With the Section 5 Class B championship going into its final event Brighton head coach Ben Vick turned to his 400 freestyle relay team and let them know what they needed to be done. The Barons held a 17-point lead, and if they could finish fourth or higher they were going home with another Section 5 title.
Like they had so many times this season, Vick’s swimmers proved up to the challenge.
The Brighton relay of James Premo, Owen Karl, Sam Devine and Will Ronchetti closed out Friday’s meet at the Webster Aquatic Center by finishing third in the relay to capture the Section 5 title, their second straight Class B title and third in the four years. The Barons scored 365 points, nine clear of second-place Victor.
“I think that relay epitomized who we were as a team,” Vick said. “We didn’t necessarily have that number one guy but we had a team spirit that drove us throughout the meet. Those four guys worked hard all year and they got the job done.”
Trailing by 16 points entering the 500 free, Karl gave the Barons their only champion when he won by over five seconds. Three Brighton athletes finished in the top six and the Barons took a 22-point lead.
Ben Chappell’s win in the backstroke put the Blue Devils back up 301-299 but Brighton’s depth in the breaststroke sewed up their victory.
Lead by senior Robert Marvald (third), with help from David Carmel (eighth) and Sam Horowitz (10th) Brighton outscored Victor 34-15 in the event to build a cushion going into the 400 free relay.
“A sectional win definitely outweighs everything else,” Karl said. “The Fab Four Invitational, dual meets, individual titles, none of that matters compared to a sectional win. It’s really great to have that two years in a row.”
Victor junior Jeffrey Williamson dominated the 50 and 100 freestyles and was part of two winning relay teams to earn swimmer of the meet honors.
He narrowly missed the Class B record in the 50 free despite winning by one second. Williamson then earned the Class B meet record in the 100 free (46.26).
He culminated his outstanding evening by teaming with Chappell, Luke Shanahan and Brian Shanahan to break the Class B meet record in the 400 free relay finishing in 3:16.67.
“I felt strong in the water, and I was pleased with how I did,” Williamson said. “I love helping the team. I was happy with our 400 free relay, and I am glad we were able to get back to states.”
With the Section 5 Class B championship going into its final event Brighton head coach Ben Vick turned to his 400 freestyle relay team and let them know what they needed to be done. The Barons held a 17-point lead, and if they could finish fourth or higher they were going home with another Section 5 title.
Like they had so many times this season, Vick’s swimmers proved up to the challenge.
The Brighton relay of James Premo, Owen Karl, Sam Devine and Will Ronchetti closed out Friday’s meet at the Webster Aquatic Center by finishing third in the relay to capture the Section 5 title, their second straight Class B title and third in the four years. The Barons scored 365 points, nine clear of second-place Victor.
“I think that relay epitomized who we were as a team,” Vick said. “We didn’t necessarily have that number one guy but we had a team spirit that drove us throughout the meet. Those four guys worked hard all year and they got the job done.”
Trailing by 16 points entering the 500 free, Karl gave the Barons their only champion when he won by over five seconds. Three Brighton athletes finished in the top six and the Barons took a 22-point lead.
Ben Chappell’s win in the backstroke put the Blue Devils back up 301-299 but Brighton’s depth in the breaststroke sewed up their victory.
Lead by senior Robert Marvald (third), with help from David Carmel (eighth) and Sam Horowitz (10th) Brighton outscored Victor 34-15 in the event to build a cushion going into the 400 free relay.
“A sectional win definitely outweighs everything else,” Karl said. “The Fab Four Invitational, dual meets, individual titles, none of that matters compared to a sectional win. It’s really great to have that two years in a row.”
Victor junior Jeffrey Williamson dominated the 50 and 100 freestyles and was part of two winning relay teams to earn swimmer of the meet honors.
He narrowly missed the Class B record in the 50 free despite winning by one second. Williamson then earned the Class B meet record in the 100 free (46.26).
He culminated his outstanding evening by teaming with Chappell, Luke Shanahan and Brian Shanahan to break the Class B meet record in the 400 free relay finishing in 3:16.67.
“I felt strong in the water, and I was pleased with how I did,” Williamson said. “I love helping the team. I was happy with our 400 free relay, and I am glad we were able to get back to states.”
Canandaigua senior Nicholas Ringhoff also broke a Class B meet record swimming a 51.99 to win the 100 butterfly.
Ringhoff knew he was going to have to battle Chappell for the fly title, but a 23.81 opening 50 gave him nearly a second lead. He then swam over a second faster than the rest of the field over the final 50 for an easy victory.
“I visualized my race 15 times between Wednesday and today,” Ringhoff said. “I knew the competition was going to be tough. I was really psyched. My teammates were great and they really helped me out.”
Honeoye Falls-Lima head coach Norm Schueckler was named Class B coach of the year, while Charlotte senior Christopher Leonard won the Donna Mooney Memorial Award.
