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 My Site News: FIVE IN A ROW -- PITTSFORD REIGNS IN SECTION 5, CLASS A |
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Sunday, February 18
FIVE IN A ROW -- PITTSFORD REIGNS IN SECTION 5, CLASS A
PITTSFORD CLINCHES FIFTH STRAIGHT SECTION 5 CLASS A SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP
The Pittsford Boys Swimming and Diving team again proved why they’re the dominant team in Section 5 as they clinched their fifth straight Class A Championship, and seventh in the last decade, with an impressive performance at Webster Aquatic Center on February 17.
Nate French set a Class A record in the 500 free as the Panthers notched five first place finishes on their way to victory. Kenny Pink won the 200 IM, Andrew Kuter was the victor in the 100 free and Pittsford won both the 200 and 400 free relays as the team rolled up 444 total points, 131 points ahead of second place Fairport.
“It was a good win for the team,” said co-captain Jimmy Prezzano. “Everyone moved up from preliminaries and we did even better than we thought we could.”
The balanced attack that has become a hallmark under head coach Mark Morris was again evident at Sectionals. Matt Lobban, Kenny Pink, Sean McManus and Andrew Kuter teamed up for a time of 1:39.35 for second place in the opening 200 medley relay. French followed with a 1:46.23 for second in the 200 free, with Dan Locke taking seventh and Brandon McManus tenth.
Pink won the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.14, with teammate Prezzano right behind in second place and Lee Silverstein coming in 11th. Kuter took second in the 50 free, with John Lyman sixth, Matt VanVoorhis 13th and Andrew Maier 16th. Sean McManus was third in the 100 fly with a time of 55:00, with Locke sixth and Silverstein 14th.
Three highly-contested races followed, with Pittsford showing what coach Morris called, “the heart that makes this team special.”
In the closest race of the meet, Kuter won the 100 free with a time of 48.91, edging Penfield’s Chris Doser by 1/100th of a second. Prezzano was fifth for the Panthers and Lyman 11th in the 100 free. The 500 free was another heart-stopper, with French winning in a new Class A time of 4:36.81, less than a second ahead of Penfield’s Jonathan Jones. Both times broke the existing Webster pool record in the event. Lobban was seventh for Pittsford in the 500, Brandon McManus came in eighth and Tyler McCrobie finished 11th. Kuter, Pink, Prezzano and French then turned in a time of 1:28.74 for first place in the 200 free relay, turning back a challenge from Greece Athena.
Lobban took fifth place in the 100 back with a 57.73, with Maier in 15th place. Pink, Sean McManus and VanVoorhis went 2,3,4 in the 100 breast, with Pink breaking a minute in the event (59.92), one of his goals for Sectionals. Locke, Prezzano, Sean McManus and French closed the meet with a 3:17.12 for first place in the 400 free relay. Locke's time in the first 100 split of the event qualified him for States in the 100 free.
In the diving competition, held earlier, senior Wills DeMoulin scored 376.50 points to take third place for the Panthers. Alex Byrd was sixth in diving and Scott Lasher placed 15th.
“The performances were through the roof,” Coach Morris said, “with virtually every kid having a lifetime best time every time they hit the water.”
Coach Morris will be bringing eight swimmers to compete in 15 events, including all three relays, at the upcoming State Championships at Erie Community College March 2 and 3.
“I’m very proud of our team. We’re really looking forward to States,” co-captain Lobban said.
Other highlights for Pittsford included Nate French being named Division I “Swimmer of the Year” and Kenny Pink receiving the “Donna Jean Mooney Memorial Award,” in honor of an official who dedicated more than 30 years of her life to promoting the sport of swimming.
Handout:
2006 - 2007 Meet Results
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