Greenwich wins eighth straight title
WEST HARTFORD — Greenwich boys swim coach Terry Lowe calls his plunge into the pool his “Survivor stroke.” He has been called on to stay afloat the last eight times a State Open championship has been held.
“It feels good,” said Lowe of his annual rite of spring. “It’s fun to see the kids rise to the occasion. To win three relays, diving, the breaststroke, the butterfly was wonderful.”
Greenwich’s total of 611 bested Pomperaug (367)) and New Canaan (357).
The top finishers set the pace from the outset
Greenwich’s Liam Flaherty, Michael Dilascia, Justin Jacob and Aiden Bucaria opened the meet by winning the 200 medley relay in 1:34.70, with Bucaria’s closing 20.84 sealing the decision. New Canaan (1:35.79) was second. Pomperaug (1:35.83) was third.
Greenwich’s Ryan Jee captured the 100 butterfly when the senior posted a time of 49.29 from the four seed.
“I don’t know to to describe the feeling,” said Jee, who will swim at Colgate. “We had two years off as a team and have come together. This is an experience like no other. There is nothing better than winning as a team and also taking a first to help.”
Jee, Kegan Clark, Dislascia and Andrew Dyment added the 200 freestyle relay title in 1:26.56.
Bucaria was the 100 breaststroke champ in 56.31.
Flaherty, Clark, Bucaria and Jee closed the meet by winning the 400 freestyle relay.
Ridgefield Jack Clancy led from start to finish to take the opening individual event, the 200 freestyle (1:40.63). A sophomore, Clancy also placed first in the 500 freestyle (4:34.34).
Elliot Lee from Hand captured the 200 IM title with a time of 1:48.86 to edge Jee (1:49.80). The sophomore added to his gold medal collection in the 100 freestyle
(45.72).
“This was a real competitive field,” Lee said. “I took a breathe in the 200 IM and could see my friends and teammates cheering. They were all waiting for me at the finish (of both races). I’m proud to represent Hand and get our team name in the record book.”
Mikel Palaj from Bristol co-op added an Open title to his state crown in the 50 freestyle (21.13 seconds).
North Haven co-op junior Brendan Conners earned gold in the 100 backstroke with a time of 49.90.
Whitaker Grover from Greenwich scored a 565.252 to win diving.
Greenwich (Class LL), New Canaan (L), Pomperaug (M) and Holy Cross (S) came in with division titles.
Fairfield Prep was Open champ in 2012. Pomperaug
in 2010. New Canaan in 2007.
william.bloxsom @hearstmediact.com; @blox354
State Open
Team Scores: 1. Greenwich 611; 2. Pomperaug 367; 3. New Canaan 357; 4. Ridgefield 318.5; 5. Darien 272; 6. North Haven coop 237; 7. Norwalk-McMahon 232; 8. Xavier 230; 9. Westhill-Stamford 198.5; 10. Fitch coop 187; 11. Staples 167; 12. Southington 161; 13. Glastonbury 135.5; 14. Bristol coop 127; 15. Oxford 117.5; 16. Newtown 113;
17. Hand 111; 18. Cheshire 110; 19. Fairfield Prep 104.5; 20. Amity 104; 21. Hamden 78;
22. Holy Cross 75; 23. Northwest Catholic 71; 24. Hall 68; 25. Weston 64; 26. Middletown 62; 27. East Lyme 58; 28. Farmington 54; 29. New Milford 52; 30. Windsor 50; 31. Fairfield coop 49; 32. Suffield coop 48; 33. Brookfield 40; 34. South Windsor 27; 35. HK coop 21; 36. Wilton 21; 38. Woodland 19; 39. Berlin 18; 40. Northwestern 17; 40. Masuk 17; 42. Nonnewaug 16; 42. Shepaug Valley 16; 44. Granby Memorial 12.5; 45. E.O. Smith-Tolland 12; 46. St. Bernard 8; 47. Platt-Maloney 7; 47. Avon 7; 49 Lyman HallCoginchaug 4; Foran-Law 1.
Individual Results: 200 Yard Medley Relay: 1. Greenwich (Liam Flaherty, Michael Dilascia, Justin Jacob, Aiden Bucaria), 1:34.70; 2. Darien (Jake Dansker, Ryan Roberts, Thomas Dupont, Max Scalise), 1:35.79; 3. Pomperaug (Timothy Regan, K.C. Green, Collin Thompson, Logan Keane), 1:35.83; 200 Yard Freestyle: 1.
Jack Clancy, Ridgefield, 1:40.63; 2. Jack Haley, New Canaan, 1:42.41; 3. Matthew Weiner, Ridgefield, 1:42.74;
1. Elliot Lee, Hand, 1:48.86; 2. Ryan Jee, Greenwich, 1:49.80; 3. Aiden Bucaria, Greenwich, 1:52.42; 1. Mikel Palaj, Bristol coop, 21.13; 2. Tie. Mike Kvashchuk, Norwalk-McMahon, John Frankowski, Westhill-Stamford, 21.31; 3. Hethon Foster, North Haven coop, 21.50; Whitaker Grover, Greenwich, 565.252;
2. Andrew Bell, South Windsor 552.603; 3. Finn Moynahan, Fairfield Coop 524.754;
100 Yard Butterfly: 1. Ryan Jee, Greenwich, 49.29; 2. Nate Oppenheim, BarlowBethel, 49.93; 3. Mikel Palaj, Bristol coop, 50.06; 100 Yard Freestyle: 1. Elliot Lee, Hand, 45.72; 2. Andrew Strickland, Middletown, 46.57; Riley Twiss, Staples, 46.94;
500 Yard Freestyle: 1. Jack Clancy, Ridgefield, 4:34.34; 2. Ryan Roberts, Darien, 4:38.01; 3. Cody Lonsberry, Suffield coop, 4:40.02; 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. Greenwich (Ryan Jee, Kegan Clark, Michael Dislascia, Andrew Dyment), 1:26.56; 2. Westhill-Stamford (Peter Mottolese, Peter Christian, Jaden Jang, John Frankowski), 1:26.77; 3. Darien (Thomas Dupont, Max Scalise, Henry Peters, Jake Dansker), 1:27.03; 100 Yard Backstroke: 1. Brendan Conners, North Haven coop, 49.90; 2. Mitchell Wollen, Xavier, 50.52; 3. Peter Horan, Newtown; 51.12; 100 Yard Breaststroke:
1. Aiden Bucaria, Greenwich, 56.31; 2. Darien, Thomas Dupont, 56.60; 3. K.C. Green, Pomperaug, 57.17; 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. Greenwich (Liam Flaherty, Kegan Clar, Aiden Bucaria, Ryan Jee), 3:06.74; 2. Ridgefield (Max Wolfenden, Kai O’Malley, Maathew Weiner, Jack Clancy), 3:07.85; 3. New Canaan (John Grenier, Ben Maden, Rommin Nicholas Adl, Jack Haley), 3:09.80.