The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School swim teams have found success this season, with the boys’ team undefeated in league meets and some swimmers already qualifying for the state championships.
On July 16, Doug McConnell will attempt once more to swim from Nantucket to Martha's Vineyard. This time he has organized a team of local swimmers to help him achieve victory, all to benefit ALS research.
On Saturday, the high school boys swim team won the Cape Cod Classic, a first for the program. The annual tournament features six local competitors and the competition is heated each year.
About three quarters of the way through his swim from Nantucket to the Vineyard, Doug McConnell had to pull out. While battling unexpected high waves he injured his shoulder.
Since Doug McConnell began doing long swims in 2011 he has only failed to complete two — a 17-hour swim between two Hawaiian islands, and a swim from Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard attempted in August 2019. He hopes to turn defeat into victory this month.
Doug McConnell entered the water off Nantucket at 7:17 a.m. today to begin his swim to the Vineyard. At 2 p.m. he was just off Wasque. Track his progress at track.rs/ALongSwim.
