Dolphins take Sunday meet with Sandwich
The Dolphins hosted Sandwich last Sunday and weren’t kind to the visitors as they racked up 601 points to Sandwich’s 136. The Dolphins took 14 of 15 first place finishes in the relay events and had several swimmers capture two first place finishes. Ainsley Ellis and Hunter Burnham, who also swim for the Nantucket High School team, took three first place events.

Dolphin swimmers flourished in nearly every event, including the backstroke, on Sunday.

Coach Jim Pignato says the numbers are in Nantucket’s favor this year. On Sunday, for instance, the Dolphins had 60 swimmers to Sandwich’s 15. “We have just under a hundred on the roster, it’s a big squad. This is the biggest team I’ve fielded in my tenure here.” Pignato is in his fifth year coaching the Dolphins.

Pignato said the meet “was a really good opportunity to get some swimming in, especially our younger kids.”

Emily Hutchinson, who swims in the 13-to-14-year-old age group, put in a notable performance in both the 50-and-100-yard freestyle, with a time of 1:01.52 in the 100. “That’s the fastest she’s ever been,” Pignato noted. “We hope to get her under a minute; breaking a minute in that event is a big deal. It’s going to be a fun year for her.”

The Dolphins travel to Massasoit Community College in Brockton this Saturday for a league meet with Marshfield, Sandwich and Willy’s East Swim Team from Eastham. It will be a sprint meet, meaning the events will feature shorter distances than those of the dual meets.

The Dolphins will next be home on January 14.

Swimmers who took two firsts against Sandwich are: Dakota Dragon (8 and under); Olivia Rand and Ashley Wilson (9 and 10s); Jack Decker and Alexa Dragon (11 and 12s); Emily Hutchinson; Beau Garufi, Ainsley Ellis and Hunter Burnham (15 and over).

— Steve Sheppard