Friars finish second at CHSAA championships

Punxsutawney Phil

Juniors Kent Bischoff & Chris Cannon will lead the Friars in the defense of their 2010 NYCHSAA title.

Christian Yeager resets the 100 meter backstroke record, previously held by his brother Kyle.

The defending NYCHSAA Champions showed their team depth, as the Friar men were led by freshman Mike Capodanno, Tyler Williams, and John Tonna.

Results are available on the "news" page of www.nychsaaswimming-diving.org

Last year's Friars also finished 5th overall at the New York State Swimming Championships.

The 2010-11 season promises to be a great one, especially with the addition of a talented group of freshman, including:

The year was 2007.  Our current seniors were just Freshmen, and the team was tremendous!  Tremendous in both: size and talent.  We suffered a heartbreaking blow as these young Friars lost a dual meet for the first time in years.  Those tears combined with the leadership of that team carried them to an underdog 2007 Championship win.  In 2008, our current Juniors were added to the strength of the Friars.  It seemed we were peaking at just the right time… Champs.  Although the Friars scored the greatest number of points in our history, a monumental 769… it was not enough to hoist the coveted CHSAA Championship plaque over our heads.  We graduated 16 seniors that weekend.  Twelve of them point scorers in that incredible feat!  We moved into the Fall of 2009 with a completely different looking team.

     Dating this back to the start of the 2009 season is when this team really began preparing for this accomplishment.  We graduated 16 seniors from the prior season, and we were ready for new young talent to take over the Friars.  All last year, they worked harder then any team out there and began improving at light speed.  By the time we got to Champs, we had a Finals Sunday that was awesome.  Some of the best team records began falling!  We might not have been Champions, but we were sure beginning to conduct ourselves like it.  Into this 2010 season and right from day one… the focus has been on competing for the top.  New talented freshmen were added to what was built by our current senior leaders who gained incredible experience over their first three years.  It was immediately obvious to the entire coaching staff that we had something special this year!

     Beginning August 31^st, our team goal was to give this team its best shot at winning Champs.  That was what was prepared for at each practice, and at every dual meet.  Everything we did had a purpose.  What got the coaching staff so excited was that every single swimmer on this roster was on board with this goal.  They were hungry and accepted every decision and challenge that was given to them.  They all listened and responded to every instruction with meticulous detail.  Simply put… they outworked every team.

     The memorable dual meet vs Sacred Heart not only iced the cake of our dual meet season Championship, but was the final piece of the puzzle needed to beat the mighty Spartans at Champs.  That piece was confidence.  Knowing that if they swam their absolute best as a TEAM… they could come out on top!

     Our 200 Medley Relay, was set up on Saturday with veteran Sammy Norman, Amanda Barry, Callie Vacchiano, and the hard working Danika Sess.  Their perfect swim set up our St. Anthony’s first place relay of freshman Melissa Bischoff, Amanda Barry, Shannon Lulley, and Marielle Pavek who gave the Friars a record breaking 1:51.70!  Although it was an early celebration seeing the Friars come in first in the first event… but we will only see that happen one more time as this meet progresses.

     The 200 free kept up our excitement.  Continuing in the footsteps of older sister Jacqui (STA ’08), Gennie Cohen is also a Championship meet swimmer.  She landed in the consolation heat as the top seed.  (A lot of pressure with 7 swimmers trying to take your spot away).  Gennie was as strong as ever blowing her heat away with her personal best 2:07.56!  The Friars now flex a little muscle with 3 swimmers in finals!  It takes all three personal best times to see the Friars outscore the competition.  That’s exactly what they did!  Our new freshman spark plug, Emma Guastella went 2:05.46, a much stronger this year, Kaitlin FitzGerald swam her best, 2:00.21, and our own Chandler Lulley started off her amazing Champs weekend with a State Qualifying 1:57.28!

     The 200 IM had all the Friars jumping up and down, as we again made this one of our higher scoring events.  Dropping another 2 seconds off her best, freshman Nicole Mejia took over winning her consolation heat with a 2:24.32.  In Finals, veteran Christine Swartwout swam a personal best 2:20.43 which moved her up another spot to 7^th.  One of our pleasant surprises was Amanda Barry’s IM.  Proving that hard work pays off after a full 3 months of working on all four strokes, Amanda went a blistering State Qualifying 2:13.37!  The Friars top finisher was the absolutely amazing to watch, Shannon Lulley with her own personal best and State Qualifying 2:11.25!

