Wethersfield seniors, coach celebrate school’s first state girls swim title; board honors team

The Wethersfield Board of Education on a late‑December night honored the Wethersfield High School girls swim and dive team for winning the program’s first CIAC Class M state championship and its 17th consecutive conference title.

Coach Lee Schwartzman, who led the team through the season, told the board the team’s goal was a state title after three previous top‑three finishes. “We don’t really care about conference championships… We care about state championships,” he said, describing how the team rose from fifth in prelims to first in the final and relied on senior leadership to win key relays, including a come‑from‑behind effort at Glastonbury earlier in the season.

Schwartzman said the championship was the product of sustained work: long practices, a focus on goal setting and a growth mindset. A board member also noted the coach reached his 300th career victory during the season.

Board members asked the student athletes to identify themselves for the public record and invited the team to a group photo. Members praised both the team’s athletic performance and academic achievement; the coach and administrators noted many of the swimmers have high GPAs.

The recognition concluded with board members thanking the team, coaches and families for representing Wethersfield Public Schools. No formal board action was required for the recognition.