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Weniger wins two individual titles and two relays for unbeaten Panthers
John Follaco
Staff Writer
(November 9, 2003) — The Pittsford girls swimming team’s motto this
season has been “ Bad weather on the way.”
The Panthers slightly altered that motto for Saturday’s Section V Class A
Swimming and Diving Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center at Schroeder
High: “ You can hear the thunder long before the storm,” , quoting a song
from Twisted Sister.
“ All of our wins this season were the thunder,” senior Kate Wilson said of
the team’s perfect regular-season record. “ (The finals) is the storm.”
And it was quite a storm.
Pittsford repeated as Class A champions with a total of 556 points, topping
second-place Fairport (443).
The Panthers and Red Raiders each claimed six sectional titles, but it was
Pittsford’s superior depth that gave it the crown.
“Fairport has studs and so do we,” said Wilson, who defended her title in
the 50-yard freestyle (24.48 seconds) and swam on the meet record-setting
200 freestyle relay team (1:38.42).
“But we definitely have depth. You just can’t match our depth and the
quality of girls we have on this team.”
Pittsford coach Marty Keating said his team’s depth has been three years in
the making.
“We worked really, really hard on depth three years ago when these kids
were eighth- or ninth-graders,” Keating said. “ This year we worked hard at
swimming fast and it paid off.”
Fairport coach Mike Kennedy was pleased his team closed the gap slightly
from last year’s Pittsford romp.
“Our year will come again,” Kennedy said. “ It’s nice that people shoot for
you when you’re on top. Now they’re on top and we’re shooting for them.”
Hailey Weniger was a major reason the Panthers remained on top.
The sophomore won the 200 freestyle (1:54.76) and the 500 freestyle
(5:09.35) and swam on the winning 200 and 400 freestyle (3:39.37) relay
teams.
"I just treated it like any other meet,” Weniger said.
So did Fairport’s Melanie Roberts, who won the 200 individual medley
(2:08.18) and 100 breaststroke (1:05.96) in addition to helping the Red
Raiders break a state record in the 200 medley relay (1:48.79)
“I’m just a freshman so this is really exciting,” said Roberts, who won
Swimmer of the Meet honors.
Pittsford and Fairport will now lead a group of swimmers into the state meet
Nov. 21-22 on Long Island.
It may be enough time for Wilson and her Panther teammates to come up with
another motto.
“I don’t know what it is yet,” Wilson said, “but we’re going to have to
come up with another song and theme.”
Originally published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
2003 Sectionals
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