Pittsford’s Swimming and Diving Depth Unbeatable

Lady Panther’s Repeat as

Section V Class A Sectional Champions

The 2003 Pittsford Swimming and Diving Team returned to Pittsford with twenty-one athletes, three coaches, and one large Sectional Crown. For the second consecutive year the Lady Panther’s emerged from the last event of the meet, the sectional champions. Their season began in August, and the determination, drive, and dedication to the long hours of practice created a team of unbeatable depth. Every team can enter four swimmers in each of the eight individual events, and one team per school in one of the three relay events. Pittsford demonstrated to the swimming community that when you have a team that brings back to finals all four swimmers in six individual events, three swimmers in two of the events, and all three relay teams compete in finals, there is going to be a meet filled with lightning fast swimming and a storm of Pittsford scorers.

Hailey Weniger was Pittsford’s top scorer, with two sectional wins in the 200 and 500 free, as well as her win as a member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Weniger set a new school record in the 200 free (1:54.76) and the 500 free (5:09.35). Weniger, along with teammates Stephie House, Susan Allen, and Kate Wilson set a new 200 freestyle relay record of 1:38.42, earning Automatic All-American status. The 200 medley-relay team of Allen, Katie Harris, Libby Brush, and Wilson placed second, setting a new school record of 1:50.37 and earning All-American Consideration. The 400 freestyle relay team of House, Brush, Brayman, and Weniger placed first with a time of 3:39.37 earning All-American Consideration. All three-relay teams qualified for the state meet and Weniger qualified for the state meet in both the 200 and 500 freestyle.

The 200 freestyle depth prevailed as Lindsey Wahl placed 3^rd with a best time of 1:59.82, Lisa Prezzano placed 7^th with a time of 2:04.10, and Erin Bankey placed 12^th with a time of 2:05.95. Pittsford dominated the 200 I.M with Brush placing 3^rd (2:12.19), Allen 4^th (2:14.88), Brayman 5^th (2:15.14), and Emily Wells 6^th (2:21.33). The 200 IM’s depth garnered Pittsford 58 points compared to Fairport’s first and second place finish netting 37 points. Brush, Allen, and Brayman qualified for the state meet.

The sprint 50 freestyle went to Pittsford’s Kate Wilson with a first place touch of 24.48. Wilson reset her former record with her first place win. Teammates Jenny Lewis placed 2^nd with a best time of 25.18, House placed 3^rd (25.33), and Jenna Arington placed 5^th (25.51). Wilson, Lewis, and House all qualified for the state meet.

The diving portion of the meet was contested on Wednesday evening. Pittsford’s Eliza Massie placed 2^nd with a score of 340.65. Ashley Slaughter earned 11^th place with her score of 253.10.

The 100 fly was won by Pittsford’s Libby Brush (59.15) with Brayman placing 2^nd (59.41), Wells 7^th (1:03.69), and Aly Criscuolo 14^th 1:07.87. Brush and Brayman qualified to advance to the state meet. The 100 freestyle earned Pittsford 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th place finishes. Wilson placed 2^nd (53.47), House 3^rd, (53.93), and Arington 4^th (56.07). Wilson and House will advance to the state meet. In the 500 freestyle, Prezzano placed 4^th with a time of 5:27.33, Bankey 9^th (5:38.58) and Harris touched in 11^th, (5:39.84). The 100 backstroke was a close finish with Allen touching in second, (1:00.23), Lewis 3^rd (1:00.93), Wahl 4^th (1:01.45) and Amanda Lang 8^th with a best time of 1:04.95. Allen, Lewis, and Wahl qualified for the state meet. The 100 breast closed the meet as the last individual event for the season. Jessie Ward placed 3^rd (1:10.54), Harris 7^th (1:11.63), and Becca Hazen placed 13^th with a best time of 1:15.08. In the preliminary swims, Lindsay Richardson had a strong performance in the 100 free, and Claire Geiser had a strong performance and best time in the 100 breast. Pittsford’s scoring storm produced 556 points. The second place team, Fairport earned 443 points.

Head swim coach Marty Keating, and assistant coach Beth Dobberstein along with Allen, Brayman, Brush, Harris, House, Lewis, Wahl, Weniger, and Wilson, will join the other Section V state qualifiers traveling to Long Island November 20-22^nd to participate in the NYSPHSA State Championship Meet.