     The 50 Free event was set up by seniors Alison Sinicropi, Colette Carman, Beth Hughes, and junior Marisa Brandt.  As we dominate the 50… our cheers only get our team more psyched.  At Finals… I actually heard Jenna Vacchiano scream from 9 lanes away as she celebrated her incredible best time of 27.53!  Keeping the Krause Family tradition of always making an impact at Champs was Morgan with her best 27.03!  They weren’t the only Friars to gain overall positions… letting the sprinter come alive and moving up huge was veteran senior Colleen Manning who won the heat with a blistering 26.30!  As tough as they come was our top sprinter this year, Marielle Pavek who qualified for States with the exact cut time of 25.35!  (* added side note:  Marielle went on to break the 50 free team record [set by Chandler Lulley just two weeks prior] at States in Buffalo with a 25.16)

     Nothing gets you pumped as when you see 4 Friars step up on the block in the middle lanes and dominate the top heat as we did in the 50 Fly.  Making a Friar statement was senior veteran Sammy Norman, Junior Meaghan Harley, senior captain Jackie Zoine (Merry Christmas Jackie!!  Sorry folks… that’s a four year inside joke), and her freshman sister Jessica Zoine.  What would a Friar Championships be without a Cohen in the 100 fly?  Gennie again came up huge with her 13^th place finish!  I thought Callie Vacchiano was incredible in Trials with her 1:05…  How about her dropping another 3 seconds to win the heat with a huge point scoring 1:02.76!  Melissa Bischoff with her incredible kick-outs swam her best in Finals with a 1:02.33.  After an incredible battle, our top butterflyer, Shannon Lulley finished 2^nd with her personal best and State Qualifying 58.12! 

     The 100 free was one of our keys to our line up.  Although we show tremendous depth as displayed by freshman and future talent Emily Dunn, Sophomore Danika Sess, veteran senior Livi Jannuzzi, and junior Marisa Brandt all seeded at the top of Saturday’s 100 free, we were concerned after the conclusion of the dual meets that we just didn’t have enough points in that event.  Our decision that couldn’t have worked any better then it did, was to move Chandler Lulley from the backstroke to the 100 free.  Her supporting cast was Colleen Manning, who was all heart with her best 56.54, and Breann Lydon with her indomitable performance of 55.88 (what!!) who both shot right to the front of their heat for a much needed 1-2 finish!  Our fearless Marielle Pavek accompanied Chandler in Finals with her 7^th place finish at a 56.82.  But what had us all screaming was the Friars second and final first place finish of Champs with Chandler Lulley’s Record Breaking, State Qualifying 53.01!  Yes… take a minute to read that again…  53.01!  Whew!  The Friars scored more points in the event then even anticipated, and that kept us slightly ahead in overall points instead of when we expected to be down at this point of the meet.

     The 500 free takes years to perfect.  Only the truly dedicated are disciplined to repeat it over and over to perfect the 20 lap event.  We turned it over to our group of young talented Friars.  Sophomore Kaitlin FitzGerald who had a full year of experience under her belt (well… maybe not a belt, but suit, cap and goggles) led three new freshmen who all excelled beyond expectations.  Nicole Mejia became an instant asset this year as she is competent in so many events.  She, as well as Erica Swartwout, who already has miles of open water swimming events on her resume, dominated their heat with a 1-2 finish and went 5:44.47 and 5:43.30 respectively.  Freshman Emma Guastella, one of the hardest working Friars on the team, not only qualified for Finals… but moved up two more places and swam her best 5:39.35 for a 6^th place finish!  And finally our top distance swimmer Kaitlin FitzGerald gave the Friars a strong 4^th place finish against the best in the league with her best 5:23.63!

