NFA Makes Splash in State Rankings

January 13, 2000 - NEWBURGH: But instead of elation, the Goldbacks have their eyes focused on the top spot in New York.

By Sal Interdonato
The Times Herald-Record
sinterdonato@th-record.com

Newburgh Free Academy has dominated local swimming since joining the Orange County League in the 1987-88 season.

Last weekend, the Goldbacks made a big splash at the state level. For the first time in five years, Newburgh won a tri-meet against state powers Fairport and Liverpool.
The win put Newburgh No. 2 in the New York Sportswriters Association's first rankings of the season. Fairport is No. 3 and Liverpool is No. 4. Pittsford is No. 1.
"Those programs have always inspired us to get where they are," said Newburgh coach Chris Townsend. "For us to win that meet was a big milestone for our program."

Townsend said the ranking is Newburgh's highest since it finished No. 2 in 1991. Newburgh finished No. 6 last season.

Newburgh swam against Fairport in dual meets before going to the tri-meet format with Liverpool five years ago. The Goldbacks did not defeat Fairport in dual meets.
"You move up by beating teams that are traditionally ahead of you," Townsend said. "Even if we're better than Fairport, we have to swim them and prove it."

Newburgh has state-level swimmers in juniors Peter Politi and Jacob Thomas.
Politi is a high school all-American and the defending state 200-yard champion.
Thomas, who placed sixth in 200 individual medley and ninth in the 100 backstroke at last year's state meet, is an academic all-American.

But the rapid development of Newburgh's younger swimmers, including freshmen Nat Moore and Mike Mele, has launched the team to another level.

"I tell them that we've got our star guys, but they are the heart and soul of the team and the future," Townsend said.

Newburgh (6-0, 6-0 OCL) has won 109 straight OCL meets and 12 consecutive OCL and Section 9 titles. The Goldbacks are aiming to complete their third perfect dual-meet season in five years. Newburgh has OCL meets against Middletown, Kingston and Valley Central and a non-league meet against Horseheads left on its schedule.

Originally published in the Times Herald-Record

Pertinent Links
2000 Team
 

Articles