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Wreckers Finish in a 3-way Tie at State Open

By Andy Hutchison

The Staples boys swimming and diving team tied Joel Barlow and Xavier for ninth place, with 195 points, at the State Open in a meet that culminated Saturday.

Greenwich, with 388 points, won the meet which saw 53 teams score points. Weston, with 25 points, placed 43rd. The swimming competition was held at Yale University’s Kiphuth Pool Saturday, two days after the diving event, in Hamden.

The Wreckers were led by sophomore Nathaniel Boley, who was third in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in 53.11. Junior Matthew Wisher was 16th in the100-back, in a time of 55.16.

“I was pretty happy with my race,” Boley said. “It wasn’t my best time but it was a pretty fast meet and I was glad to have more teammates there than I had last year.”

Two Staples relay teams cracked the top 10. Staples was eighth in the 200-yard medley relay as the team of Matthew Wisher, Joss Abel, Scott Feder and Boley finished in 1:40.48. The 400-yard freestyle relay group of Cory Bacon, Kyle Bacon, Wisher and Boley placed ninth in 3:18.41.

In the diving competition, Zach Slater scored 367.30 points, good for an 11th-place finish. Cory Bacon was 13th in the 50-yard freestyle event, making his final touch in 22.05. The Wreckers had back-to-back finishers in the 100-yard freestyle, as Boley and Cory Bacon came in 11th and 12, respectively, with times of 48.34 and 48.51. In the 500-yard freestyle, Jonathan Blansfield, a freshman in his first championship season, came in 23rd in 5:01.02.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Feder, Matthew Wetmore, Kyle Bacon and Cory Bacon broke the school record by finishing with a time of 1:30.32 and placing 13th.

“For the number of guys we had at the meet this year, we did well,” Cory Bacon said. “We broke the school record in the 200-free relay and the 200-medley came close to breaking it. We were a little off in the 400-free relay but it’s still a good way to close out the year.”

Boley said, “The relays did well and dropped times. The 200-free had a standout performance. Both relays I was in, the 200-medley and 400-free relays, achieved our goals.”

The Yale pool features stadium seating. All four sides of the pool are outlined by high-rising stands packed with screaming fans.

“It’s a different experience. It’s pretty cool — I like it,” Blansfield said. “It’s definitely intense. You step up on the block and you see the whole crowd cheering.”

The intensity brought on by the crowd, along with the fact that it’s the last meet of the campaign, gives the swimmers a little extra kick.

“It’s a culmination of everything we do. It’s definitely an adrenaline meet. You’ve got to be tough to hang in there, we’ve got the best of the best,” Staples Coach Jeffrey Schare said. “It’s the last meet, they’ve put in a lot of time and effort. We’ve had some success this year and we want to go out with a bang.”

A top-ten finish among all of the schools in the state is a pretty good way to wrap up the year.

Weston’s highlights included Jordan Berger placing 13th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:01.37. The 200 free relay team of Spencer Kelley, Gabriel Imber, Martin Imber and Berger came in 21st in 1:37.74. Berger placed 23rd in the 100 butterfly in a time of 54.63 and Kelley was 23rd in the 100 free, in 50.04.

Reprinted from the Westport News

Congratulations on great season!

Staples placed fifth out of twenty teams at the CIAC class LL Championships, and ninth out of fifty-two (ninety-five total) swimming and diving teams at the CIAC Open. Complete results can be found at http://www.casciac.org/bswim.shtml. Congratulations to everyone!

Also, congratulations to the following:

Zachary Slater, Cory Bacon, and Nathaniel Boley have been named to the Norwalk Hour All-AreaTeam.

Cory Bacon and Nathaniel Boley have been named to the Connecticut Post All-Star Team.

Coach Jeff Schare has been recognized as the boys swimming Coach of the Year.

Boley Leads Wrecker Swimmers to 5th at LL

By Andy Hutchison

The Staples boys swimming team, led by Nathaniel Boley’s victory in the 100-yard backstroke, captured fifth in the Class LL State Championships this week Tuesday at Wesleyan University. The Wreckers, with 451 points, easily beat out FCIAC rival and sixth-place Ridgefield (415) for a top-five finish among 20 teams.

