MassLive released its girls swimming Super 7 for the 2025-2026 season.
Last season showcased dominant regular season and championship performances across Western Mass. for top talent in girls swimming.
As the 2025-26 campaign prepares to begin, below are seven swimmers, including five seniors, that are expected to play a key role for their teams.
Finnley Chambers, Amherst
As a junior, Chambers put up two top-five finishes in each of the Division II state and MIAA West/Central sectional championships for the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle events.
The silver medal for the 200 free at states earned the now-senior a personal best of 1:57.99, as she finished only four seconds shy of fellow Super 7 athlete, Lilah Doherty.
These performances were also paired with Chambers’ role as anchor in the two relay events, where the Hurricanes snagged top-five finishes in the state and regional championships as well.
The distance swimmer has proven herself in all aspects of the pool, with double-digit first placements in the regular season, and top showcases in the championships to put her at the top of a talented Amherst squad entering this season.
Vincy Cheung, Agawam
Last season, Cheung secured 21 first-place finishes across eight events, helping the Brownies record a 5-3 record.
The senior, who specializes in sprints for freestyle and backstroke events, also excelled in the postseason. In the Division I state meet, Cheung placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle. In those same events, she place third and fourth, respectively, in the West/Central sectional.
With her senior year approaching, Cheung should continue to perform at a high-level as one of the top-ranked pool sprinters in the region.
Lilah Doherty, Longmeadow
The senior is coming off her most dominant season yet, where she earned multiple top podium placements during the championship events.
As a junior, Doherty was a four-time state champion in Division II, with first place finishes in two individual events, including a season-best time of 55.98 seconds for the 100-yard butterfly, and two relays, to help the Lancers place third overall.
Doherty also snagged four golds for Longmeadow in the MIAA West/Central sectional championships prior to states, where the Lancers placed second.
Headed into her senior season, Doherty should pick up right where she left off, excelling against regional and statewide competition to pave her way back to the podium.
Makayla Ellis, Westfield
The senior distance swimmer and Boston University commit has continuously performed at a high level for the Bombers throughout her high school career.
Ellis is a two-time Division I state champion in the 500-yard freestyle, putting up a time of 5:04.68 for her most recent gold medal last season. She also placed second in the 200 yard freestyle with a season-best time of 1:53.06 in states.
With over 20 first-place finishes during the regular season, and never falling below top-eight in last year’s MIAA state and sectional championships, Ellis’ consistency in the pool has been key for her own success, as well as for Westfield, and no different should be expected in her senior year.
Keaghan Kline, Monument Mountain
The senior is the lone Super 7 selection outside of the Minuteman League, and for good reason.
In her junior season, Kline placed first in all four of her events for Berkshire County individuals, as all as four top-five placements in the MIAA sectional and four top-10 placements in Division II states.
One of the senior’s top performance during this span was a personal best of 25.13 in the 50-yard freestyle that earned her sixth at states.
Competing mostly in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly for individuals and as the anchor for the 200 and 400-yard FR, Kline enters her senior season slated as one of the best swimmers across Berkshire county.
Chelsea Ortega, Minnechaug
As a sophomore, Ortega played an integral role during the Falcons’ MIAA West/Central sectional victory, earning two top-three placements in individual races.
The now-junior finished second in the 100-yard backstroke with a personal-best of 1:02.42, as well as third in the 200-yard IM.
Last season, she also helped secure a fourth place finish in the Division I state championship for Minnechaug. Ortega captured two top-five finishes as the leadoff in relays, and a sixth and eighth place finish in individual races.
Ortega should take another step up in her junior season, with plenty of opportunity to compete against top regional talent in the Minuteman League and help the Falcons replicate their postseason successes.
Grace Perron, Belchertown
As only a freshman, Perron made a name for herself in distance events.
In the Division II states 500-yard freestyle, she earned the gold medal with a personal-best time at 5:05.64, and was six seconds ahead of second place.
She put up a similar performance for that same event in the MIAA sectionals, placing first to snag the Orioles lone medal of the day.
Now slated for her sophomore year, Perron should have ample opportunity to strengthen her distance race performances in hopes to retain her top placements that she earned a year ago.
