WHS All-State Swimmers: A Complementary Pair

WHS swimmers Sabrina Schuster (left) and Alanna DePinto were named All-State by the Connecticut Coaches High School Association

Alanna DePinto and Sabrina Schuster were the ideal teammates and competitors this fall. Both were honored All-State by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association following sensational performances in which they challenged each other every day in practice and during competition.
           
DePinto, a senior, and Schuster, a sophomore, each specialized in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
           
“Sabrina knows how to have fun at practices and she knows when it’s time to be serious. Sabrina and I pushed each other in practices and meets, always racing and trying to beat each other. Neither of us like to lose. Our mindsets and how we raced each other in everything definitely helped with how we did at the end of the season in the 50 and the 100,” said DePinto. “I can’t wait to see how much Sabrina grows the next two years at WHS.”
           
Schuster said that DePinto has been a great role model, adding. “She motivated me to push harder in practices and was very tough competition, especially in the 50. She mentored me to strive for more and to never give up. Alanna has been a big part of my high school swimming career and I’m glad to have had her as a captain this year.”
           
The two were consistent throughout the entire season and then peaked during the Class L championships. DePinto finished 2nd in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, while Schuster finished 3rd in both events. The two also teamed up with Jilian Pitchell and Olivia Krout for a 4th place finish in the 200 freestyle relay at the class finals. 
           
The duo’s efforts in the 50 free, which ended up being the fifth and sixth fastest times in the state, earned them All-State recognition. 
           
“Getting recognized for all-state means a lot to me. I have been swimming for 11 years total, with 6 of those years being year round, practicing 6-7 days a week, for two hours. So for me getting all-state for all four years of my high school career allows me to prove to myself that my hard work and passion for swimming can lead me to great things,” stated DePinto. “Getting all-state makes me extremely proud, proud of my swimming and proud to represent the Wethersfield High School swim and dive team. I am very sad that I’m leaving the team, but I’m honored to leave the team on such a high note.”
           
2021 marked the fourth straight season that DePinto was named All-State and the second straight for Schuster, who still has two years left in the pool at WHS.
           
​“All-state is a great honor and accomplishment. It means a lot to me to be able to get this award my first two years of high school,” added Schuster. “I am very excited to see what happens these next two years representing Wethersfield High School.”