     Gennie Cohen, Colleen Manning, Jenna Vacchiano, and Morgan Krause set up our 200 Free Relay perfectly on Saturday. Chandler Lulley, freshman Melissa Bischoff, Breann Lydon, and Kaitlin FitzGerald, gave the Friars a 3^rd place finish with their State Qualifying time of 1:43.08!  It was at this point where the stress level for all the coaches finally began to diminish.  We’ve gotten past all the events that seemed to be a roller coaster ride.  We are through the first 8 events (with 3 to go) and the Lady Friars have a 15 point overall lead!  Once we figure out our scoring… the smiles begin to form on the faces of Coaches Scott, Liz, Annie and I, as the reality of watching our incredibly united team winning themselves a Championship is within their reach.  The four of us know we are heading into our two strongest events of the meet!  As much as the smiles that were enjoyed for a total of two seconds was a huge sigh of relief… immediately Coach Scott begins doing what he does best and gets into the minds of each individual swimmer and just gets them psyched to GO!  Coaches Liz and Annie, two of the best Friar Champions of the past, give pep talks and important last minute advice to all our remaining swimmers.

     Here’s our depth chart on backstroke.  For starters… we moved our top seed Chandler Lulley to the 100 free which she won.  (oh yeah!).  In the 50 backstroke, we have Emily Dunn, Sammy Norman, Meaghan Harley, and Beth Hughes, who are 1-2-3-4, and two seconds faster then anyone else in the event!  In the 100 back, we began with freshman Jackie Theal who rocked the consolation heat winning by a full second with her personal best 1:02.67!  We then move to the Final heat where three Friars are waiting to take down the competition.  It was sophomore Breann Lydon, who repeated her amazing performance from last years Champs, and senior veteran Christine Swartwout who made remarkable strides in backstroke this year (there’s another example of why you don’t label yourself and make sure you work on ALL strokes) who both TIED for third place with two a pair of 1:02.61’s!  Finishing just ahead of them is one of our new freshmen sensations, Melissa Bischoff who finished second (only to the new league record holder) with her State Qualifying 1:00.70!  The Friars just scored the greatest number of points in one event of the meet thus far!

     The backstroke put us all on our feet!  Can my voice possibly make it through two more events?  Top seed in the 50, Gabi Cannon, freshman Lauren Kneesy, senior veteran Christine DellaRatta, and senior Kelly Ann Crowley again just reiterate the depth of the Lady Friars.  We are sitting on a pretty commanding point lead and we now must wait through two 100 breaststroke events without any action.  Why?...   Because ALL FOUR Friar breaststrokers are in the Final heat!  After battling back from her shoulder injury, Kim Corso placed 7^th with her season best 1:16.08.  Freshman Erica Swartwout continued to make her impact with her best 1:15.95!  Then it was our top two who exploded from the pack along with the new current league record holder to be three seconds ahead of the rest.  Callie Vacchiano finished in 3^rd with a blistering 1:10.13!  And just ahead of her, Amanda Barry again shows what a pressure swimmer she is with her 1:09.17 State Qualifying 2^nd place finish!  Everyone is up on their feet and it’s a sea of Black and Gold!  After the top point scoring event of Champs, the Friars have a 63 point lead!

     The greatest number of points St. Anthony’s has ever scored in a Championship meet was 769.  A mark that was set only two years prior with a team that was to graduate 16 seniors (12 of them who were point scorers in Champs).  The Lady Friars now sit (well… stand.  There isn’t a single one of them sitting at this point) at the conclusion of 10 events with 751 points.  Knowing exactly what the rest of the league has, Coach Scott and I immediately realize “If we take second place here, we can go over 800 points!”  Our relay takes off.  Marielle Pavek, Kaitlin FitzGerald, Chandler Lulley, and Shannon Lulley execute their swims perfectly.  It was Shannon Lulley’s touch of the final wall that made it official.  With their State Qualifying 3:39.13 2^nd place finish, The Friars finish with exactly 801 Points!  I’m looking around myself at this energized team in amazement!  This is the TEAM that set our point record… and now once again call themselves:   CHAMPIONS!

     I am surrounded by screams that were ear piercing.  38 teammates embrace and seal the bond that was made 3 months prior.  I’m thrilled to witness our seniors crying tears of joy as they celebrate the conclusion of the quest that they made three years ago.  To once again raise the Championship title before they graduate! 

