Pittsford

Fairport 70, Pittsford 113

January 6, 2008

Pittsford swimmers extend dual-meet streak to 55

James Johnson

PITTSFORD — Ken Pink has always been on the winning side of a swimming dual meet.

Always. That includes at the varsity and junior varsity levels of the combined Pittsford high school swimming teams.

Go back, even, to youth swimming. The result has always been the same for Pink, a senior at Pittsford Sutherland, and whoever his teammates happened to be at the time.

Pink was one of three swimmers to win two individual races on Tuesday as Pittsford defeated rival Fairport 113-70 at Mendon and put the varsity Panthers' current winning streak at 55 duals and counting.

"I was there when Pittsford lost to Fairport," Pink said about that dual meet almost six years ago. "I was on the JV then and we won."

"Since then, our team has really come together."

Call this one very long hot streak.

Nate French and Andrew Kuter, Pink's senior teammates and classmates, also won two events as Pittsford improved to 6-0.

Fairport senior Peter Koenig beat the cut time for this season's state meet in the 100-yard backstroke after he won his race in 55.92 seconds. Koenig's performance was one of 10 that beat state meet standards, nine of which were attached to Pittsford swimmers.

"It was a good meet. I enjoy competing against Pittsford," Koenig said. "We have a long rivalry. Now, we're looking to Webster Schroeder.

"What we really want to do is continue to get better for the end of the year. Hopefully, we'll get closer to them (Pittsford), but it'll be tough."

Pittsford's Sean McManus swam the 100 butterfly in 55.18 to qualify for states. He also helped Pittsford's 200 medley relay, which included Andrew Maier, Pink and Kuter, top the state meet standard with a 1:39.88 race.

"It's a good feeling," McManus said. "I only made it (to states in the 100 fly) at sectionals last year. I'm glad to be back at that time now.

"I got it out of the way. Maybe I can focus on other events. I have three pretty good strokes, minus the backstroke."

Like Pink, McManus, Kuter and French have never lost a dual meet with the Pittsford varsity. The victories rarely become routine, according to the team's senior members.

"I have a lot of confidence in my team," Pink said after his victories in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. "Our younger kids, they understand that we work really hard.

"Then, when it comes to the meets, we put our caps on and get down to business. They certainly understand that 'We are Pittsford' mentality. It's not just the seniors or upperclassmen."

Fairport found itself in a tough position of swimming against its biggest rival, but with more key matchups in the very near future.

Swimming is not football, where a coach can ask a team to get fired up once a week. It might be impossible for a swimming team to get sky-high against three tough opponents in a span of 7-10 days.

"We've got a tough stretch," Fairport coach Mike Kennedy said. "We have Webster Schroeder on Thursday. There's a team that beat us last year. Then we come back with Penfield. This is what athletics is all about. This is where you learn where you are, what you need to do. You've got to welcome that."

Pittsford takes on Gates Chili on Thursday before the five-time defending Section V Class A champion head to a new invitational at Bath on Saturday.

The Panthers swim against Buffalo, Canisius and Penfield next week before they face Canandaigua and Webster Schroeder, which could give Pittsford its biggest challenge this season.

"We're really looking forward to swimming Webster after seeing their times in recent weeks," Pink said. "They are really firing up."

Peter Koenig leads off the 200 medley relay

Jim Beaudry swims the 200 freestyle

Dhruv Tyagi wins the diving competition

Jim Beaudry and Andrew Kuter shake hands after the 100 freestyle

Photos by Carlos Ortiz

Originally published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

The undefeated Pittsford Panthers downed the Raiders, 113-70, last Tuesday at Mendon High School.

Koenig won the 100 back in a state qualifying time of 55.92. Tyagi took first in the diving event as Peter Shipman placed third.

Scheemaker, Harrington, and Kyle Kauffman all swam personal best times in the 100 fly and qualified for the sectional meet as they placed 2-5-6 respectively.

Benson, Steffen, and Aria Salehi swam sectional qualifying times in the 500 free.

Originally published in the Fairport-ER Post.

2008

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