Fast Swimming at New York State Girls High School Champs

BUFFALO, NY, Dec. 14. FAST swimming was the order of the day at the New York state girls' public school swimming and diving championships, held Nov. 17 at Flickinger Aquatic Center on the campus of Erie Commnity College.

This is the same pool that hosted last March's NCAA Division III women's championships, which saw Coach Greg Parini's Denison squad halt Kenyon Coach Jim Steen's 18-year win streak — ironic in that Parini is a Kenyon graduate and won several NCAA men's DIII titles while under Steen's tutelege.

(Maybe he learned too much!)

In any event, New York does not award a team championship — only individual swimmers won titles.

The meet had no double winners. Orchard Park got the proceedings off to a fast start with its 1:50.41 200 medley relay win, a second off the state-record of 1:49.53 by Urusuline.

Newburgh Free sophomore Kiersten Koronowicz won the 200 free (1:51.24) with Garden City's Sarah Daly (1:52.09) second. Both are All-America consideration cuts.

The 200 IM saw Palmyra-Macedon senior Emily Williams win handily in 2:05.90 over Scotia-Glenville freshman Karly Brooks' 2:07.66. The state record is 2:01.75 by Tori deSilvia, who went onto become an All-America at the University of Tennessee in the early '90s.

Albany senior Laura Notaling was quickest in the 50 free (All-America auto (23.68) while in the 100 she was runner-up to Sachen senior Shirlee Manoogian (52.09-52.23). West Genessee froshwoman Emily Murphy (53.12) took the bronze.

The 100 fly was won by Scarsdale sophomore Bridget O'Conner (All-America auto 56.03). The meet record is 54.35 by former UCLA and North Carolina All-America Richelle Depold, now known as Richelle Fox for her marriage to former North Carolina State All-America and Atlanta Olympian David Fox, who struck gold here as a member of Uncle Sam's 400 sprint relay.

In the 500 free, Garden City's Daly went a quick 4:49.94, among the fastest 500s nationally. The leader is Arizona's Ashley Chandler with a 4:45.16 from the cactus state's championship in November at the Arizona State pool.

West Genessee, with Murphy's 23.12 anchoring, won the 200 free relay (1:38.28); Newburgh Free junior Michelle Coombs won the 100 back (57.05) with Yorktown junior Rebecca Grove (57.55) second; and Orchard Park
sophomore Robin Lehner won the 100 breast (All-America consideration 1:06.35). DeSilvia also holds the state-record here (1:03.95).

Newburgh Free, with Coombs leading off in 52.83 and 200 free champ Koronowicz anchoring, won the 400 free relay (3:34.55). Orchard Park was in hot pursuit with its 3:36.66, good for second.

On the 1-meter board, Fairport senior Laurissa Prystaj went out a winner, scoring 475.80 to runner-up Alyssa Helsing's 434.75. Helsing dives for Horseheads.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use