Ellis, Garufiset NHS records at state meet
New best times posted in 200 free, 200 IM
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT SPORTS EDITOR
Ainsley Ellis and Beau Garufieach broke school records during last weekend's Division 2 All-State finals.

MICHAEL GALVIN/The Independent Beau Garufi

Ellis, the only swimmer representing the Cape and islands during the girls' meet at Harvard on Sunday, finished fourth out of 31 swimmers in the 200-yard freestyle event, setting a new NHS standard with a time of 1:59.39. The girls' swimming captain, capping a notable career and competing in her final high school meet, posted a time of 55.02 in the 100-yard freestyle, finishing sixth out of 18 swimmers.

Garufi, swimming at Boston University on Saturday, set a new school record time of 2:03.79 in the 200 individual medley and finished sixth out of 23 swimmers in the event. The junior also finished third at states in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.73.

"These are very fast, competitive meets," coach Jim Pignato said Monday. "I give credit to both swimmers. It's very hard to be the only swimmer representing your school at these meets."

And, as Pignato pointed out, both swimmers represented Nantucket very well.

SAM TOOLE/The Independent file Ainsley Ellis

"Coming into this meet, Beau was poised to have a good meet, but he completely blew away my expectations with his time. For a high school swimmer to post that time in the breaststroke is a phenomenal feat."

He also had high praise for Ellis. "Our goal was to go under two minutes (in the 200 free), and she did it," Pignato said. "The 100-yard freestyle was a very strong swim for her. This was really a great way to end her high school swimming career."

Pignato looks forward to Garufi's return, and said he will miss Ellis "tremendously. She's been a backbone of the team for her four years. I could put her in

any event, and she'd excel." I