Greenwich (667) won the meet. Fairfield Prep (480.5) was runner-up and followed by Westhill (471) placed third; and Glastonbury (455), was fourth.

Boley won the backstroke competition in a time of 53.01. “I’m pretty excited about it, and I’m excited about the next two years,” said Boley, only a sophomore.

Staples Coach Jeffrey Schare said that Boley could threaten to set state records given that he has the talent and two years with which to improve. “He’s just so focused and he works hard. He practices every morning, every evening,” said the coach, referring to morning practices with his YMCA team and after-school practices with the Wreckers. “He definitely puts the time in and he deserves everything that comes his way — and will come his way in the future.”

Boley made his second state championship appearance and noted that this year’s competition featured stronger swims among more competitors than a season ago. “There was definitely a lot more depth than there was last year — and I think that holds true for all of the events,” he said.

The Wreckers had several other strong finishes in a variety of events, some personal best times, and set a new record in one competition.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Staples placed sixth as the team of Scott Feder, Matthew Wetmore, Kyle Bacon and Cory Bacon finished in 1:30.85. The relay team had actually set the school record in the LL qualifying meet on Saturday when it finished a little faster — in 1:30.81. Both marks bested the school record time of 1:30.5.

Cory Bacon placed fifth in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 21.94 — a personal best time for the senior. The record at Stapes is 21.52, set by Chris Weissman back in 1980. Bacon is only the second Staples student to finish in under 22 seconds.

“I’m just really proud of Cory. He “I’m just really proud of Corey. He struggled a little bit last season. To see him come back this year, really focused with some big goals in mind — it’s nice to see him really focused,” Schare said.

Matthew Wisher was sixth in the backstroke in a time of 54.95 and Abel was 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:02.12. Boley and Cory Bacon finished back-to-back in the 100-yard freestyle, with Boley fifth in 48.39 and Bacon next in a time of 48.86. Kyle Bacon was 10th in the 100-free, finishing in 49.48. In the 200-yard medley relay, Staples came in third. The relay group of Wisher, Joss Abel, Scott Feder and Boley finished in 1:40.01. Staples’ 400 free relay team of Kyle Bacon, Wisher, Bacon and Boley came in third in 3:17.46.

Jonathan Blansfield, only a freshman, came in sixth in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:52.72 and 10th in the 200-yard freestyle, making his final touch in 1:49.27. Abel was 10th in the 200-yard individual medley, finishing in 2:01.64.

“We were well-represented in the meet. I think it shows some of the depth we have,” said Schare, noting that team members from all four grades contributed to the team’s success at the championships.

Among the up-and-coming swimmers whom Schare expects big things from down the road is freshman Christopher Mombello, who was 12th in the 100-breaststroke in a time of 1:02.90. “It’s great to see some of the younger guys get into the groove early,” said the coach, adding that the seniors are also going out on a high note.

“We did very well. We had a bunch of swims that were really an indication of how hard we’ve been training this year,” Boley added.

In the diving competition, which was held March 10 at Hamden, Zach Slater came in fourth with a score of 389.75.

“It felt great to be able to get a medal and be at the top after all of the hard work that (my coach and I) put in,” Slater said. “I think, as a team, we did really well and we placed very high — and we swam and dove to the best of our abilities.”

“We had a lot of fun. we had fun going up on the bus. … But we all knew in the backs of our minds that it was a really important meet,” Cory Bacon said. “Once we were up on the blocks there was no messing around.”

There will be no messing around at the State Open at Yale tomorrow. The best of the best from all of the class sizes in Connecticut will battle it out for year-end bragging rights.

Cory Bacon notes that it’s a deep, fast pool with long blocks that suit him well, and he’ll be tapered and ready to make a push at the school mark in the 50. And when Bacon’s not in the water, the intensity of the meet is sure to be a thrilling experience. “You’re heart rate’s up even when you’re sitting there watching people swim.”

“Based on the stiff competition we faced, and how the guys stepped up to it, we have a legitimate shot of at least looking good,” said Schare, referring to the Class LL finish and prospects for a solid showing at the State Open. “If some things go right, we could sneak into the top 10.”

Reprinted from the Westport News

2011 CIAC Information

Click for the schedule and location of trials and finals at the Connecticut State and Open meets. (Remember SHS is Class LL.)

