Fairport Swimming

Pittsford-Fairport Rivalry Continues at Sectionals


	Pittsford-Fairport Rivalry Continues at Sectionals

November 8, 2003

By JUSTIN VOLDMAN

Webster, NY - For four straight years, Pittsford senior captain Kate Wilson felt the frustration of being on Pittsford swimming teams that finished second to rival Fairport at the Section 5 Championships.

Last year, the Panthers finally ended Fairport's decade-long reign as Section 5 girls swimming champions, easing some of Wilson's pain, and with the taste of victory in lingering in their mouths, Pittsford went into this season wanting to repeat what took so long to achieve.

At the end of last Saturday's Section 5 Class 'A' swimming championships at Webster Schroeder High School, Wilson and the rest of the Pittsford team earned their dessert to last year's title, repeating as champions with 556 points. Fairport finished in second place with 443 points.

"It's always been a Pittsford-Fairport rivalry in every sport, not just swimming, so you always have that edge that you want to beat Fairport," said Wilson, who won the 50-yard free (24.48) and also anchored the 200 free relay that set a meet record (1:39.92). "To beat them two years in a row is just incredible. You couldn't ask for more."

"We've got a long, healthy rivalry," said Fairport coach Mike Kennedy. "Pittsford is just a very special team. They've got a lot of top-class student athletes. They're very, very deep."

The story of the meet was clearly the success and competitiveness of the Pittsford and Fairport swimmers. Pittsford won six events; Fairport won five. Fairport and/or Pittsford swimmers qualified for the New York State swimming championships in every event.

The meet's first event, the 200-yard medley relay, set the stage. Senior Susan Allen led off for Pittsford and gave them a lead at the exchange. Then, Fairport freshman Melanie Roberts entered the pool and took over. Fairport ultimately won the event in 1:48.79, setting a state record, qualifying for the state meet, and earning all-American honors. Pittsford finished second (1:50.37), also qualifying for states and earning all-American consideration.

"Our relay did a great job," Roberts said. "People say that I'm the key part but everyone is too."

Roberts enjoyed a meet most swimmers dream of. Besides the 200-medley relay, she won the 200 individual medley, setting a meet record (2:08.18), she won the 100 breast (1:05.96), and earned Swimmer of the Meet honors.

Freshmen teammate Erin McGraw was also on the relay, and won both the 100 free (53.07) and the 100 back (59.31), earning All-American consideration in both.

For Pittsford, Allen and junior Hailey Weniger both had standout meets as well as Wilson. Allen swam second in the 200 free relay and finished second in the 100 back (1:00.23), qualifying for states in both. Weniger won both the 200 free and the 500 free and also qualified for states in both of the events. She also swam on the 200 free relay and anchored Pittsford's winning 400 free relay (3:39.37).

The Panthers ultimately won the meet with depth. In all but two events, Pittsford had at least three swimmers in the finals and in the 50 free, they swept the top three places.

"We just work real hard to get the girls to pull together every day in practice, to work very hard in practice so that usually our number one and number two people pull our number three and number four people up so that it will help us to have team depth," said Pittsford coach Marty Keating. "In meets we swim as a team, so we're looking to swim together. Therefore, we either 1-2-3 the other team or 2-3-4 them, and in swimming that allows us to score every time."

While attention at the meet clearly focused on Pittsford and Fairport, a handful of other swimmers discreetly made waves. Churchville-Chili senior Angie Schoeneman placed second in the 100 back (1:10.65) and qualified for states. Rush-Henrietta swimmer Julie Sauer, who has been swimming since she was six years old, also qualified for states for her first time ever, finishing forth in the 100 butterfly (59.96).

"I've never been to states before but I'm really excited to get the opportunity because it's one of the best meets of the year," said Sauer "There's definitely good competition there. It's like my dream. I never thought I'd go to states but I finally accomplished it."

In Friday's Class 'B' competition, Webster Schroeder finished second with 294.50 points. Victor won with 441.50 points. Schroeder freshman Christine Reith won the 50 free (25.61) and finished second in the 100 free (55.98).

Irondequoit junior Jessica Breitfeller won the 200 free (2:02.81) and the 100 free (55.86). Spencerport senior Miriam Grumsen, an exchange student from Denmark, just missed qualifying for states in the 100 butterfly (1:02.08). She finished second and needed a time of 1:01.40 to qualify.

Originally published in the Perinton-Fairport Post