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 My Site News: PITTSFORD WINS BATTLE OF DIVISION CHAMPIONS |
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PITTSFORD WINS BATTLE OF DIVISION CHAMPIONS
PITTSFORD SWIMMERS TURN BACK CHALLENGE FROM PENFIELD
The Pittsford Boys Swimming and Diving team faced their first real test of the young season against a determined Penfield squad on December 20. The Panthers passed with flying colors, handing the Patriots their first loss of the season, 112-74.
The match had taken on added excitement because Penfield was coming off a rare victory against Section 5 rival and perennial powerhouse Fairport. Also, Penfield is the defending Division II champion, Pittsford the defending Division I title holder. But Ben Silverstein, Charlie Ruff, Kenny Pink and Andrew Kuter bolted out of the gate with a season’s best time of 1:42.10 to win the 200 medley relay, and the Panthers never looked back.
With Pittsford sweeping all three relays and posting either first or second place in each individual event, the Patriots had to play catch-up all day. Silverstein won the 100 back, Pink was first in the 100 breast, Sean McManus was the victor in the 100 fly and Sean Hingel had another first place in diving. In the sprint relay, Kuter, Ruff, Jimmy Prezzano and Nathan French teamed up for the victory, and Prezzano, Pink, Silverstein and French closed the meet by taking first place in the 400 free relay.
Jonathon Jones set a Penfield school and pool record with a time of 4:46.69 in the 500 free, but Pittsford’s French hung tough, matching Jones stroke for stroke for much of the race, and finishing second with an excellent time of 4:48.91. French also took second in the 200 free. Other second place finishes for Pittsford included Pink in the 200 IM, Kuter in the 50 free, Ruff in the 100 free, McManus in the 100 breast and Matt Lobban in the 100 back.
Head coach Mark Morris was pleased with the outcome, calling it “an emotional, as much as a physical victory,” as the boys stepped up for what was expected to be one of the biggest challenges of the season.
Penfield’s pool was equally divided between Panther and Patriot boosters. It included a number of former Pittsford swimmers who were home from college for the school break. They were joined by members of the Pittsford girls swim team, parents and fans, and even Mendon principal Karl Thielking, who came to cheer their team on to victory.
The Panthers junior varsity also had a good day, defeating Penfield’s JV by a score of 109-48. There were two double winners, Andrew Maier in the 200 free and 100 free events, and Matt VanVoorhis, in the 50 free and the 100 breast. Other first place finishes for the JV included Brandon McManus in the 200 IM, Dave Miller in the 500 free, Matteo Bucci in the 100 back and Charlie Shaddock in diving.
PITTSFORD GROUNDS GREECE LIGHTNING, 110-37
Pittsford celebrated the holidays early with a 110-37 victory over Greece Arcadia/Olympia in the friendly confines of Mendon pool on December 22.
The Panthers are 4-0 in dual meets this season and 6-0 overall, including two tournament victories.
Senior Charlie Ruff was a double-winner, taking both the 200 free and the 100 fly. Other first place finishers for the Panthers included Nathan French in the 200 IM, Jimmy Prezzano in the 50 free, Kenny Pink in the100 free, Ben Silverstein in the 500 free, Sean McManus in the 100 back, Matt VanVoorhis in the 100 breast and Sean Hingel in diving. Matt Lobban teamed up with Prezzano, Pink and French to win the 200 medley relay.
Pittsford’s junior varsity extended their unbeaten streak, taking their contest against the Lightning JV by a score of 99-39. Andrew Maier was a double winner for the Panthers, taking both the 50 free and the 500 free. Alex Todisco won the 200 free, John Lyman was first in the 200 IM, Lee Silverstein was the victor in the 100 fly and Matt Fenton won the 100 free.
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