Prystaj Wins State Championship

November 18, 2001

Buffalo, NY - Seven Fairport High School swimmers helped Section 5 to a second place finish at the New York State swimming championship meet held in Buffalo on Nov. 17 and 18. They are seniors Jamie Adams, Jessica Blaha, Christy Breen, and Laurissa Prystaj, Juniors Nicole DiBello and Becky Potvin, and freshman Marlys Fuqua. The meet was closely contested as several sections had very strong teams.

Competition at this meet was extremely tough. The Fairport girls that had been to previous state championships felt that this year's meet was the fastest yet. There were no double winners this year as well.

Laurissa Prystaj won the one-meter diving event with 475.80 points in a solid display of diving expertise.

In the 200 freestyle, Marlyas Fuqua swam a solid race finishing in 12th place with a 1:56.57. Senior Christy Breen placed 25th.

In the 50 freestyle, Becky Potvin swam to a 25th place. In the 100 freestyle, Potvin swam a strong race finishing in 54.37 for ninth place. Fuqua, swimming in her first state high school meet, swam a well balanced race in the 500 freestyle, finishing in 16th place.

The next event featuring Fairport swimmers was the 200 freestyle relay. The team of Becky Potvin, Nicole DiBello, Jamie Adams, and Jessica Blaha finished in seventh place in a very competitive final.

The last event to see Fairport swimmers was the final 400 freestyle relay in which Blaha, Potvin, Fuqua, and Adams swam to a sixth-place finish in the final heat where the top two teams broke the state record.

The 2001 New York State Scholar Athlete Award was presented to Fairport senior Jamie Adams, a three time state qualifier for her athletic and academic acheivements in the classroom and pool at Fairport the past four years.

Final scores for the top five teams were as follows: Section 1 - 542, Section 5- 467, Section 6- 457, Section 11- 368, and Section 2- 340.

Originally published in the Perinton-Fairport Post

Pertinent Links
2001 Team
2001 States

Articles