     It took a TEAM to do it.  With only two first place finishes in the entire meet, they scored the greatest number of points in St. Anthony’s history at 801.  If you ever again hear someone say “swimming is an individual sport”…  they obviously don’t know the Friars!  Whether it was cheering on your teammates, ripping up the pool, parents cheering in the stands, counting, timing, etc…  you all had a piece in the puzzle of winning this Championship.  And THAT takes a TEAM!

     Thanks to all who made this year such a success.  The support of Brother Gary and Don Buckley.  The help from our team moderators, Laura Gianuzzi, and Debbie Fahey.  The greatest coaching staff at any High School in the world, Coach Scott Chiovaro, Coach Liz Welling (STA ’92), and Coach Annie (STA ’95).  The leadership of our captains, Colleen Manning, Christine Swartwout, and Jackie Zoine as well as all our seniors who lead this amazing TEAM.  To all our supportive parents who found out I hold 6am morning practices and said to their daughters “You’re trying out for WHAT!”.

Thirty eight girls with ONE goal.  Thank you all for allowing them to make that dream a reality!

CHAMPIONS 2010!

-Proud to be called your coach,

Coach Dan McBride

Congratulations to Marielle Pavek, who set a new Friars record in the 50 free at States.

Thursday-Saturday

November 18-20

Buffalo, New York

2010 Dual-Meet Champions

Chandler Lulley added the 200IM to her list of State Qual. Times.

All 3 Friars' Relays have qualified for the 2010 State Championships.

This is the Lady Friars' 1st undefeated dual-meet season since 2006.

Record:  9-0

Record:  8-0

Record:  1-0

     It was early Thursday morning.  My stomach was in knots with the anticipation of 6:00 pm to roll around.  So, I spoke to Sister Lucide, who always knows how to calm me down.  We did some reminiscing and I filled her in on the events of the past 4 years leading up to this evenings’ dual meet against the mighty Sacred Heart.  At the conclusion of our conversation, Sister said she’ll be “praying for the girls all day”.  Well, that’s it.  All we ever need is Sister Lucide praying for us, and great things are bound to happen!

     At 6:00 in Mineola, I am informed by way too many people that there’s heavy traffic on every road possible.  So now I’m ready to have a heart attack, and the meet didn’t even start yet! 

     The girls were pumped.  There was no fear in their eyes.  They knew exactly what a battle they were about to enter, and embraced the challenge!  We kicked off the meet with the best Medley Relays possible, and came up huge with a 1-2 finish!  Melissa Bischoff, Amanda Barry, Shannon Lulley, and Marielle Pavek qualified St. Anthony’s for States with a time of 1:52.70!  But on the tail of that relay, with our first important touch-out of the night, was Jackie Theal, Callie Vacchiano, Gennie Cohen, and Breann Lydon with a 2^nd place finish!

     Where the Friars have always drawn their strength from, is the depth of our TEAM.  (that’s right, if you ever hear someone say that swimming is “an individual sport”… tell them about the Friars!)  The 200 free was a perfect example of that.  Although we didn’t take 1^st place in the event, it was Chandler Lulley qualifying for States with a 1:58.43, and right behind her was Kaitlin FitzGerald and freshman Emma Guastella for a 2-3-4 finish giving the scoring edge to the Friars!

     The 200 IM was a battle for both teams.  Shannon Lulley again swam under the State qualifying time, and both Amanda Barry and Christine Swartwout turned in best times of the season.  Alison Sinicropi, Sammy Norman, and Colette Carman, gave us a 1-2-3 finish in the first heat of the 50 free (scoring would have been 13-3, STA).  Marielle Pavek had an awesome swim with a strong 2^nd against the dominant SHA sprinters.  Both Colleen Manning and Morgan Krause had best times of the season.  It was Jessica Zoine, Jackie Zoine, and Christine DellaRatta that gave us a 1-2-5 finish in the 50 fly (scoring would have been 11-5, STA).  Although the 100 fly is a strong event for Sacred Heart, where their top swimmer qualified for States, it was Shannon Lulley who took first place with her own State Qualifying time of 50.03!  She was backed up by freshman Melissa Bischoff and veteran flyer Gennie Cohen and St. Anthony’s gained another 9-7 scoring victory. 

