Invitational mixes it up

WEST HARTFORD INVITATIONAL

The West Hartford Invitational, featuring six squads from several conferences, was held recently at Cornerstone Aquatics Center in West Hartford. Besides the usual events, the meet held several different races, such as a 200-yard breaststroke relay, a 200 butterfly relay and a 200 backstroke relay.

Conard junior Charles Krajc won the 100-yard butterfly in 54.44 seconds, while teammate Benjamin Arky took first in the 50 freestyle (22.68). Amity teammates Seamus Hennessy (57.25) and Tyler Roy (58.61) were first and second, respectively, in the 100 backstroke.

Joey Stavolone from Suffield was the 100 breaststroke winner (1:06.42) and right behind him was Amity’s Brodey Lu (1:06.59). Senior Julian Flores from Conard won the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.88 and Pomperaug sophomore Timothy Regan touched the wall first in the 100-yard individual medley (57.18).

Pomperaug won the 200 breaststroke relay in 2:03.11, Hall’s Carson Raisner, Andrew Sun, Kobe Dominguez and Connor Skarzynski combined to win the 200 medley relay (1:46.41) and Pomperaug also took first in the 200 butterfly relay (1:45.75).

In the 200 backstroke relay, Hennessy, Xinqui Shen, Casey Donovan and Nolan Young teamed up to register a first-place time of 1:53.28.

TOP PERFORMERS

Jack Crocamo, Seymour: The senior gave winning efforts in the 100-yard butterfly (54.99) and 100 backstroke (59.82) in Seymour’s meet against Shelton.

Derek Melanson, Southington: The senior took top honors in the 200-yard individual medley (2:06.25) and the 100 butterfly (55.40) in Southington’s meet vs. Hall. He also led off the 400freestyle relay race, which was won by Southington in 3:33.04.

Connor Skarzynski, Hall: Skarzynski showed his distance swimming skills against Southington, placing first in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:52.46 and the 500 freestyle (5:07.39) against Southington.

Ethan Woolbert, Hopkins: Woolbert was the 200-yard individual medley winner for Hopkins in its meet against Hamden Hall, touching the wall in 1:59.38. He also won the 100 breaststroke in 59.13 seconds and swam on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:38.66).

MEETS TO WATCH

Darien vs. Norwalk/McMahon, Feb. 12 at Darien YMCA, 7 p.m.: Darien, which was undefeated heading into its big meet against FCIAC rival Greenwich on Thursday, should be tested against an improving Norwalk/McMahon squad.

Daniel Hand vs. Cheshire, Feb. 14, at Cheshire Community School, 7 p.m.: Both teams are, once again, in the midst of successful seasons. The Rams topped Hand in 2019 in a tight meet, 95-83.