Liberty and Freedom girls' swim teams ended the regular season with their annual rivalry meet on Feb. 12 when the Hurricanes defeated the Patriots 195-118 on senior night at Liberty.

"It went really well. We prepared all week, making posters and getting the gifts. It was really fun, and we did lots of stuff as a team," said Liberty captain, Jocelyn Baker.

Despite the fact that most first place finishes were won by Freedom, the Hurricanes' depth controlled the outcome.

"A lot of teams have fast swimmers, and we do too, but sometimes it's not enough. [Our depth allows us] to get more points and overcome the points of a first place win," Baker said.

The Patriots won the first event of the night when Carly DelFranco, Kelly Kopko, Helen Hsu, and Shannon Howell took first place in the 200 medley relay in 1:53.46.

Baker won the 200 free in 2:01.31.

"I was [happy with my time]. At this time last year, I was a little faster because I got out in front pretty quickly," she said.

Hsu won the 200 IM in 2:09.07 and the 100 free in 52.30. Howell outtouched Liberty's Kayla Drago in the 50 free by .22 seconds. Howell also won the 500 free in 5:12.30. Grace Walters placed first in the 100 fly for Liberty.

In diving, Freedom's Madison Young took first place with a score of 258.35 points.

The 200 free relay was won by Liberty when Drago, Maggie Walters, Anita Kundu, and Julia McCarthy finished in 1:43.90.

DelFranco placed first in the 100 backstroke in 1:01.83, and McCarthy won the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.20.

In the girls' final event, Howell, DelFranco, Rileigh Ellis, and Hsu combined to win the 400 free relay in 3:45.08.

This past Saturday was the Last Chance Meet at Emmaus High School, which gives swimmers one more chance to qualify for districts.

Jenny Buttillo made the 100 fly cut, Shannon Hogan made the 100 free cut, and Lydia Csatari made the 200 free.

Baker said, "Our goal was to have the maximum amount of qualifiers in each event, four each."

When Csatari qualified in the 200 free, the Hurricanes officially reached that goal.