     With only an 8 point cushion, it was time to feel the crunch of the Sacred  Heart power.  In heat one of the 100 free, we had 3 best times from Emily Dunn, Danika Sess, and Marisa Brandt, which yielded a 3-4-5 finish (scoring would have been 10-6, SHA).  Sacred Heart was stacked.  Their top two swimmers both turned in State times.  But we had our own State Qualifier Marielle Pavek leading Colleen Manning and Breann Lydon to their best times of the season by far!  But at this point…  the meet was now tie at 47!

     Yes, I do tend to lose a bit of control.  Yes, I get a bit emotional when I see the Friars on the brink of something great.  Time for another team meeting because they must be aware that being tie with the reining Champs who haven’t lost a dual meet in almost four years was a positive feat!  I apologize to all my swimmers, because at this point… I find myself screaming every word that is coming out of my mouth.  There is no longer any civil conversation.  We have all completely switched into hyperactive “Let’s go get ‘em” mode!  My adrenaline has skyrocketed… (Sister Lucide, keep praying because I’m anything but calm!)

     Sacred Heart freestylers are always strong.  Especially their distance freestylers.  But this year, it was Kaitlin FitzGerald, Emma Guastella, and the entire Friar team screaming and waving their arms at Erica Swartwout that finished 2-3-4 which for the first time in I can’t remember how long that the Friars outscored them 9-7 in the 500 free.  We’re up by two! 

     It’s time to face those sprinters again.  Our top relay was fast.  Only a tenth of a second off the State cut were Chandler Lulley, Colleen Manning, Breann Lydon, and anchoring coming off her 500 free, was Kaitlin FitzGerald.  We did give it all we had.  Even our “B” relay (Jackie Theal, Gennie Cohen, Morgan Krause, Nicole Mejia) broke 1:50!  A respectable “A” swim on any other team.  And our “C” relay (Faith McCallion, Catherine Hess, Rebecca Cruz, Kelly-Ann Crowlry) did 5 seconds under their best!  But Sacred Heart prevailed and the Friars suffered a huge hit being outscored 10-4.  (down 4 points). 

     Our 50 backstrokers gave us the moral lift we needed.  A 1-2-3 finish by Meaghan Harley, Beth Hughes, and Emily Dunn got us all screaming again (score would have been 13-3, STA)!   Sacred Heart is loaded with talented backstrokers.  But this year, the Friars are ready to match them… and match them is exactly what we did.  Only half a second off the State cut, Chandler Lulley placed 2^nd, Melissa Bischoff had a huge touch-out by .23 to finish 3^rd, and evening out the score was Christine Swartwout with the all important touch-out that gave both teams an even 8 points!  (we’re still down 4).

     We’re still in reach!  Every other word I’m screaming is screeching like Peter Brady!  (ok, I guess that one if for all the Mom’s and Dad’s as none of you were born yet to get that one).  My heart rate has to be at 190!  The 50 breast takes off.  The three middle swimmers are of course neck and neck and actually finish under .8 tenths of a second from each other!  Kim Corso, Gabi Cannon, and Freshman Lauren Kneessy give us another reminder that we are close… and we’re not about to stop fighting!  There are only two events to go and we’re only down 4 points!  Ladies and Gentlemen… the Lady Friars are BACK!  We’re hanging with the best!  Now… we’re going to swim with heart!

     The 100 breaststroke gun goes off.  That middle lane shot out in front, and unfortunately, she’s wearing Red.  At the 50 yard mark, with all three Friars on her tail, she’s still in front.  My brain immediately begins calculating the 2-3-4 finish which would close the gap to 2 points.  But the swim field began changing.  Amanda Barry, one of the toughest workers you will find, has a 2^nd half determination like we saw at Champs last year.  And begins pulling ahead!  And just two lanes over… and a huge key to the meet, was Callie Vacchiano.  And wouldn’t you know it, she too is pulling ahead!  Poor Erica Swartwout who had to deal with me screaming to get her excitement up (like anyone even needed THAT at this point) before she swam, is also creeping up and now passing both of the outside lane swimmers!  With my eyes as wide as they can go I did my highest vertical jump possible (caution to the kids, not too smart on a slippery pool deck) with my hand in the air as I watched the Friar breaststrokers touch the wall in a 1-2-4 finish and giving the Friars a 12-4 point spread.  Our biggest one since the opening 200 medley relay!  Alleluia… the Friars are UP by 4 points!

