Warwick Academy Top-20 Finishes as Easterns Concludes
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Warwick Academy’s ambitious campaign at the 2026 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships has drawn to a close, with the Bermudian school securing two hard-fought top-20 finishes on the final night of action at the Kunkel Aquatic Center.
The relay events provided a fitting finale for the thirteen-strong squad, who have consistently punched above their weight against some of the premier scholastic programmes in the United States.
In the Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay C-Final, the Warwick Academy quartet demonstrated remarkable progression from their morning preliminary swim. The team, comprising Elanna Fulton, Allison Steynor, Elena Bortoli, and Jorgia White, clocked a sharp 3:58.47 to finish fourth in their heat.
The performance saw them take nearly four seconds off their qualifying time, ultimately securing a final standing of 20th overall. The result marks a successful meet for the women’s relay unit, who have shown impressive technical discipline throughout the weekend's high-pressure sessions.
The Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay squad followed suit with an equally determined display. The team of Jamie MacFarlane, Logan Jones, Noah Fulton, and Axel Wernbo produced a clinical performance to finish third in the C-Final.
Stopping the clock at 3:24.45, the men’s quartet improved upon their preliminary ranking to finish 19th overall. The result caps a standout weekend for the men’s side, who have consistently challenged for positions in the middle of the championship field.
With two final appearances on the closing night, the Bermudian contingent leaves Lancaster with their reputations enhanced. The ability of both the men’s and women’s teams to improve their times between the morning and evening sessions will be of particular satisfaction to the coaching staff as they look toward the 2027 season.
As the team prepares to return to Bermuda, the focus will shift to the domestic season, with several athletes having laid a strong foundation for individual and collective success on the regional stage.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Bermuda Swimmers Secure More Finals on Day Two at Easterns
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The second day of the 2026 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships saw Bermuda’s presence in the pool grow even stronger, as the Warwick Academy contingent and a standout individual performer from Mercersburg Academy locked in several high-profile final qualifications at the Kunkel Aquatic Center.
Building on a successful opening day, Warwick Academy demonstrated the depth of their programme by securing a further two relay final appearances. The women's 400 Yard Freestyle Relay team, comprised of Jorgia White, Allison Steynor, Elena Bortoli, and Elanna Fulton, delivered a composed performance to touch the wall in 4:02.12. This effort was enough to secure the 20th qualifying spot, ensuring another appearance in the evening finals for the Bermudian school.
The men’s relay squad mirrored that success in their own 400 Yard Freestyle Relay heat. The quartet of Axel Wernbo, Noah Fulton, Jamie MacFarlane, and Logan Jones produced a sharp time of 3:24.87 to qualify in 19th position overall. The result marks a perfect sweep of relay final qualifications for the team across the first two days of competition in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the team success, there was significant individual news as another Bermudian athlete made waves representing Mercersburg Academy. Gabby Cechini produced a stellar swim in the Women’s 500 Yard Freestyle, clocking a time of 5:13.62 to qualify in 13th place. Her performance was a highlight of the session, positioning her strongly for the championship finals later tonight.
Individually for Warwick Academy, Logan Jones led the charge in the Men's 100 Yard Freestyle, finishing 25th in a massive field with a time of 48.39 seconds, while teammate Zachary Johnson also competed in the same discipline. In the women’s equivalent, Elanna Fulton finished 39th overall, ahead of Elena Bortoli.
The distance events provided further tests of endurance, with Jorgia White finishing 26th in the Women’s 500 Yard Freestyle, followed by Sofia Leclerc. For the men, Noah Fulton and Jacob Leclerc battled through the same grueling event to finish 52nd and 53rd respectively.
Across the backstroke events, Allison Steynor finished 53rd for the women, while Cameron Duda secured 58th in the men's race. Jamie MacFarlane added to the team's busy schedule by representing the school in the 100 Yard Breaststroke.
With the relay teams preparing for their second swims and Gabby Cechini eyeing a podium push in the 500 freestyle, Bermuda remains firmly established among the elite scholastic programmes at this year’s championships.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Warwick Academy Secure Relay Finals on Easterns Day 1
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The opening day of the 2026 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships delivered a solid foundation for Warwick Academy, as the Bermudian contingent secured two pivotal final qualifications at the Kunkel Aquatic Center.
Representing the island in one of the United States' most prestigious scholastic meets, the thirteen-strong squad navigated a demanding preliminary session to ensure the Bermuda flag will be flying in the evening’s second swims.
The highlight of the morning came in the relay events, where both the men’s and women’s teams showcased their collective depth. The Warwick Academy women, led by senior Jorgia White, clocked a time of 1:49.67 in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay to claim the 20th qualifying spot. White was joined by Allison Steynor, Sofia Leclerc, and Elanna Fulton in a disciplined performance that granted them a lane in the finals.
Not to be outdone, the men’s relay team mirrored the feat in their own 200 Yard Freestyle heat. The quartet of Axel Wernbo, Jamie MacFarlane, Zachary Johnson, and captain Logan Jones combined for a sharp 1:33.62, qualifying 19th overall and cementing a busy evening schedule for the travelling team.
In the individual freestyle events, Logan Jones narrowly missed out on a top-24 spot in a stacked 200 Yard Freestyle field, finishing 27th with a time of 1:47.01. He led a large Bermudian group in the event, followed by Noah Fulton, Ethan Smith, Jacob Leclerc, and Cameron Duda. On the women's side, Jorgia White finished 36th in her signature 200 Yard Freestyle, while Elena Bortoli and Sofia Leclerc also gained valuable experience on the regional stage.
