The East Providence High School swimming teams concluded their 2023-24 regular seasons in recent days, the girls finished with an unblemished 6-0 record and with the program's first dual meet title in recent memory.

The Townies, in fact, closed their Division IV girls' slate with two victories, including a 68-22 win over their closest competitors from Blackstone Valley Prep to lock up first place then a similarly one-sided 69-23 over Burrillville to complete their unbeaten regular campaign.

On the flip side, the EPHS boys' squad settled for second place behind BVP after the Townies lost their meeting 48-45. Blackstone also finished undefeated with a 4-0 dual meet mark while the locals ended up 3-1.

All of the D-IV teams will gather Friday night, Feb. 16, in Bristol at Roger Williams University for the group championship meet beginning at 5 p.m. when, again, the Townies will be attempting to make a mark on the female side of the ledger by winning a girls' division title for the first time in the modern era.

"The girls had a great dual meet season and I am hoping that they do well at the division championship," said Bob Hassan, head coach for both EPHS sides.

Hassan noted for the league meet the Townies will be missing one of their athletes on a trip Italy with the school chorus, but that "the other girls are planning to step up and do their part for the best finish possible."

More girls' notes
The Townies opened up their meet with BVP by winning the 200 yard medley relay as Ines Benadouda, Abigail Ellison, Sadie Gagnon and Madison Luu clocked a time of 2 minutes, 13.37 seconds.

Gagnon then opened the solo events by winning the 200 freestyle in 2:01.59. BVP won the 200 individual medley before Cassie Delude took the 50 freestyle in 32.75, then Gagnon returned with a winning swim of 1:05.06 in the 100 butterfly.

BVP next won the 100 free in front of Maggie Robinson claiming the 500 free for the Townies in 6:50.59 in front of Delude, Aalina Amoros, Jayla DeGraca and Bethany Bernard teaming to win 200 free relay for the locals in 2:31.84.

East Providence won the last two solo swims and the final relay to complete the team triumph. Luu won the 100 back in 1:17.89 and Ellison the 100 breaststroke in 1:33.37. And the same quartet of Luu, Ellison, Gagnon and Benadouda closed the meet with a win in the 400 free relay in 4:29.56.

Against Burrillville, the foursome won the medley relay in 2:17.87 and the 400 free in 4:28.47. Luu won the back in 1:16.97, Benadouda the 500 free in 6:58.12, Gagnon the fly in 1:04.24 and the 200 free in 2:03.52, Delude the 50 free in 33.61 and Ellison the 200 IM in 2:48.07. And the 200 free relay of Delude, Bernard, Amoros and DeGraca won in 2:20.69.

More boys' notes
The EPHS boys' matchup with BVP to decide the regular season division winner came down to the final event with the latter winning the 400 free relay.

The Townies had taken the lead when Jaden Bettencourt, Slade Vandal, Kevin Vaughn and Gavin Manley won the mid-meet 200 free relay in 2:14.49. Nick Capobianco's win in the 100 backstroke in 1:00.9 maintained the Townies' slight edge before BVP won the 100 breast in front of its victory in the relay finale.

Other wins for the locals came via Ryan Branch in the 50 free (24.86) and Bettencourt in the 200 free (2:24.31)