Hanke, Cheshire look to make splash at SCC Championships

The postseason is rapidly approaching, with the trials of the SCC Swimming Championships taking place on Monday

Led by Sam Hanke, Cheshire is one of numerous teams that should make quite a splash at the ultracompetitive meet.

Following a stellar regular season in which it registered a record of 10-3, Cheshire is aiming its sights high at the SCC Championships, which includes undefeated Xavier and 15-time defending champion Fairfield Prep.

“I am very happy with the team’s performance and I feel we are going to have a better performance at SCCs and states,” Rams coach Kevin Reeder said. “This is the best group that I’ve ever had as far as not only swimmers, but people who listen and follow the plan each day. They are a solid group of swimmers, who give everything they have.”

Hanke is one competitor in particular who has given plenty to the Rams program since he was a freshman. Heading to the University of South Carolina’s Division I swimming program, Hanke, a senior captain, has been a model of consistency during his time on the squad.

“I have enjoyed coaching Sam, he’s a hard worker and excellent leader,” Reeder said. “He is a really good student and an all-around great person to have on the team.”

Primed for the postseason meets, Hanke finished second in the 100yard backstroke at the 2019 State Open with a time of 51.33 seconds and placed 11th in the 200 freestyle (1:44.35). He led off the Rams’ 200 freestyle relay squad that placed third in 1:27.52 and the 200 medley relay, that was seventh (1:37.74) at last year’s State Open.

At the 2019 Class L finals, Hanke was fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:43.46) and was the runnerup in the 100 backstroke (51.80).

“Sam has great belief in himself and what his coaches are telling him,” Reeder said. “He has a different level that he can go to in races and he is also seeing the results of the hard work he is putting in practice and has become the swimmer I envisioned him being when he joined the team as a freshman.”

A versatile competitor, who also swims throughout the year for the Cheshire Y/Sea Dog Swim Club, Hanke has sparked the Rams in the 500 freestyle and relay races.

“He is one of the go-to guys on the relays,” said Reeder, who returned to the team following a one-season hiatus.

Reeder spent four seasons as Cheshire’s coach before stepping down prior to the 2019-20 season. An employee at ESPN for nearly 10 years, Reeder served as the producer of the network’s First Take show, which conflicted with his coaching hours.

FALCONS, CARDINALS SOAR TO UNDEFEATED SEASONS

Xavier recently capped one of its most successful seasons in program history, with a 95-83 win over Notre Dame-West Haven. The Falcons finished the season with a record of 12-0 for coach Ronald Vaughan.

In Xavier’s regular-season ending win against Notre Dame-West Haven, Ben Howell won two individual events, finishing first in the 200 freestyle (1:49.29) and 100 freestyle (49.88). He was also part of Xavier’s winning 200 (1:33.65) and 400 (3:29.97) freestyle relay teams.

Andrew Mitchell (50 freestyle, 22.22), Donald Frost (100 butterfly, 53.85), Mitchell Wollen (100 backstroke, 55.17) and Samuel Enes (2:07.33) each won their respective events for Xavier in the meet.