13. Scituate, 83; 14. Dedham, 55; 15. Canton, 49.
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