CALDWELL – The Mount St. Dominic Academy winter track team continues to do well in competitive meets.

The Lions competed in two relays at the Essex County Indoor Relay Championships, held at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y., on Thursday, Dec. 30.

The distance medley relay team of Ava LaBruno, Amanda Galasso, Olivia LaBruno and Isabella Dressler finished third overall with a time of 14:36.

“Dressler is a freshman who competed in her first indoor track meet for MSDA,” said head coach Mike Vigil. “Her 6:11 mile split on the distance medley relay is a personal-best time for her.”

The 4x800-meter relay team of Ava LaBruno, Olivia LaBruno, Cassidy Sontz and Dressler finished second overall with a time of 11:11.

“We were excited to bring our relays to this meet and for each to walk away with a medal,” Vigil said.

The Lions also competed at the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games on Saturday, Jan. 8.

“Gianna Mangili took third place in the 55m dash, one second off of her personal best, and sophomore Anna Caccicarne threw a personal best in the shotput at 27-1/2,” the coach said.

The Lions were set to compete at the NJSIAA Non-Public B Relay Championships at the Bennett Center in Toms River on Wednesday, Jan. 12. They are scheduled to compete at the Peddie Winter Invitational II in Hightstown on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Basketball

The Mount basketball team’s record is 5-2.

The team’s last victory was over Cedar Grove, 41-40, on Thursday, Jan. 6. The Lions were trailing, 24-19, at halftime and 31-23 at the end of the third quarter and came from behind for the victory. Juliet Howell scored 22 points for the Lions.

The team won two games in the Mount Holiday Hoops Festival, defeating Pope John, 64-56, on Sunday, Dec. 26 and St. Elizabeth, 44-33, on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

In the Pope John game, Alexa Murphy had 22 points, four rebounds and five assists. Howell finished with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The Lions jumped out to an 18-7 lead in the first quarter, and the game was tied at halftime. The Mount outscored Pope John, 39-30, in the second half to come away with the victory.

In the St. Elizabeth game, Howell scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and had three assists. Jade Larkin scored nine points, and Maddie Natale scored eight.

Swimming

The Mount team has a 5-1 record and has won four straight meets.

The Lions defeated James Caldwell, 95-75, on Wednesday, Jan. 5.

Amanda Rohde, Sophia Liwanag, Elise McGirt and Madison Gadjewski placed first in the 200m medley relay (2:03.64). Rohde won the 200m individual medley (2:27.14) and 100m freestyle (57.44). Liwanag won the 100m fly (1:04.21) and the 100m breaststroke (1:16.47).

McGirt, Maeko Marapao, Gadjewski and Caitlyn Tagliareni won the 200m freestyle relay (1:54.75). Gadjewski won the 100m backstroke (1:11.53). Rohde, Marapao, Tagliareni and Liwanag won the 400m freestyle relay (4:08.25).

The Lions defeated Montclair Kimberley Academy, 110-59, on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

The team is set to face Newark Academy on Thursday, Jan. 13. On Monday, Jan. 17, the Lions will compete in the Essex County Championship.