The sprint sessions saw Elanna Fulton represent the school in the 50 Yard Freestyle, finishing 46th in 26.49 seconds, while Jamie MacFarlane and Zachary Johnson carried the torch for the men in the same discipline. Meanwhile, Axel Wernbo delivered one of the team's highest individual placements of the day, securing 33rd in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 54.14 seconds, as Allison Steynor also made her mark in the women's butterfly event.
As the competition transitions into the final sessions, the focus for Coach Ben Smith and his staff will shift to extracting every millisecond from the relay units. With two final appearances already guaranteed, Warwick Academy has once again demonstrated its ability to compete with the elite high school programmes of the East Coast.
The women’s quartet of Jorgia White, Allison Steynor, Sofia Leclerc, and Elanna Fulton were the first into the water for the evening session. Having qualified for the C Final earlier in the day, the team shaved nearly a full second off their preliminary time to touch the wall in 1:48.23. The result earned them a third-place finish in the heat and a final standing of 19th overall in a field featuring the premier high school programmes from across the East Coast.
The squad, comprising Logan Jones, Jamie MacFarlane, Zachary Johnson, and Axel Wernbo, produced a sharp performance in the Men's 200 Yard Freestyle Relay C Final. Clocking a final time of 1:32.74, they also claimed third place in their heat and 19th overall. The time represented a marginal improvement on their morning swim, demonstrating the team’s ability to perform under the pressure of the evening spotlights.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Warwick Academy Ready for Easterns Championships
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The Warwick Academy High Performance Swim Team has traveled to Lancaster, Pennsylvania this week to compete at the prestigious Easterns Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships, held February 13th – 14th at the Kunkel Aquatic Center at Franklin Marshall University.
This annual competition is one of the strongest high-school level meets in the United States, attracting top programs from across the region. Warwick Academy, representing Bermuda, will field a talented roster of 13 swimmers competing in 25 individual events and 6 relays.
Athletes include Captain Jorgia White (17), Elanna Fulton (17), Elena Bortoli (13), Sofia Leclerc (14), Allison Steynor (13) Captain Logan Jones (16), Axel Wernbo (16), Jamie MacFarlane (16), Zachary Johnson (17), Noah Fulton (15), Cameron Duda (15), Jacob Leclerc (13), and Ethan Smith (13).
Warwick Academy’s traveling staff includes Coach Ben Smith, Team Managers Shirene Fulton and Sommer Smith.
Head Coach Smith said, “Easterns is a meet that demands resilience, focus, and belief. Our swimmers have been working intensely throughout this season, and this is an opportunity for them to challenge some of the best scholastic swimmers in the United States. Warwick Academy is proud to represent Bermuda on this stage and our athletes are ready.”
The Warwick Academy High Performance program continues to produce some of Bermuda’s strongest young swimmers, combining academic excellence with elite-level athletic development. The program has built a consistent record of success at international meets and exposing swimmers to university scouts.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Baylor Secure Historic State Double as Bermudian Stars Shine
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Baylor School have cemented their status as a powerhouse of US high school swimming, claiming a sensational double victory at the 2026 TISCA State Championships.
In a event defined by record-breaking performances, the Baylor Women’s and Men’s teams were both crowned State Champions, bolstered significantly by a talented contingent of Bermudian athletes who delivered under the highest pressure.
On the men’s side, Connor Hupman proved to be a pivotal figure in Baylor's dominant display. Hupman secured two individual 'A' final finishes, placing 8th in the 200 Yard Freestyle (1:42.37) and 7th in the 100 Yard Freestyle (46.18).
However, it was in the relays where Hupman truly etched his name into the history books. He was instrumental as the Baylor boys captured state titles and set new state records in both the 200 Yard Freestyle (1:20.56) and the 400 Yard Freestyle (2:58.56) relays.
Joining him in the men's success were the Maranzana brothers. Noah Maranzana delivered personal bests in both the 50 Yard Freestyle (21.95, 19th) and the 100 Yard Freestyle (48.00, 22nd), while also playing a vital role in the preliminaries for the state-title-winning 4x50 Freestyle relay. Meanwhile, Gabriel Maranzana finished 32nd in the 100 Yard Freestyle (49.91) and recorded a backstroke personal best of 26.46 while leading off the 12th-place Medley relay team.
The Baylor women were equally imperious, with a trio of Bermudian swimmers providing essential depth across individual and relay events.
Katherine Wheddon led the individual results for the group, securing 14th place in the 200 Yard Freestyle 'B' Final with a time of 1:56.58, and finishing 31st in the 100 Yard Freestyle (55.38).
Violet Smith also earned a 'B' final spot, clocking 58.66 to finish 15th in the 100 Yard Backstroke, while Maggie Mewett finished 19th in the 50 Yard Freestyle (25.11) and 32nd in the 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:11.98).
Beyond individual accolades, the Bermudian contingent was the backbone of Baylor’s relay depth. Smith led off the 200 Yard Medley 'B' relay to a 9th-place finish, while Mewett and Wheddon contributed to strong showings in the freestyle relays to ensure Baylor remained unchallenged at the top of the overall points table.
As Baylor celebrates another historic state double, the performances of these young Bermudians serve as a powerful reminder of the island's burgeoning talent on the international stage.
