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James Johnson
Staff writer
(February 20, 2006) — BROCKPORT — Todd Winchell held his long-thought-of
prize in his hands.
It was a trophy with a patriotic shine to it, the one awarded to the most
outstanding swimmer of Section V's Class A Championships.
"It feels good. I've worked really hard all year for it,'' Winchell said
Sunday night after winning two individual races at SUNY Brockport. "I was
kind of hoping for it.
"One of my good friends and teammates (Kevin Schuster) won it, so I wanted
to win it, too.''
Winchell made it happen with first-place finishes in the 100-yard butterfly
and backstroke races. The Greece Athena senior also swam on his school's
third-place 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays.
His 100 butterfly swim was in 52.06 seconds, more than three seconds below
the state meet cut time and fast enough for All-America consideration.
Winchell later returned to the main pool to swim the 100 backstroke in
54.31, also a state qualifier time.
"I was really nervous before the 100 fly,'' Winchell said. "I've never been
first before, (as an individual) sectional champion.''
Winchell thought there was a chance he could reach that goal in January,
after he set a pool record at Gates Chili.
"It was then I knew I was going to have an exceptional year,'' Winchell
said. "I've got two weeks before states (in Buffalo); then I've got a couple
of big meets with my club team (Fairport Area Swim Team).''
Section V's, if not the state's, top Class A team is once again Pittsford.
The swimmers from Sutherland and Mendon high schools won their fourth
consecutive sectional title.
Pittsford scored 322 points, followed by Penfield (227) and Fairport (170).
"It wasn't supposed to be,'' Pittsford coach Mark Morris said about the
team's smooth ride to another title. "We lost 52 percent of our lineup. They
were the top guys, the Possees, the Conklins, almost all of the state kids.
"My expectation was, 'Oh boy, we've got our work ahead of us.' The
sophomores, juniors and the young kids from JV decided differently.
Ultimately, it's up to them.''
Nathan French was one of those younger swimmers. A sophomore, French swam
the 500 freestyle in 4:41.65, fast enough for All-America consideration.
Ken Pink (100 breaststroke) and Andrew Kuter (50 freestyle), two more
Pittsford sophomores, also won races.
Penfield senior Ben Monti finished first in two races, the 200 individual
medley and 100 freestyle, after he received an award as the Monroe County
League's swimmer of the year.
Rick Schmitt of Penfield was named coach of the year, while Rush-Henrietta
diver Mike McDowell (Division I) and Irondequoit's Ricky Henahan (Division
II) were recognized for top performances.
Originally from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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