Pittsford edges Fairport

Panthers use depth to swim past Red Raiders

James Johnson
Staff writer

January 13, 2005 - Fairport swimmers finished first in 10 races, but Pittsford won the annual meet between Monroe County League powers, 94-92 on Thursday.

The two-time defending Section V Class A champion Panthers clinched the league's Division I title for the second consecutive year with second- and third-place finishes in the final race at Fairport, the 400-yard freestyle relay.

"It's as close as they come," Pittsford senior Jeremy Amon said. "We knew that it would be close, and we're pretty pumped up.

"I didn't know that it was going to come down to the 400 free relay."

Pittsford (4-0 league, 9-0 overall) led Fairport (2-1, 5-1) by four points before the final relay. Panthers coach Mark Morris moved Amon from the team's fastest to its second-fastest 400 free relay and the strategic move paid off.

Fairport's team of Jeff Wood, Aram Salehi, Hans Feng and Jerry Woytash won the race in 3:25.28. Pittsford's Jim Prezzano, Mike Moran, Ben Silverstein and Brian Possee came in second (3:26.90). Teammates Alex Hummel, Andrew Kuter, Charlie Ruff and Amon were next (3:28.90).

"I don't like to split relays," Morris said. "It's always such a gamble. Those eight kids really stepped up.

"The Fairport kids didn't lay down, I tell you that. I know that (coach) Mike Kennedy was very pleased with his kids' performances. He had some good breakthroughs.

"I don't know why, but they do some incredible things in their pool."

Wood, a senior, set a 100 freestyle Fairport pool-record with his victory in 47.39 seconds. He had to move fast, because Possee finished in 48.25, which would have been the state's fastest recorded time this season. The 200 freestyle race also was won by Wood.

Fairport teammate Jeff Kaemmerlen finished in first place in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

"They had a few studs that we just couldn't beat," Morris said. "These meets are not blowouts, and we've had some really nasty losses to them.

"This was our time, I guess."

Possee, in the 200 individual medley, and the 200 medley relay team of Silverstein, Kenny Pink, Taylor Topping and Greg Conklin, were the race winners from Pittsford.

"It was a great feeling, a great team win," Possee said. "We all came together when we needed to. I couldn't be more proud of the guys.

"There were a lot of great swims by our younger kids. They came through, especially in the relays.

"They handled the pressure of a Pittsford-Fairport meet and being a varsity swimmer, really well."

Originally published in the Democrat and Chronicle

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2005 Team
Meet

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