CLINTONVILLE — The Peru Nighthawks girls’ swim team capped an undefeated regular season by winning their first Section VII Swim Championship since 2019 Saturday at Ausable Valley High School.
The Nighthawks were led by Helena Cordick and Mia Coupal, both of whom took home multiple first place finishes and qualified for the upcoming New York State Championship.
Cordick won the 500 free (5:52.95) and 100 back (1:06.68), while Coupal took first in the 200 IM (2:26.17) and 100 fly (1:03.31), events both swimmers went undefeated in during the 2025 season. Maddi Mero swam to a first place finish in the 50 free while helping the Nighthawks secure wins in two relay events on the 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 won the 400 free relay (4:02.97).
“This team of 14 amazing girls had a great season,” Peru head coach Carol Pearl said. “What set Peru apart to win sectionals was having four of the top point scoring girls swimming for Peru (Coupal, Cordick, Mero, and Isecke).
“Beyond that, the impressive depth with every girl putting points on the board made for a very strong team. Time drops for Charles, Miller, Wood and Besette were impressive. All in, the girls came together, put their heads down and swam fast while cheering for each other.”
Coupal, who qualified for states for a third consecutive year said she’s proud of her time.
“It’s very exciting, and I have so much fun with all the girls and my whole team,” she said. “We went undefeated this season, and I am super excited and proud of everybody.”
Micalli Johnson shined for Ausable Valley, placing first in the 200 free (2:09.41) and the 100 free (57.55), while Annie Manion took first overall in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.44), swimming in her final home meet for the Patriots.
The Plattsburgh Hornets head to states in the 200-yard free relay (1:50.34), being paced by Kara and Kiley Krester, Elizabeth Chase and Allie Christodoulou.
While Peru took first overall with 389 points, Ausable Valley came in second at 249, followed by PHS, Moriah and Beekmantown. All swimmers who took home first place finishes will represent Section VII at the NYS Swim Championship in Webster on Nov. 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. AVCS ‘A’, 2:09.53
200 freestyle- 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. Kretser, PHS, 2:46.96. 3. Bullock, AVCS, 2:54.47
50 freestyle- 1. Mero, PCS, 27.01. 2. Christodoulou, PHS, 27.37. 3. Ka. Kretser, PHS, 27.98
100 butterfly- 1. Coupal, PCS, 1:03.31. 2. Smith, AVCS, 1:18.58. 3. Burgess, PHS, 1:30.60
100 freestyle- 1. Johnson, AVCS, 57.55. 2. Mero, PCS, 59.85. 3. Charles, PCS, 1:04.56
500 freestyle- 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 backstroke- 1. Cordick, PCS, 1:06.68. 2. Wood, PCS, 1:14.97. 3. Besette, 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
