Varsity swim season starts in Fairport

September 14, 2000 - The Fairport High School She-Sharks began the 2000 varsity season with a win in a tight contest with Irondequoit High School on Sept. 14.

Opening the meet in the 200 medley relay the team of Jamie Adams, Nicole DiBello, Katelyn Byrnes, and Krista Larson nailed first place. They were followed by captain Kristin Schirmuhly, Courtney Ames, Gillian Micoli, and Erin Legg who touched fourth. The team of Susan Baylor, Katie Barbato, Brianne Duffy, and Kellie Kong grabbed fifth place points putting Fairport into the lead with a score of 8-6.

Irondequoit took first place in the 200 free, but Fairport swimmers maintained their lead. Christy Breen made a strong showing taking second place.She was followed by Jessica Blaha in third and Becky Potvin in fifth place.

In the 200 individual medley, the She-Sharks pulled farther into the lead as Legg nailed first place, Schirmuhly touched third and Megan McGraw took fifth. Larson led the 50 free taking first with captain Carla Reidy posting fifth-place points and Rachel Gelman touching sixth. The She-Sharks held the lead 33-29.

The meet moved to the diving well with Jenny Cole, Carrie Bryant and Laurissa Prystaj taking to the boards. All three divers made strong showings. Dive difficulties went up to 2.7 with judges scores averaging in the mid range but going as high as 7. Prystaj took top honors followed by Bryant in second and Cole in fourth. The divers extended the lead to 45-32.

Returning to the pool the swimmers made a strong showing against tough opponents in the 100 fly. DiBello touched second with Micoli in fifth, and Duffy in sixth. The 100 free sprint found Adams taking first, Larson touching third, and Lauren Petersen taking sixth, keeping the lead with a score of 59-50.

Next came the 500 free distance event in which the two teams split the points evenly. For Fairport, Breen posted second, Legg touched third and Gelman took fifth place points moving the score to 75-64.

Next, the 200 free relay teams churned up the water as Adams, Blaha, Potvin, and Byrnes nailed first place, followed by Jill Diesel, Micoli, Maureen McCullough, and Duffy in fourth and the team of Barbato, Kong, Petersen, and Reidy in fifth. This brought the score to 75-64.

Irondequoit shaved a couple of points off Fairport's lead in the backstroke, but the She-Sharks held strong with Schirmuhly taking second, Baylor touching third, and McGraw taking sixth place.

DiBello led the pack in the 100 breast stroke as Ames placed third, followed by Diesel in fifth, extending Fairport's lead to 92-79.

In an exciting final race, Legg, Adams, Blaha, and Schirmuhly posted first with the team of Barbato, Breen, Potvin, and Byrnes taking fourth, and Diesel, Micoli, Kong, and McGraw touching fifth. The final score was 100-85.

Originally published in the Perinton-Fairport Post

2000