Wilton Caps YMCA Nationals in Impressive Fashion

By John Lohn

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 9. WHEN the final day of the YMCA Nationals started on Friday, Wilton knew it had the boys’ championship wrapped up. By the end of the meet, the Connecticut-based squad also had the combined title and a new national record to its credit.

Behind the foursome of Phil Baity (21.26), Rob Hannigan (21.06), Andrew Trepp (20.46) and Jeff Sudbury (19.86), Wilton blasted a National YMCA record in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:22.64. The time dipped well under the former standard of 1:23.79, set in 1988 by Raleigh. Earlier in the week, Wilton took down a Raleigh record in the 400 free relay. Door County was second in the sprint-free relay, clocking 1:23.95.

Aside from its record-breaking swim, Wilton claimed victory in the 400 medley relay as Baity, Sudbury, Ben Prue and Trepp touched the wall in 3:25.11, easily ahead of the 3:28.25 registered by Countryside. Meanwhile, Sudbury won gold in the 100 breast, thanks to an effort of 56.99. He was followed by East Branch’s Luke Boutwell (57.11).

Trailing the M.E. Lyons after the third day of action, Wilton’s final-day excellence carried it to a final combined point total of 559. Sarasota was second with 500.5 points and M.E. Lyons was third with 484.5. As for the male results, Wilton ran away with the crown after compiling 396 points. Lakeland Hills was second (264), followed by M.E. Lyons (231.5) and Birmingham (231).

In the female team standings, Sarasota won the championship with 330.5 points, ahead of the 303 points accumulated by West Shore. Boyertown was third with 263.5 points. The Sarasota triumph was aided, in part, by Corinne Showalter’s first-place showing in the 1,650 free. Showalter was timed in 16:28.02, quicker than the 16:32.43 of Emily Brunemann (M.E. Lyons).

Adding to his win in the 100 butterfly, Brian Wilson (Summit) won the 200 butterfly by a comfortable margin, as his 1:48.87 supplied a two-plus second decision over South Shore’s Pat Reams (1:51.33). In the 1,650 free, Triangle’s Charlie Houchin turned in a time of 15:20.00, better than the 15:28.99 of Hank Browning (M.E. Lyons).

In the girls’ competition, Triangle and West Shore traded places in the 200 freestyle and 400 medley relays. In the 200 free relay, the Triangle squad of Lisa Pucci, Katie Godown, Jessalyn Crawford and Candace Cooper edged West Shore, 1:36.10-1:36.49. But in the 400 medley relay, West Shore turned the tables, as Tricia Weaner, Marianne Flynn, Allison Luttermoser and Leah Gingrich went 3:49.84 for the title. Triangle was second in 3:50.32.

The female side also saw Boyertown’s Emily Christy win the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:00.45. Champaign’s Payton Johnson was second in 2:01.15. In the 100 breaststroke, Countryside’s Lindsey Graessle (1:04.14) outdueled Franklin County’s Ann Cipoletti (1:04.62).

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