Fiamma Cioffi Leads Powerful Ardsley-Dobbs Ferry Swimmers

Published 1 month ago1m ago • Bookmarks: 338

Dobbs Ferry swimming phenom Fiamma Cioffi

December 10, 2025

By Tom Pedulla–

The future looks to be incredibly bright for the combined Ardsley-Dobbs Ferry girls’ swimming team.

Led by Ardsley junior Fiamma Cioffi, the 400-yard freestyle relay team dramatically slashed its time and advanced to the state championships with a 3:41.46 clocking. It went on to finish 18^th overall in the state.

Support our Sponsors

In addition, Cioffi advanced to state-wide competition in the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.77) and in the 500-yard freestyle (5:13.58). In the states, she finished 24^th in the 200-yard individual medley and 26^th in the 500. Coach Jacqueline Cordero said of the team’s season, “It’s one of the highlights of my career as a coach.” That is saying plenty since she has coached for 26 years.

The best is almost certain to come since the relay team is composed entirely of underclassmen: eighth-grader Daphne Green, junior Isla Harris, eighth-grader Emma DeFilippis and Cioffi. Harris and DeFilippis are from Dobbs Ferry.

According to Cioffi, she began swimming competitively at age six or seven. She was following the leader of Chenoa, her older sister. “As the younger sister, I always have to do what she does,” she said. “I just fell in love with the sport.”

Cioffi was especially proud of the relay team’s performance. “I love being able to compete at a high level with the girls,” she said. “We’re hyping each other up and it’s a lot of fun.”

Cioffi excelled as the anchor. “She has this drive that you don’t usually see in kids,” Cordero said. “She is very focused. She doesn’t let things distract her.”

While she is early in her college process, Cioffi is determined to compete at the next level and has room to progress. “There is no end yet. She is just warming up, as we put it,” Cordero said.

Cioffi credited Cordero for her accomplishments and those of her teammates. “Jackie is a very supportive coach. She’s always there, always high energy,” the junior said. “She always knows how to motivate us and it’s always in a positive manner. That has a really big impact on the team.”

Another positive aspect is the way girls push each other to faster times. Cioffi said of her thinking in the sectionals before she came through in a swift 54.26 seconds in the final leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay, “I knew my girls were counting on me and I needed to do this not only for me but for them, too. That gave me the motivation and drive to swim fast and I am very happy and so proud of us that we managed to go to states.”

Cordero knew Cioffi was primed for a big effort because she saw her dancing as she prepared to race. “She literally dances in her spot,” the coach noted. “She is so psyched and that’s her way to pump herself up. When I saw her doing that behind the blocks, you know she’s on. She’s ready.”

Green, from Ardsley, provided another key to the relay team’s success in the sectionals with a powerful opening leg in 55.70 seconds. “She’s definitely going to be an All-American swimmer by her junior year, if not sooner,” Cordero said. “Her goal is to make the Olympics one day. She’s definitely someone to watch out for. She will be getting bigger and stronger as she gets older.”

For the Ardsley-Dobbs Ferry girls’ swimming team, 2026 cannot come soon enough.

Read or leave a comment on this story...

Support our Sponsors