Fairport's McGraw completes season with four state titles

John Boccacino
Staff writer

(November 20, 2005) — BUFFALO — Erin McGraw says there is no secret to her success. All she does is win.

The Fairport High junior went a perfect 4-for-4 at the New York state swimming championships, winning the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. McGraw also led Fairport's winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams Saturday at Erie Community College.

Well, maybe there is one thing that drives McGraw, a fifth-year participant at states.

"I really do hate to lose," McGraw said with a smile. "But it's not the end of the world if I do lose as long as my time is good."

McGraw's times in both the 200 free (1:51.36) and 100 butterfly (56.54) were better than in the preliminaries. As if two state titles weren't enough, McGraw also swam the first leg on both winning relay teams.

"It's awesome," said McGraw of her four state titles. "I wasn't expecting much going in. They (my relay teammates) are amazing, they were able to step it up big-time today."

"Erin hates to lose, bottom line," said 16th-year Fairport coach Mike Kennedy. "She just fires up for tough competition and thrives racing in tough competition. It brings out the best in her and you can't teach that desire."

Pittsford's Hailey Weniger provided tough competition for McGraw in the 200 free. Weniger, herself a four-time individual champion, remained even with McGraw through the first 100 yards before McGraw pulled away. Weniger finished less than two-tenths of a second behind McGraw.

"We do have a rivalry, but it's a good rivalry," said Weniger, who will swim for Rutgers in the fall of 2006. "We push each other to go faster, and it was nice having her swim next to me so I could see where I was."

A week after Pittsford edged out Fairport for its fourth-straight sectional championship, the two successful swimming programs were at it again. This time they teamed with Brighton, Batavia, Canandaigua, Webster Schroeder and Brockport to lead Section V to a second place team finish. Section V lost to Section XI 315-312.50.

"There is always going to be something between Pittsford and Fairport," said Fairport junior Lauren Dufault, who was on both winning freestyle relay teams.

"We don't act the same to each other when we're on the same side but there still is that fierce competition."

For the second straight year, both of Fairport's freestyle relay teams captured state titles.

"We came into the meet seeded first in both free relays, but seed times mean nothing," Kennedy said. "My girls did a real nice job helping each other out, supporting and working as a team. This is a nice team win for us."

The state meet offered Pittsford's Jenny Lewis a shot at redemption. Lewis, just a sophomore, sprained her ankle two weeks before sectionals last year and wasn't 100 percent. Armed with a second chance, Lewis finished third in the 100 backstroke and 12th in the 100 freestyle.

"Pittsford is known for being good swimmers, so we always have to keep working really hard to continue that success," Lewis said.

The Red Raiders placed three divers in the top 11, led by Jenny Chiang, who finished third.

Originally published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

2005