Henahan wins state crown in backstroke

Matt Weinstein
staff writer

(March 4, 2006) — He came, he swam and he conquered.

Irondequoit sophomore Ricky Henahan won his first state championship by capturing the 100-yard backstroke, finishing almost two seconds ahead of the runner-up, at the NYSPHSAA championships Saturday at Erie Community College.

"I'm happy with what I did," Henahan said. "During the race I just tried to focus on my time and not worry about the other swimmers."

Henahan's time of 50.83 seconds, a personal best, is the fastest time clocked in the state this year and also sets a school record. He also swam a 50.83 in the preliminaries.

He narrowly missed the Section V record (50.53 by Fairport's Jeff Wood in 2005) and the 11-year-old state record (50.12), one of his goals coming into the weekend.

Henahan also had a surprising second-place finish in the 50 freestyle. He was runner-up to Niskayuna's Mike Derocco, who set state records in both the 50 and 100 freestyles.

"I was so well prepared for that race and everything was right for me," Henahan said. "Hopefully I'll be back and ready to go after the state record in the backstroke and the 50 freestyle next year."

Henahan was the eighth and final qualifier in the 50 freestyle after the preliminaries on Friday.

Rush-Henrietta senior Mike McDowell finished second in the diving for the second-consecutive year.

"I'll take second place any day," McDowell said. "I had some of the best take-offs I've ever had, and it's nice to be able to do that in the biggest meet of the season."

Grand Island's Ian O'Rourke scored a combined 530.15 on his preliminary and final dives to win the event. McDowell scored a combined 498.30, 32 points higher than his score in 2005.

"When I started this six years ago, I thought it was something to do," McDowell said. "But to see how far it's taken me really makes me take a step back."

Greece Athena's Todd Winchell placed fifth in the 100 butterfly and 16th in the 100 backstroke.

"I felt a little slow out there and didn't really get into rhythm," Winchell said. "I was aiming for second place but overall it wasn't too bad. Last year I didn't even place in the 100 fly and to place fifth this year shows me I've improved."

Fairport's Jake Fisher had a sixth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.

"Just to be out there and have my name announced to the crowd is a thrill," Fisher said. "I'll definitely be back next year and my goal is to win it."

The junior, who earned All-American consideration with his preliminary time on Friday, finished in 1:00.66. His two times this weekend are his personal-best.

Originally published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

2006