ROME – Adirondack’s Makenna Burr is driven to chase records.
The senior swim star didn’t set any records Tuesday, but was part of four victories to help lead the Wildcats to a 102-83 victory at Rome Free Academy in a Center State Conference meet. Burr won the 200 individual medley, the 100 butterfly, and was part of victories in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. The victory keeps the Wildcats (8-0, 9-1) on track to win another league title.
“We were league champions last year and hope to win another this year,” Burr said. “We want to add to the streak.”
Adirondack’s Makenna Burr swims the backstroke leg of the 200 Individual Medley during Tuesday’s meet at RFA. Burr won the event with a time of 2:36.82. Adirondack won 102-83. (Photo by Jeff Pexton – Perfect Game Imaging)
The Wildcats got great performances from their entire team as junior Anna Lane notched three wins and sophomore Grace Chambers won two.
Lane won two relays and took the 500 freestyle in 6:38.25. Chambers won the 100 breaststroke (1:23.48) by nearly eight seconds over teammate Sarah Mercer. She also was critical to the Wildcats winning the 200 medley relay by turning a deficit to a sizable lead with a quick time in the breaststroke.
“I thought we did great overall,” said Liz Ritter, now in her sixth season as head coach at Adirondack. “We had a few injuries holding us back and some weren’t our best times, but all around I think it was good. The kids have worked hard all season. It was a good swim and a good win for us.”
Adirondack junior Korin Ossont swims during Tuesday’s meet at RFA. Adirondack won 102-83.
Despite her success, Burr wasn’t completely satisfied with her performance. Her winning time of 1:11.42 in the 100 fly was well off her school record of 1:08.32. She also dominated the 200 IM with a time of 2:36.32, but is hoping to eclipse the school mark of 2:31.00. Her personal best is 2:32.
“Today was not a real good representation of what I’m capable of,” said Burr, who made sectionals in the 100 fly last season and hopes to earn a spot in the 200 IM. “I’m happy to win, but I have more potential, and it’s just a matter of finding it during the right time at a meet.
“My goal is to break school records. I broke the 100 butterfly, and now want to break the record in the 200 IM. The 100 fly record was the oldest record in our school until I broke it. Now the 200 IM is the oldest and I hope to break that.”
In all, the Wildcats won seven events in the 12-event meet. Keeping RFA in the meet were the performances of junior star Haley Griffin and freshman Katerina Dragojevic. Griffin was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team and won the 50 freestyle (27.93) and 100 free (1:02.52).
RFA’s Haley Griffin won two individual events and a relay for the Black Knights. Adirondack won 102-83.
“I think I did well in the 100 free, but could’ve done better in the 50,” said Griffin, who just wants to lead by example. She has goals for the season, both as an individual as well as for her team.
“I want my team to work as hard as they can, and individually I want to make sectionals for as many events as I can,” Griffin said.
Also coming up big for the Black Knights was Dragojevic, who was part of their winning 200 freestyle relay team, then immediately recovered to win the next event (100 backstroke). In the 100 back, Dragojevic, Brianna Salce and Sarah Fazio swept the top three positions to help RFA (5-3) close to within seven points (81-74) with two events remaining.
However, the Wildcats were able to hold off the Black Knights (5-3) by winning the final two events – the 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay.
“We did well,” said RFA head coach Michelle Browne, who is in her 16th season. “We are lacking in the breaststroke and that’s our downfall. It’s tough because it’s in the back half of the meet, and if we are not ahead at that point, it’s hard to win.
“I’m not surprised they beat us,” Browne added. “But I’m proud of the team because they worked hard. I have two freshmen in Dragojevic and Aryann Dolan and wanted to mention how well they’re doing for us.”
Burr’s consistent performances are crucial to Adirondack’s success. However, Ritter also looks to Burr to set the tone for the entire team during practices as well as meets.
“She brings a lot to our team,” Ritter said. “She works hard and is one of the leaders for our team. She pushes everyone to do their best.”
Hunter Peters won the 200 freestyle and finished second in the 500 freestyle for Adirondack. RFA’s Paige Barone won the 1-meter diving with a total of 144.55.
Makenna Burr does the butterfly during Tuesday’s meet at RFA. (Photo by Jeff Pexton)
Adirondack 102, Rome Free Academy 83
200 Medley Relay: 1. Adirondack (Witzigman, Chambers, Burr, Lane) 2:20.40; 2. RFA (Griffin, Tutino, Dragojevic, Dolan) 2:21.28; 3. Adirondack (Ossont, Mercer, McWayne, Zagurski) 2:27.19.
200 Freestyle: 1. Hunter Peters (Adir) 2:31.13; 2. Emily Grosso (RFA) 2:31.95; 3. Lauren Hollenbeck (Adir) 2:36.21.
200 Individual Medley: 1. Makenna Burr (Adir) 2:36.82; 2. Mandi McWayne (Adir) 2:55.52; 3. Sarah Fazio (RFA) 3:09.44.
50 Freestyle: 1. Haley Griffin (RFA) 27.93; 2. Kayleigh Sins (Adir) 28.75; 3. Aryann Dolan (RFA) 28.93.
1 Meter Diving: 1. Paige Barone (RFA) 144.55; 2. Lexia Dyer (Adir) 129.65; 3. Sarah Hahn (RFA) 124.25.
100 Butterfly: 1. Makenna Burr (Adir) 1:11.42; 2. Katerina Dragojevic (RFA) 1:11.98; 3. Adrianna Ortlieb (Adir) 1:19.85.
100 Freestyle: 1. Haley Griffin (RFA) 1:02.52; 2. Kayleigh Sins (Adir) 1:08.29; 3. Madeline Maher (Adir) 1:10.04.
500 Freestyle: 1. Anna Lane (Adir) 6:38.25; 2. Hunter Peters (Adir) 6:51.02; 3. Molly Riggleman (RFA) 7:09.53.
200 Freestyle Relay: 1. RFA (Griffin, Dragojevic, Nash, Dolan) 2:02.40; 2. Adirondack (Witzigman, Maher, Sins, Lane) 2:08.55; 3. Adirondack (Hollenbeck, Chambers, Zagurski, Peters) 2:11.76.
100 Backstroke: 1. Katerina Dragojevic (RFA) 1:20.65; 2. Brianna Salce (RFA) 1:24.77; 3. Sarah Fazio (RFA) 1:29.07.
100 Breaststroke: 1. Grace Chambers (Adir) 1:23.48; 2. Sarah Mercer (Adir) 1:31.24; 3. Jessica Tutino (RFA) 1:42.73.
400 Freestyle Relay: 1. Adirondack (Maher, Lane, Sins, Burr) 4:37.04; 2. RFA (Nash, Dolan, Grosso, Salce) 4:45.49; 3. Adirondack (Hollenbeck, Ossont, McWayne, Peters) 4:58.70.
Records: RFA (5-3); Adirondack (8-0, 9-1).
Nick Sardina is a writer for midyorksportsreport.com. Follow Nick onTwitter @nsardinamysr or on Facebook. Contact him via email at
