The pool at the YMCA has seen numerous triumphs this season, with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School boys and girls swim teams racing to success all season long.
The boys team finished the season as undefeated league champs. Seniors Ronan Mullin, Grady Stalgren and Claus Smith, along with sophomore Michael Calheta and freshman Moses Thomson have qualified for south sectionals and D2 States in various events. Mullin has qualified in four races for D2 States.
The girls team notched three victories this year, a huge step up from last season, which saw no victories. Much of this was due to a huge jump in participation, Both swim teams almost doubled in size from the year prior.
“This year, there’s so many more swimmers. We have so much more of an advantage,” sophomore Nora Duncheva said. “I think everyone’s taking it more seriously and more into the sport because we actually have a chance to be something.”
Coach Jen Passafiume is proud of the girls team, which won three meets this season after winning no meets last year.
“They are showing significant progress and growth,” she said.
Leading the way for the boys team has been Mullin, who broke the school record in the men’s 500-yard freestyle on Jan. 14 with a time of 5:17.34. The previous record was set by Patrick Best with a time of 5:34.73.
The 500 free isn’t even Mullin’s typical event, as he usually shines in shorter distance swims.
“I didn’t really compete for a while, so I had a good two months to keep training on that, and then I kind of blew it out of the park on the first meet,” he said at a recent practice.
Ms. Passafiume is impressed with how well-rounded Mullin’s swimming is.
“He is the most versatile swimmer I’ve had in a very long time, or maybe ever,” she said.
This year’s senior class of 10 boys and three girls is the largest Ms. Passafiume has experienced, with five of the boys coming out for the team for the first time this year.
“Most of them are friends and are on either a fall or spring sports team with other swimmers,” Ms. Passafiume said. “We’ve always said swimming is the best cross training you can do for whatever your spring or fall sport is, and it seems like this year, they all listened.”
Senior Syius Rivera Rigali, who is swimming his first and last season, said he has enjoyed seeing himself improve in the pool and having a good time with his friends.
“[A highlight] has been getting a faster time,” he said. “At first, I didn’t think it was going to be much, but then they really mean a lot more to you. It’s such a mental sport.”
Though the season isn’t over yet, for the seniors, the end of their high school careers weighs heavily.
“It’s preemptively overwhelming,” Mullin said. “I’m happy to be a senior and be winning the league champions three times in a row.”
Senior Leah Debettencourt echoed a similar bittersweet feeling.
“Pretty soon it’s going to be the last time putting on the swim team bathing suit and even actually competing with the same team I grew up with,” she said.
Ms. Passafiume is proud of her team and how much they have improved since last year.
“Looking at the pool right now versus looking at the pool when we first started is night and day,” she said.
The regular season ended last week, and the postseason meets begin with the Cape and Island League Championships on Jan. 31 in Sandwich. Sectionals take place on Feb. 8 at Boston University, and state championships are Feb. 14-15 at MIT.
This article appears in January 23, 2026.