Henkel finishes in style
Albany Academy senior ends career with every school record but one
Athlete of the Year: Bryce Henkel, Sr., Albany Academy
Last year’s boys’ swimming and diving season ended with a flourish for Albany Academy, with star swimmer Bryce Henkel capturing a Federation title in the 100-yard butterfly and the Cadets finishing second among public schools in the 200 medley relay.
With everybody on the relay expected back — Henkel, his brother Brayden Henkel, Silas Strich and Ian Young — the foursome vowed to make a run at the state record in the medley relay in 2021.
The pact was made in February 2020 and, well, we all know how soon thereafter the world was turned upside down.
For a time, it looked as if the 2021 high school swim season might never happen, or any athletics for that matter. When it did, the boys doubled down on their pursuit of a state record, but they’d have to do it through virtual swim meets in their home pool at Albany Academy.
Instead of tapering for the state championships, all of the Cadets’ preparations went into getting in the best physical condition for a season-ending virtual meet against Canajoharie.
In the end, the relay fell less than a second shy of a state record, but did set a Section II record and posted the secondfastest time in the state behind
Fordham Prep. Just getting that far in this crazy season was an accomplishment.
“I was definitely disappointed, but I was still happy with the time and super proud of our guys,” Bryce Henkel said. “We were able to push through all the adversity this year and still put up the fastest medley relay in section history and one of the fastest in state history. Also, just the fact we were able to go that fast in our own pool was pretty incredible. It was a much different atmosphere than it would have been at a state championship meet, and we were still able to swim fast regardless.”
Henkel finishes his time at Albany Academy owning all but one school record (100 breaststroke). He also holds eight of 11 pool records at Albany Academy. This year, he posted the fastest times in Section II in four individual events and anchored the three fastest relays in the area.
This fall, he’ll be swimming for Boston College, but his years at Albany Academy, this year especially, will hold a special place in his heart.
“My most memorable moment (this year) was finishing the 400 freestyle relay at our last meet. It was my last high school race as well as probably the last time I’ll ever race with my brother, making it a pretty surreal moment for me. For years I had thought about that moment and it was crazy that it ended up being at Academy instead of at a state meet. It was a sad moment for all of us seniors, but definitely something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
First team
200 medley relay: Albany Academy (Ian Young, Sr.; Brayden Henkel, So.; Bryce Henkel, Sr.; Silas Strich, Sr.): Secondfastest time in state and a Section II record.
200 IM: Bryce Henkel, Sr., Albany Academy: Eighth-fastest time in the state, fastest in the section.
Diving: Connor Compton, Jr., Niskayuna: The defending Section II champ wrapped up his season with a Suburban Council championship.
100 freestyle: Bryce Henkel, Sr., Albany Academy: Sixth-fastest in the state, fastest in the area.
200 freestyle relay: Albany Academy (Ian Young, Sr.; Silas Strich, Sr.; Brayden Henkel, So.; Bryce Henkel, Sr.): Small-school relay swam with the big boys as it posted the second-fastest time in the state for any division.
100 breaststroke: Brayden Henkel, So., Albany Academy: Fourth fastest in the state.
200 freestyle: Ethan Rogowski, Jr., Shenendehowa: Suburban Council champ helped the perennially good Plainsmen capture the league title.
50 freestyle: Bryce Henkel, Sr.; Albany Academy and Brayden Henkel, So., Albany Academy: The Henkel brothers matched each other with section-best times of 21:35 seconds. 100 butterfly: Bryce Henkel, Sr., Albany Academy: The defending Federation champ continued to swim fast.
500 freestyle: Evan Boyle, So., Niskayuna: Helped propel the Silver Warriors to a second-place finish in the Suburban Council championships.
100 backstroke: Max Kaback, Jr., Bethlehem: Second-fastest in the state. Could be a contender for a state title next year.
400 freestyle relay: Albany Academy (Ivan Young, Sr.; Jack Slote, Sr.; Brayden Henkel, So.; Bryce Henkel, Sr.): More than four seconds faster than any other foursome in Section II; sixth in the state.
Second team
200 medley relay: Shenendehowa (Jaden Homan, Jr.; Colin Fitzgerald, Sr.; Ethan Rogowski, Jr.; Ryan Eldred, Sr.)
200 individual medley: Jaden Homan, Jr., Shenendehowa
Diving: Anna Flanders, Fr., Albany
100 freestyle: Ryan Eldred, Sr., Shenendehowa
200 freestyle relay: Shenendehowa (Ryan Eldred, Sr.; Brian Miller, Jr.; Xavier Silaika, Jr.; Ethan Rogowski, Jr.)
100 breaststroke: Liam Marshall, So., Burnt Hills
200 freestyle: An Nguyen, Jr., Guilderville
50 freestyle: Ryan Eldred, Sr.,
Shenendehowa
100 butterfly: John Janeski,
Sr., Bethlehem
500 freestyle: Phil Bianco, So.,
CBA-TROY
100 backstroke: Bryce Henkel, Sr., Albany Academy
400 freestyle relay: Bethlehem (Hayden Brock, Jr.; Max Kaback, Jr.; Jacob Finerow, Jr.; John Janeski, Sr.)
Coach of the Year
Scott Young, Albany Academy: Kept the Cadets focused, fast and on target in uncertain times.