WHS Recording-Breaking Relayers Reflect

Wethersfield High School swimming head coach Lee Schwartzman pictured with his Class M record-breaking 200 Freestyle Relay team of Milena Brodowicz, Morgan Tracy, Jilian Pitchell, and Sabrina Schuster.

Wethersfield High School’s girls swimming and diving recently wrapped up the program’s “most accomplished” season under longtime head coach Lee Schwartzman

Along with setting numerous high marks as a team, the Eagles’ 200 Freestyle Relay team created history on Nov. 14 by breaking the Class M state record.

The foursome of Milena Brodowicz, Morgan Tracy, Jilian Pitchell, and Sabrina Schuster combined to swim a 1:37.60, besting the previous mark of 1:38.08 – held by New Canaan since 2009.

Schwartzman stated that, along with being individual standout swimmers, the members of the record-breaking relay worked harmoniously together to create the memorable moment at Southern Connecticut State University. 

It is also noteworthy that each member of the relay team represents a different grade level — spanning the Class of 2024 to the
Class of 2027. 

Brodowicz, a sophomore, was first in the water for the historic swim, saying, “I think it’s important to get a good start for the team. Once we have a lead, we don’t want to lose it.”

Tracy, a freshman, entered the pool second. She admitted to being a bit nervous waiting on the starting blocks, but once she was in the water the nerves melted away.

“We were ahead and I had to keep it going,” stated Tracy, who added that she never envisioned being part of any state records in her first season at WHS

In the third position was Pitchell, who echoed Tracy’s sentiments.

“I just had to keep up with the lead — that is all I was thinking,” stated Pitchell, a junior.  

Once Pitchell finished up, it was Schuster’s turn to bring home the record. 

Schuster, a senior, had won both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle earlier in the meet and wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away

 “We all had goal times going into the meet; we all knew what we had to do to get the record,” added Schuster. “We were on pace, now I just had to hold up my end and go as fast as I can to get the record.”

Once Schuster touched, she immediately looked up and saw the record-breaking time on the board as the celebration began.

“With all four of us it made it so much more fun,” stated Pitchell. “It’s something we all did together.”

The idea of breaking the record came about in late-October – in the week leading up to the conference championships – when Brodowicz and Schuster approached Schwartzman about the possibility. 

Schwartzman went to work, figuring out all the possible paths to the record and sending the four detailed ways to achieve it. 
“I obsessed over it for two and a half weeks.” Schwartzman said with a smile.

Once the state championships arrive, not only did the 200 Free Relay deliver a record-breaking performance, but the entire team delivered. The Eagles placed second overall at the Class M championship, matching the 2014 team that also placed second at the class meet. 

Along with taking home individual state titles in the 50 and 100 Freestyle, Schuster broke the varsity record in the 100 Free, finishing with a time of 52.52 at the class meet.

Schuster, Brodowicz, Pitchell, and Maddison Kelly closed the meet by winning the 400 Freestyle relay.  

“I feel like we all worked really hard leading up to the class meet and we all had a huge goal in mind,” stated Schuster. “I have never been part of a team so motivated to get goals, so it was pretty awesome to fulfill those goals.”

The team carried over the momentum from their Class M finish to the State Open where they finished 6th overall as a team. The program’s previous high at the State Open was 9th. 

At the State Open, Pitchell set an individual record of her own by swimming a 24.15 to break the program record in the 50 Freestyle. 

Pitchell noted it’s the competiveness and the closeness of the team that allows the swimmers to have success in the big moments.

“My teammates were even more excited than I was,” Pitchell said of her record. “Everyone is so supportive.”

The success at the State Open wrapped an unforgettable fall for the Eagles, who finished officially undefeated for the first time since 2017 (also posting an unbeaten record during the Covid-19 restricted season in 2020). They also captured another conference title, the team’s 15th in a row.

Outside of Schuster, who is headed to Bryan University to swim, most of the Eagles top swimmers are slated to return in 2024. 
After having statistically the best year in program history, Schwartzman noted, “There’s only a couple of ways we can go up from here.”

The WHS swimming and diving team after taking second place in the Class M championships at Southern Connecticut State University.