Albany Academy relay ties record
Cadets match standard for Section II, but fall short of state mark
The Albany Academy boys’ swimming 200 medley relay squad achieved a record Saturday, yet it was not the one it most desired to achieve.
The grouping of senior Ian Young, sophomore Brayden Henkel, senior Bryce Henkel and senior Silas Strich opened the virtual dual meet against Canajoharie by posting a time of 1 minute, 34.03 seconds. That time tied the Section II record previously established by Burnt Hills. The clocking, however, was short of a state record time of 1:33.30 by Fordham Prep the foursome had sought to break.
“We were a little disappointed with it, but as I pointed out to them is that when you set goals as lofty as the one we set for ourselves, you have to be able to accept failure as an option,” Albany Academy coach Scott Young said. “This whole season has been about overcoming obstacles and being resilient, persevering through all kinds of odds. To have that as our focus and to drive us forward, we’ll take the consolation prize of tying the Section II record and getting an All-american consideration time.”
“I am just more sad that I won’t be able to come here again with my team. I am going to miss being with all of my friends once we’re in college,” Ian Young said.
Without sectionals or state championships, Saturday’s event was the season-ender in a winter season altered by the coronavirus pandemic. The top swimmers for the Cadets set their sights on setting new standards in the relay events.
The pursuit of a Section II record in the 200 freestyle relay was achieved as Young, Strich, Brayden Henkel and Bryce Henkel produced a time of 1:25.34 — supplanting the previous mark of 1:25.56.
“That was a really impressive swim,” Scott Young said.
Ian Young turned in a time of 22.88 in the opening split. Before the season began, Scott Young set a time of 22.9 as the bench mark for his son to reach.
“It felt really good,” Ian Young said. “I was feeling more ready for that relay because my freestyle has been feeling better the past couple of weeks. I wanted to go a little faster, but I am really happy with how we did.”
Brayden Henkel, who won four sectional titles in 2020 as a freshman and Bryce Henkel, a Boston College-commit who earned Times Union Boys’ Swimmer of the Year honors as a junior, both swam in three relays. They also helped lead the 400 free relay squad to a school-record time of 3:13.52.
“I got them all together and told them how proud I was of them,” Scott Young said. “When I had them in the huddle afterwards, I told them they were by far the best team I have ever coached.”