          We only need a 2-3 finish to possibly win this meet.  Our “C” relay entry of Jenna Vacchiano, Danika Sess, Jessica Zoine, and Jackie Zoine know their role as not to false start as one team my not sweep a relay event.  Any false start by the other team, and we’re getting those points.  They handled the pressure beautifully and even swam best times!  Our “B” relay of Nicole Mejia, Colleen Manning, Jackie Theal, and Gennie Cohen, swam to complete exhaustion swimming their best times, even after swimming 3 prior events in only about an hour’s time.  But the real story was in the three middle lanes.  Sacred Heart was screaming as they watched both of their relays out in the 1-3 position.  Just what they need to win the meet.  Marielle Pavek led us off with a beautiful flat start swim of 56.42.  Kaitlin FitzGerald takes off to complete her almost 900 yards of racing in one meet and still goes her season best of 56.03!  But even with our best swimming at their best… Sacred Heart is again out in front. 

     I’ve enjoyed so many “duo” favorites;  (McCartney and Lennon, Jordan and Pippen, Kerri Walsh and Misty May) but right here on the Friars… we have “the Lulleys”!  When Chandler Lulley hit the water, I could hardly breathe.  I think I was screaming, but I don’t think I was able to make any sounds.  As I look over at Coach Liz I can see she has the same thoughts I was.  Is that gap closing?  She hit the wall at lightning speed with an unbelievable split of 53.8!  What a swim!  But right above her, (for only the amount of time it takes to blink) was her sister Shannon Lulley.  She was blistering through the water, and right from her breakout, you could tell she was catching the Sacred Heart relay anchor.  It was at that moment I knew… she’s carrying Sister Lucide’s prayers right there on her shoulders.  With every turn Shannon was closer.  Then, at the 3^rd...  They were even.   It’s down to a 25 yard sprint.  That’s all that remains of an hour and half of back and forth, dead even swimming.  It was only about 15 more seconds, but still couldn’t come fast enough.  Coach Scott said it best when he said “Geez, Shannon just hit the nitrous button!” as she blazed by with her personal best 52.8 second 100 freestyle split, and put her hand on the wall first!  Are you kidding me?!  Are… you… kidding… me!

     It’s been four years since Sacred Heart has lost a dual meet.  But on Oct. 28^th, 2010, the St. Anthony’s Friars seemed to be better by a mere 3 feet!  But it was also Sister’s prayers and all the little miracles like the Medley Relay, the 500 free, the 100 breaststroke comeback, etc, that all total up to the 6 point margin of victory.  The official blows her whistle, to announce the 88-82 Friar victory.  And then wouldn’t you know it… more screaming!  The pitch almost became unbearable.  Sacred Heart stood tall as the classy team they are.  And then I look around at my team.  Hysterical crying!  (it figures).  I was so touched to see my Seniors and my Captains crying tears of joy.  It’s always special to recognize a moment in time that 37 girls will remember for the rest of their lives; and the names of 37 teammates that they will never forget.  I’m so proud that they will carry this moment into Champs that’s only two weeks away!

     We captured a monumental moment.  But, our work is not finished.  For the next two weeks, we still need to go to bed on time.  Keep our days on schedule with school, practice and homework.  Dress properly because the weather can change by the hour.  “Champs” is on the way… and the Friars will be ready!! 

*  “The path of greatness, it’s at your fingers.  Go be the one that keeps on fighting” -  (Kings of Leon:  The Immortals)

St. Anthony’s Men’s Swim Team 2010-11

This was extremely talented group trying out for the Boys Varsity Swim/Diving Team.  Everyone did an amazing job!  I congratulate all of you on your hard work and tremendous effort! 

The following have made the team for the 2010-11 season. 

Please come to practice on Thurs. Nov 4^th. 

* ALL DIVERS REPORT TO PRACTICE