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 My Site News: MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW -- PITTSFORD REIGNS AS SECTION 5 CHAMPIONS |
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Monday, February 20
MAKE IT FOUR IN A ROW -- PITTSFORD REIGNS AS SECTION 5 CHAMPIONS
(Click on headline for full results)
After watching his swimmers and divers cruise to their fourth straight Section 5, Division A Championship, Pittsford head coach Mark Morris smiled and said, “it’s been a terrific season.”
The undefeated Panthers took either first or second place in nine of 11 events at Sectionals, including victories in two of the three relays, rolling up 332 points, more than a hundred points better than second place Penfield (227). They qualified for 16 slots at the upcoming State Championships in Buffalo, a tie for the most slots for any team that Morris has coached.
Ben Silverstein, Sean McManus, Kenny Pink and Andrew Kuter won the opening 200 medley relay with a season’s best time of 1:39.96. Kuter, Charlie Ruff, Jimmy Prezzano and Nathan French turned in a 1:29.84 for first place in the 200 free relay (both teams qualifying for States).
In the individual events, French’s 4:41.65 for first place in the 500 free not only qualified for States, but also for All American consideration. Kuter’s 22.45 victory in the 50 free was also a State qualifying time. Kenny Pink’s 1:00.88 win in the 100 breast, another State time, rounded out the first place finishes for the Panthers.
Other highlights for Pittsford included the battle in the 100 back between Silverstein and Todd Winchell of Greece. Winchell, who was named “Swimmer of the Meet,” won with a 54.31, with Silverstein right next to him at 54.93, both qualifying to swim the backstroke at States. Matt Lobban placed fifth in the event for Pittsford, with a 59.05.
In nearly every event, Pittsford challenged for the top positions. French was second in the 200 free (1:46.96), with Ruff third (1:48.90). Pink was third in the 200 IM (2:02.13), with Prezzano in fourth (2:02.23) and Silverstein in fifth (2:03.86). Ruff was second in the 100 free (49.19), Prezzano third (49.92) and Kuter fourth (50.02). In addition to Pink’s first place finish, McManus was fourth in the 100 breast (1:03.15) and VanVoorhis was sixth (1:06.15). All times qualified for states. Also swimming in the finals, McManus was fifth for Pittsford in the 100 fly (56.39) and Derek Lasher sixth (57.85). Matt VanVoorhis was sixth in the 100 breast (1:06.15).
The closing 400 relay team of Ruff, Prezzano, Pink and French had a season’s best time of 3:18.37 for second place. It was also a State qualifying time, which means all three Pittsford relays will be going to Buffalo.
“Taking all three relay teams to States…and all of them having a shot at making All American times…this is what you try to put together as a coach,” Morris said.
In addition to the swimmers, Pittsford’s divers played a key role in the successful season. In the diving competition, held earlier, Sean Hingel placed third for the Panthers with 344.80 points, with Wills DeMoulin fourth at 340.80 points.
“You only place that high if you’re part of a great swimming and diving program…and this is a great program,” assistant diving coach Mark McMann said.
Also scoring points for the team at the February 19 championship meet at SUNY Brockport were some of the younger Pittsford swimmers. Freshman John Lyman placed 11th in the 200 free. Eighth grader Lee Silverstein was 11th in the 200 IM and eighth grader Brandon McManus placed 10th in the 500 free. Silverstein and McManus were two of the four pairs of brothers than helped power this year’s Panther team (Lee’s older brother Ben is a graduating senior co-captain, Brandon’s older brother Sean is a sophomore). The others members of the “band of brothers” are graduating senior and co-captain Derek Lasher and his younger brother Scott, and sophomore Nathan French had his older brother Ben, a junior.
“This has been an exciting, energetic season,” said co-captain Silverstein, “but if there’s one word to sum it up, it’s been ‘fun,” he added.
Co-captain Ruff agreed. “Holding the trophy at Sectionals was the highlight so far, but we still have States,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it – it’ll be the last word,” Ruff said.
Pittsford came into the finals as the top seed, having already secured 14 State slots in the preliminary round on February 17.
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