Boley Leads Wrecker Swimmers to 6th at FCIACs

By Andy Hutchison

The Staples boys swimming and diving team earned a sixth-place finish in the FCIAC Championships last Thursday.

Following the diving portion of the finals, at Westhill in Stamford March 1, the swimming competition was held at Greenwich two days later. Staples scored 214 points and Greenwich, with 371.5, won the meet.

“It’s an adrenaline rush and everyone feels it — and it just translates into fast swimming,” Staples Coach Jeffrey Schare said. “Everybody is here to set their very best mark at this meet.”

In diving, senior captain Zach Slater scored 354.95 points and placed fifth. Sophomore Tanner Blank (258.45) took 12th .

Throughout the meet, swimmers from each of the 11 FCIAC teams surrounded the pool and cheered on their teammates. “I don’t think I had one moment when I was sitting down on the bleachers,” said Staples senior captain Cory Bacon, among Staples’ top-10 finishers.

Nathaniel Boley won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 52.99 and was second in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 47.81, good for 17 points. Bacon earned an eighth-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 22.30, earning 11 points. Matthew Wisher was sixth in the 100-yard backstroke in 55.23 for 13 points and ninth in the 100-yard butterfly in 55.57 for 9 points. Jonathan Blansfield was ninth in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:55.32 for nine points. Joss Abel placed 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke, making his final touch in 1:03.51, good for seven points.

Other individual Staples highlights included Blansfield placing 16th in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:53.17 and Abel placing 13th in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:04.11. Scott Feder came in 16th in the 50-free in 23.09 and 13th in the 100-fly in 57.60. Bacon was 11th in the 100-yard freestyle in 50.02 and his brother Kyle Bacon placed 15th in the 100-free in a time of 50.58.

Michael Goodgame placed 14th in the 100-back, finishing in 59.09. Christopher Mombello was 13th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.80.

The 200-yard medley relay contingent of Wisher, Abel, Feder and Boley was fourth in a time of 1:41.15 for 30 points, and earned All-FCIAC Second Team honors.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Kyle Bacon, Mathew Wetmore, Feder and Cory Bacon came in sixth in a time of 1:32.08 for 26 points. Staples had a second 200-free relay team in the meet, which did an exhibition swim. Avery Watterworth, Kevin Xiang, Blansfield and David Katter had the 13th overall fastest time, finishing in 1:37.3.

In the final event, Staples’ 400-yard freestyle relay team of Cory Bacon, Wisher, Kyle Bacon and Boley placed fifth in 3:19.05 for 28 points. In an exhibition swim in the 400 free relay event, the grouping if Blansfield, Marcus Russi, Goodgame and Abel finished in 3:29.6, the eighth overall fastest time.

Cory Bacon said that he and his 400 free relay teammates dedicated the race to Cameron Bruce, a former swimmer and 2010 Staples graduate who passed away this past fall.

Schare said this was the best he’s seen the Wreckers swim an an FCIAC final and is looking forward to seeing how the team does at the state championships this coming weekend.

The Wreckers will compete at the Class LL trials Saturday at Hamden High and their top qualifiers will advance to the Class LL championship meet at Wesleyan University next Tuesday. The diving championships take place tomorrow at Handen.

Reprinted from the Westport News

Help Needed with Yearbook

Volunteers are needed to plan and execute the team yearbook, which is handed out at the banquet. As of now, no one has signed up. Both parents and athletes are welcome to help with this project. Please help! Contact Jeff directly if you can contribute.

Support STAR

Staples own Laura Blair is at it again, working for a great cause, “STAR, Inc.”  The 6th Annual STAR Walk, Roll & Stroll will take place on Sunday, May 1st at Sherwood Island Park.

STAR serves more than 500 area families.  Of those, more than 130 families receive early intervention services for their infants and young children. STAR supports 11 group homes and 16 apartments, assisting 70 individuals with independent living. STAR provides training and job placement to 236 adults.

Last year, Laura raised $5,300 for this worthy cause.  The SHS community led the charge with $4,000 in contributions! Please click and support Laura today.

Thanks, Jeffrey

Staples Sixth in FCIAC