Pittsford, McGraw rule Class A

(November 13, 2005) — BROCKPORT — Erin McGraw, who has never lost a race at the Section V meet, turned her attention to the record books on Saturday.

The Fairport junior set two individual meet records, helped set Section V records in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays, and won swimmer of the meet honors for the second straight year at the Class A swimming championships at State University College at Brockport.

"I'm ecstatic I did so well," said McGraw, who won four races overall. "It's one thing to win the race, but it's so tough to set records in this sport. There is so much quality competition here and I'm honored to be able to represent my school."

Pittsford won its fourth consecutive Class A title as sophomore Jenny Lewis set a meet and Section V record in the 100 backstroke (56.65 seconds), eclipsing the mark by two hundredths of a second.

Lewis also won the 100 freestyle, was on the winning 200 medley relay and finished second in the 200 freestyle relay.

"Jenny was really fired up. She's just a sophomore but she went crazy today," Pittsford coach Marty Keating said. "Her hard work and dedication really rubs off on the rest of the team.

"You got to bring your No. 1 game at this time of the year and I had no doubts that she'd get it done."

McGraw set meet records in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 51.57 seconds) and 100 butterfly (56.97), both times just a few tenths of a second off the Section V record.

"She's just a phenomenal person, student and teammate," Fairport coach Mike Kennedy said. "She does a lot of things well in the pool area and always makes the right decision out of the pool area."

McGraw helped the Red Raiders to their second consecutive second-place finish, 24 points behind first-place Pittsford. Fairport trailed Pittsford by 30 points entering the final race, the 400 freestyle relay.

"We knew it was going to be a challenge to overtake them (Pittsford)," McGraw said. "But that didn't stop us from doing what we had to do. Individual races are always fun, but it's always satisfying to be able to share a win of this magnitude with my teammates."

The Red Raiders set the sectional record in the 400 relay (3:34.25), more than a second faster than the previous record, but Pittsford finished second to clinch the team title.

"I like to see the girls do well and meet their goals," said Kennedy, who was waving his arms in excitement as his team came close to the state record. "I get a little excited when they're swimming really well because I'm so proud of them. I'll do anything I can to help these great girls succeed."

Fairport led by 12 points after seven events, but the Panthers took the lead for good after the 500 freestyle, which saw four Pittsford swimmers finish in the top six.

Senior Hailey Weniger won the race in 5:02.45.

"They just rose to the occasion and did what they have to do," Keating added. "I'm so proud for Hailey and Jenny. Those two are the heart of this team."

Fairport ended up winning three of the next four races, but Pittsford had more swimmers in the final races to keep Fairport in second.

"Winning. That's what it's all about," Keating said. "I told my girls when we got off the bus, 'It's time to put the men and children to bed and we need to go find some dinner. We got to go hunting!'

"Some of the younger kids were a little hesitant but the older girls were screaming loud and really getting fired up."

Originally published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

2005