Vineyard Swim Team Breaks Records at State Championships

MVRHS varsity swim team sets new school records and earns highest placement yet at the MIAA Division 2 State Championships.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) varsity swim team set two new school records and earned its highest placement yet at the state championships this past weekend. The Vineyarders scored 52 points to place 12th out of 70 total teams at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 2 State Championships held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center in Cambridge.

Why it matters

The strong performance by the MVRHS swim team at the state championships is a significant accomplishment, as it marks the first time the Vineyard has qualified for all three relays for the state meet. This achievement highlights the dedication and hard work of the swimmers, as well as the support of the coaching staff and community.

The details

At the state championships, the Vineyarders set two new school records. The 200-yard medley relay team posted a new record of 1:47.20, and Ronan Mullin broke the school record in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:06.31. Mullin also competed in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing 10th and just missing his previous record. The 200-yard freestyle relay team and the 400-yard freestyle relay team also had strong performances, with all four swimmers setting personal bests in the 400-yard event.

  • The state championships were held on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • The sectional championships were held on February 8, 2026, a week earlier.

The players

Jen Passafiume

The head coach of the MVRHS varsity swim team, who praised the team's hard work and preparation for the state championships.

Grady Stalgren

A member of the record-breaking 200-yard medley relay team, swimming the backstroke leg.

Michael Calheta

A member of the record-breaking 200-yard medley relay team, swimming the breaststroke leg.

Ronan Mullin

A swimmer who broke the school record in the 200-yard individual medley and also competed in the 100-yard butterfly.

Claus Smith

A member of the record-breaking 200-yard medley relay team, swimming the freestyle leg.

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What they’re saying

“The Vineyard boys were locked in and ready to rock and roll. The whole team worked really hard this whole season and had the race times and postseason qualifications to prove it. This was the first time the Vineyard had ever qualified for all three relays for the state championships.”

— Jen Passafiume, Head Coach (The Martha's Vineyard Times)

“This team came together to pull off some incredible results this season, and I could not be more impressed and prouder of everyone. The team spent the night in Boston and celebrated with a fantastic dinner in Cambridge and headed back to the Island on Monday feeling like champions!”

— Jen Passafiume, Head Coach (The Martha's Vineyard Times)

What’s next

The MVRHS swim team will look to build on their success at the state championships and continue to set new records in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

The MVRHS swim team's strong performance at the state championships, including setting new school records and earning the program's highest placement yet, demonstrates the dedication and hard work of the swimmers and coaches, as well as the support of the Martha's Vineyard community.