Peur caps undefeated season with swim title

CLINTONVILLE — The Peru Nighthawks girls swim team capped an undefeated regular season by winning its first Section VII swimming championship since 2019 Saturday at Ausable Valley High School.

The Nighthawks were led by Helena Cordick and Mia Coupal, who both earned multiple first place finishes and qualified for the upcoming New York State Championship.

Cordick won the 500 freestyle (5:52.95) and 100 backstroke (1:06.68), while Coupal won the 200 IM (2:26.17) and 100 fly (1:03.31), events in which both swimmers remained undefeated through the 2025 season. Maddi Mero swam to first place in the 50 freestyle while helping the Nighthawks to victories in two relay events that day.

The team of Mero, Cordick, Coupal and Charlotte Isecke would win the 200 medley relay for Peru (2:04.04), while Chloe Chase, Mero, Cordick and Coupal would win the 400 freestyle relay (4:02.97).

“This team of 14 amazing girls had a great season,” said Peru head coach Carol Pearl. “What allowed Peru to win the sections was having four of the top scoring girls swimming for Peru (Coupal, Cordick, Mero and Isecke).

“Beyond that, the impressive depth of each girl putting points on the board created a very strong team. The time gains for Charles, Miller, Wood and Besette were impressive. In total, the girls came together, put their heads down and swam fast while cheering each other on.”

Coupal, who qualified for states for the third year in a row, said she was proud of her time.

“It’s very exciting and I’m having so much fun with all the girls and my whole team,” she said. “We went undefeated this season and I’m super excited and proud of everyone.”

Micalli Johnson shined for Ausable Valley, placing first in the 200 freestyle (2:09.41) and 100 freestyle (57.55), while Annie Manion took first place overall in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.44), swimming in her final home meet for the Patriots.

The Plattsburgh Hornets head to the States in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:50.34), led by Kara and Kiley Krester, Elizabeth Chase and Allie Christodoulou.

While Peru took first place overall with 389 points, Ausable Valley came in second with 249, followed by PHS, Moriah and Beekmantown. All first place swimmers will represent Section VII at the New York State Swimming Championships in Webster on November 21-22.

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Team results

Peru 389, AuSable Valley 249, Plattsburgh 170, Moriah 88, Beekmantown 22

Individual results

200 Medley Relay – 1. PCS ‘A’ (Cordick, Isecke, Coupal, Mero) 2:04.04. 2. PHS ‘A’, 2:08.79. 3. Stroke ‘A’, 2:09.53

200 free- 1. Johnson, AVCS, 2:09.41. 2. Besette, PCS, 2:22.27. 3. Isecke, PCS, 2:30.54

200 IM-1. Coupal, PCS, 2:26.17. 2. Ki. Kretzer, PHS, 2:46.96. 3. Bullock, AVCS, 2:54.47

50 free- 1. Mero, PCS, 27.01. 2. Christodoulou, PHS, 27.37. 3.Ka. Kretser, PHS, 27.98

100 butterflies- 1. Coupal, PCS, 1:03.31. 2. Smith, AVCS, 1:18.58. 3. Burgess, PHS, 1:30.60

100 free- 1. Johnson, AVCS, 57.55. 2. Mero, PCS, 59.85. 3. Charles, PCS, 1:04.56

500 free – 1. Cordick, PCS, 5:52.95. 2. Chase, PCS, 6:28.07. 3. Belzile, AVCS, 6:48.28

200 Freestyle Relay – 1. PHS ‘A’ (Ka. Kretser, Ki. Kretser, Chase, Christodoulou), 1:50.34. 2. PCS ‘A’, 1:58.98. 3. AVCS ‘A’, 2:36.25.

100 back – 1. Cordick, PCS, 1:06.68. 2. Wood, PCS, 1:14.97. 3. Bésette, PCS, 1:18.30

100 breaststroke- 1. Manion, AVCS, 1:18.44. 2. Isecke, PCS, 1:24.61. 3. Brown, BCS, 1:31.20

400 Freestyle Relay – 1. PCS ‘A’ (Mero, Chase, Cordick, Coupal) 4:02.97. 2. PHS ‘A’, 4:07.71. 3. AVCS ‘A’ 4:52.02