(January 4, 2008) — Pittsford has come out on top the last four years in head-to-head boys swimming meets against Fairport.

With another strong lineup, Pittsford is favored to win again when the two teams meet at Mendon at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"I never use the words clear-cut with a Fairport-Pittsford meet," Pittsford coach Mike Morris said. "I have that much respect for Fairport.

"We will go with our top lineup. They are one of the top teams in the state."

Look for some of Section V's top swimmers in the races they excel best in as neither coach will experiment much with their lineups.

"We want our kids to compete against the best and see where they are," Fairport coach Mike Kennedy said. "You see what Pittsford has done and you applaud that.

"We're trying to get back there. It's healthy for a team to set that kind of standard."

Pittsford is a five-time defending Section V Class A team champion. The team is again so strong that three of its relays swam qualifying times for the state meet with eight individuals at the Owego Invitational on Dec. 15.

Monroe-Woodbury of Section II, which was No. 2 in last year's final state ranking and had almost its entire lineup back from last season, finished 70 points behind Pittsford.

Four seniors led the way for Pittsford then, and could provide an ample number of points against Fairport.

Nathan French is the reigning 500-yard freestyle state champion and also was part of Pittsford's winning 200 freestyle relay. Andrew Kuter scored in three events at the 2007 state championships.

Ken Pink qualified for four events and Sean McManus three at states. Pittsford, which defeated Brighton on Thursday, 1-6-74,, is off to a 5-0 start (2-0 league) this season.

Pittsford juniors Dan Locke and Andrew Maier helped the team's 200 medley relay swim a state qualifying time of 1:40.71 at Owego.

Fairport (5-0, 1-0) is led by senior captains Peter Koenig and Dylan Scheemaker with senior Jim Beaudry, who is strong in freestyle events. Koenig owns Section V's second-fastest and the state's fourth-best time in the 100 backstroke.

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com