CLIFTON PARK – Several area swimmers earned trips to the Section II Division II finals Friday during preliminary competition at Shenendehowa High School.
The top eight in each event advance to today’s finals, while those qualifying ninth through 16th will compete in the B final today.
Fonda-Johnstown’s Trevor Askew posted the fastest time in the 200-yard individual medley prelims, finishing in a time of 1:59.61. Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Alex Sydow (11th, 2:21.55), Amsterdam’s Nick Davilla (14th, 2:25.58) and Amsterdam’s John Sawitzki (16th, 2:27.96) all qualified for the B final in the 200 individual medley.
Askew also qualified second in the 100 breaststroke, posting a time of 1:01.63. Amsterdam’s Thomas Knack qualified sixth with a time of 1:05.22, while Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Meghan Cortright (13th, 1:09.91) and Fonda-Johnstown’s Chris Dunbar (15th, 1:12.54) qualified for the B final. Cortright’s time set a new school record for C-FP.
Gloversville’s Matt Helou recorded the fifth-fastest time in the 100 butterfly prelims, finishing in 54.89 seconds. Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Jake Brody (11th, 1:00.20), C-FP’s Sydow (14th, 1:02.01) and Fonda-Johnstown’s Dunbar (1:03.35) qualified for the B final in the 100 butterfly.
Matt Helou posted a time of 59.88 seconds in the 100 backstroke to qualify sixth, while Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Harrison Abrams (10th, 1:03.68) and Amsterdam’s Davilla (16th, 1:07.86) qualified for the B final.
In the 50 freestyle, Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Joe Trembley qualified sixth with a time of 22.53 seconds. Gloversville’s Danny Helou (15th, 23.71) and C-FP’s Bryn Clark (16th, 23.82) all qualified for the B final in the 50 freestyle.
Trembley qualified fifth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.94 seconds in the prelims. Gloversville’s Danny Helou (ninth, 51.41), Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Bryn Clark (13th, 54.16) and Amsterdam’s A.J. Mercado (15th, 56.25) all qualified for the B final in the 100 freestyle.
Amsterdam’s Knack qualified sixth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:20.56. Gloversville’s Brandon Becker (13th, 5:37.05) and Canajoharie-Fort Plain’s Mike Thomas (15th, 5:45.54) each qualified for the B final in the 500 freestyle.
Three Canajoharie-Fort Plain swimmers earned spots in the B final in the 200 freestyle. Abrams qualified 13th with a time of 2:01.89, while Thomas (2:04.37) qualified 14th, Cortright (2:05.15) qualified 15th and Gloversville’s Brandon Becker (16th, 2:05.73)
In the 200 medley relay, Canajoharie-Fort Plain (1:47.97) posted the third fastest time, Gloversville (1:50.35) was sixth, Fonda-Johnstown (1:57.36) was seventh and Amsterdam (1:57.36). All four teams earned spots in today’s finals.
Canajoharie-Fort Plain (1:33.86) qualified third in the 200 freestyle relay, while Gloversville (1:37.87) was seeded seventh. Amsterdam (10th, 1:44.39) and Fonda-Johnstown (11th, 1:49.84) qualified for the B final in the 200 freestyle relay.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Canajoharie-Fort Plain (3:50.16) qualified sixth and Gloversville’s (4:01.72) qualified eighth.
The Division II finals will begin today at Shenendehowa at 10 a.m., while the Division I finals will begin at 3 p.m.
The winners, as well as those who have met the qualifying standard, in each event will compete in the state championships March 4 and 5 at Erie Community College in Buffalo.
