CIAC BOYS SWIMMING
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, 1 p.m., Yale’s Kiphuth Pool, New Haven
2023 CHAMPION: Greenwich
2023 RUNNER-UP: Ridgefield
2024 CLASS CHAMPIONS: Greenwich (LL), New Canaan (L), Pomperaug (M), Weston (S)
2024 CONTENDERS: Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk/McMahon, Fairfield Prep
WATCH LIVE: NFHS Network (subscription required)
TICKETS: GoFan.co
WHAT TO KNOW
Any talk of State Open contenders begins with Greenwich. The Cardinals have won 37 championships, with 17 of those coming in the 22 Opens held since 2000. Last year, they won their ninth straight title in dominating fashion, scoring 636 points to runner-up Ridgefield’s 393. The Cardinals’ biggest challenge will likely come from New Canaan, which won its fourth consecutive Class L championship
on Tuesday and was the FCIAC runner-up to Greenwich by a mere 38 points. The Rams aren’t quite as deep as the Cards, but can pile up points in the fast heats behind elite swimmers such as senior Deacon Mascarinas and juniors Jack Haley and Eric Huang. Class L runnerup Fairfield Prep, led by senior Owen Tharrington, is also in the hunt, as is the Norwalk/McMahon co-op, which was the Class LL runner-up behind senior Mike Kvashchuk and sophomore Wyatt Vitiello. Last year’s runner-up, Ridgefield, is still strong and features one of the state’s top swimmers in Jack Clancy, the defending Open champion in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Pomperaug won its fourth straight Class M title behind three victories by junior Robert Regan on Monday and figures to compete for a top spot.
SWIMMERS TO WATCH
Jack Clancy, Sr., Ridgefield: The PennState commit was a double-winner in the 200 and 500 freestyles at last year’s Open and has shown no signs of slowing down. Clancy also won those two events at this year’s Class L meet, earning a pair of top seeds for the Open.
Kegan Clark, Sr., Greenwich: A Gettysburg commit, Clark took home three gold medals from last year’s State Open, winning the 100 freestyle and helping the Cards’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays finish first. He was a four-time winner at the Class LL meets, winning the 100 and 200 freestyles and as part of two relays. Deacon Mascarinas, Sr., New Canaan:
Mascarinas has been a machine in the last two Class L championships, winning four events each season to help the Rams’ dynasty collect four straight titles. The Colgate committ will be key for New Canaan as it looks to challenge Greenwich for the top spot at the Open.
Robert Regan, Jr., Pomperaug: The junior won three events while helping the Panthers claim their fourth consecutive CIAC Class M championship on Monday. Owen Tharrington, Jr., Fairfield Prep:
Tharrington, a Notre Dame commit, was third in the State Open 100 backstroke as a sophomore, and was a double-winner at the Class L meet on Tuesday, taking first in both the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.