Saratoga Swim & Dive Team Earns First Undefeated Season in Decades

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the past 20 years, the Saratoga Springs varsity girls’ swim and dive team has achieved some impressive regular season records, including going 7-1 in 2006. But all of those seasons were surpassed this year when the Blue Streaks won every single one of their meets.

The unbeaten streak was solidified last week when Saratoga bested Shenendehowa for the second time this season.

“Shen has historically been great, and they are this year too,” said Coach Joshua Muldner. “I was probably as surprised as anybody when we pulled ahead at that first meet.”

The Blue Streaks launched their season with back-to-back victories against Shen and Niskayuna, another school that has long been a tough challenger for Saratoga. Muldner called those meets and the final rematch against Shen “super intense.”

The successful season is due, in no small part, to a lethal combination of experienced, record-setting seniors and a freshmen class that exceeded expectations. 

Among the veterans, senior Gianna DiMaggio broke multiple pool records (at Albany and Schenectady) as well as a school record, solidifying her place among the best divers both in Section 2 and in Saratoga Springs history. Muldner called her “a force to be reckoned with on the boards.” DiMaggio and another Blue Streak diver, sophomore Amelia Covey, have qualified for the New York State Championship meet scheduled to take place next month. (The last time Saratoga sent two divers to states was in 2019.) 

Meanwhile, the rookie team of Victoria Lill, Maeve Moynahan (an 8th grader), Skylar Panetta, and Catherine Kim broke all three freshman relay records this season.

“We have eight seniors this year and their leadership has been amazing,” Muldner said. “But it’s really the combination of the two forces: My new girls, who joined the team and meshed really well, and my seniors who set the tone for the team and carried on traditions… It’s like a very cool perfect storm of seniors who lead by example and are great role models at both ends of the pool, diving and swimming, and then new girls who are coming in who are not afraid to step outside their comfort zone and work really hard to get better.”

Next up for this talented group is the Section 2 Division I Championship, scheduled to take place Nov. 6-8 at the Shenendehowa Aquatic Center in Clifton Park. The state championship in Webster, New York is set for Nov. 21 and 22.

“This was a very special season with a lot of great girls and I’m just excited to be on this journey with them,” Muldner said.