Pittsford swims to 3rd straight 'A' title

(February 21, 2005) — WEBSTER — A few years ago, state coordinators made it a little easier for swimmers to reach the state championships by relaxing the qualifying times.

It seemed that Section V, anchored by powers Pittsford and Fairport, was qualifying too many competitors compared with some other areas of the state.

"So now we're sending two buses of kids instead of one,'' Pittsford coach Mark Morris said. "(The change) opened the door even wider for us.''

The flood of success continued Sunday as Pittsford won its third straight Class A sectional title at the Webster Aquatic Center. Buoyed by a deep lineup, the Panthers outdistanced Fairport, 490-373.

But swimmers from all over Monroe County excelled, dunking state-qualifying times in several of the 11 events. In six of the eight individual events, at least five swimmers met the qualifying time. In the 200-yard freestyle, every swimmer in the finals — all eight, including four from Pittsford — bettered it.

It's the result of area programs continually pushing each other to go faster. "I think we helped raise the bar for Pittsford (years ago), and now they're raising it for us,'' Fairport coach Mike Kennedy said.

Familiar faces
Seven of the 12 teams that competed in Sunday's Monroe County swimming champions had coaches who are former Section V swimmers.

"We instill what we've had instilled in us," Penfield's Rick Schmitt said. "We had great mentors.''

Brockport: Scott Stepanek (Brockport class of 1995).

Churchville-Chili: Scott Wilson (Spencerport, '87).

Fairport: Mike Kennedy (Fairport, '84).

Gates Chili: Derek Yacono (Gates '96)

Greece Thunder: Eric Ingerick (Athena '80).

Penfield: Rick Schmitt (Webster, '88).

Webster: Darrell Byerts (Irondequoit, '68).

Kevin Schuster of the Greece Thunder was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer. He won the 50 freestyle and broke a 20-year-old Greece School District record in capturing the 100 butterfly in an All-American qualifying time of 50.91 seconds. He edged Pittsford's Brian Possee in that event.

"I was pretty nervous Possee was going to beat me,'' he said. "I think that's why I won, because I was so scared.''

Schuster also posted an impressive butterfly split time (22.57 seconds) in helping the Thunder finish second in the 200 medley relay (1:38.75) and swam on the third-place 200 freestyle relay (1:28.52).

But here's the interesting thing about those times. According to Thunder coach Eric Ingerick, the only ones better in the state this season were also established on Sunday by Fairport (medley relay, 1:38.30) and Pittsford (1:27.41) and Penfield (1:27.79) in the 200 free relay.

If that's not a testament to Section V supremacy, nothing is.

"The bar that Pittsford and Fairport set is quite a lofty goal,'' said Jeremy Chang, who swims for up-and-coming Penfield.

The senior repeated as the 200 individual medley champion on Sunday and also won the 100 breaststroke. The meet's only other double-winner in individual events was Fairport's Jeff Wood.

He dethroned defending champion Possee in the 200 freestyle, then set a pool, meet and Section V record in the 100 backstroke (50.46 seconds). That time was just 0.34 second off the state record. He'll get another crack at it in two weeks at the state meet on Long Island.

"It's going down. No question about that,'' Wood said.

Wood was also on Fairport's triumphant medley relay and on the third-place 400 free relay. He knows that in two weeks he and Possee, whom he called his best friend, will go at it again for the state title in the 200 free.

"Most of the kids right now are fully rested and shaved, and Brian and I aren't either of those,'' Wood said. "It's very exciting what the state meet could bring for us.''

Originally published in the Democrat and Chronicle

Pertinent Links
2005 Team
Sectional Meet

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