Goshen swimmers make history only four years after team forms

By Ginny Privitar
GOSHEN — Goshen High School’s Lady Gladiators swim team made astounding strides in the four years of its existence. Fifteen-year-old Emma Melley is one of the standouts.
The sophomore qualified to compete in the 100-yard butterfly at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championship swimming and diving meet held at Ithaca College on Nov. 16 and 17.
“It was a lot of fun,” Emma said. “The college was really nice, and I liked how the pool was set up — a warm-up pool, a main event, and diving pool.”
The girls competing in Ithaca were 594 out of 20,000 swimmers and divers in the state, says Emma’s father, Chris Melley.
This was Emma's first NYSPHSAA meet. In the preliminaries, she added to her time by a fraction of a second. She did not advance to the finals. But there’s always next year.
Emma and the team have really come far under the guidance of Coach Melissa Freehill, who gave a history of the team’s success at the swim team’s recent annual banquet (see sidebar).
Emma said when she was in sixth grade, she decided to try swimming “just for a sport to do instead of sitting around at home doing nothing."
It paid off. Her skills and commitment grew, and she became more serious about her sport.
When she’s not swimming, Emma enjoys horseback riding, hanging out with friends, and playing with her poodle-terrier mix, Raisin. She likes to travel with her family and enjoys learning about the history and culture of the places she visits. She also works part-time as a lifeguard at the YMCA pool in Middletown.
Support the teamThe team depends on support from the community and will be holding two fundraisers:
Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Delancey’s Bar & Restaurant, 40 Park Place, Goshen. Delancey’s will donate to the swim team a portion of the proceeds of all meals eaten in the restaurant or taken out that day. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Friday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at Goshen High School, 222 Scotchtown Avenue, with the Harlem Wizards. Tickets may be purchased at harlemwizards.com. The Harlem Wizards site describes the event as “like a Broadway show on a basketball court," entertaining and fun. “From the time the Wizards step onto the court to themed music, with our own MC and sound system pumping, and our team of 6 talented players with electric personalities delivering a choreographed trick and slam routine, the gym is rocking! Our team will feature tricks, music, dunks, comedy, dancing, and audience participation. It is an awe-inspiring, two-hour basketball show including an autograph session.”