Don’t forget: the photos used in the slideshow — plus thousands more — can be viewed on the team’s SmugMug photo gallery, where you can download copies and order prints. SmugMug also sells photo items, which are great graduation gifts. (And no, neither I nor the team get a cut of the sale.)

See you next year.

Ronald Wimer

The Connecticut swimming community is mourning the loss of  Westport swimmer Bradley Helt, who passed away on April 9, 2012. Bradley, who was a junior at Fairfield Prep, attended Long Lots Elementary School and Coleytown Middle School before entering Prep. He began swimming in the Westport Weston Family Y Brophy Pool and was a member of Westport Weston Family Y Water Rats until his freshman year of high school, when he transferred to the Wilton Y Wahoos.

Calling hours will be held Monday April 23, 2012 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Christ & Holy Trinity Church, 75 Church Lane, Westport. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at Christ & Holy Trinity Church.

For updated information and to leave an online condolence, please visit Spear Miller Funeral Home website.

For more information, see the Fairfield Prep website.

By Andy Hutchison

The best of the best of Connecticut’s swimmers came together for the season-ending competition — the State Open at Yale’s Kiphuth Exhibition Pool — on Saturday.

Staples scored 136 points, to finish 12th among 54 teams. Weston, led by the efforts of junior Jordan Berger, placed 28th with 54 points. Fairfield Prep won the meet with 412 points.

Berger was runner up in the 200-yard individual medley, racing to the finish in 1:55.13 for 25 points. He was narrowly beaten out for first by Westhill senior Jeff Anderson (1:54.85). Berger was fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 59.20 for 23 points.

“Jordan did great,” said Trojans coach Tom Grace, also noting that Berger had a tremendous performance in the Class S championships in Middletown on March 13. Berger set school records in the 100-breaststroke (first place in 58.18) and 200-IM (first place in 1:54.39).

“I wanted to be able to represent our team as best I could,” Berger said of his appearance in the Open. “It was great. I have a lot of friends from over the years from a lot of different towns.”

Weston’s 400-yard free relay team of juniors Adam Winikoff, Gabe Imber, Martin Imber and Berger was 22nd (3:25.25), scoring six points.

While the Trojans had a strong individual performance from Berger, Staples showed its depth at the meet by scoring in 10 out of 12 events.

“This is the pinnacle of what we do and hopefully we’ll get some decent performances today,” Wreckers coach Jeff Schare said, as the meet unfolded. Schare was aiming for a top-10 — or close to it — finish, and Staples came close with plenty of decent performances.

The Wreckers were 35 points short of placing ninth. New Canaan (171), Notre Dame of West Haven (163.5) and Ridgefield (159) placed ninth, 10th and 11th, respectively.

In the 200-yard medley relay, Staples placed 16th as Matthew Wisher, Joss Abel, Marcus Russi and Nathaniel Boley finished in 1:42.16, for 17 points.

Wrecker sophomore Jonathan Blansfield came in 22nd in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:47.32, for three points. Abel was 19th in the 200-IM (1:59.87) for six points.

Boley took 10th in the 100-yard backstroke (53.93) and came in 15th in the 100-yard freestyle (48.50). He scored 17 points in the 100-back and 10 in the 100-free. Wisher came in 20th in the 100-back (55.69) for five points.

Blansfield was 13th in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing his swim in a time of 4:47.60 for 13 points. Staples freshman Danny Williams took 19th in the 500-free (4:48.39) for six points.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Staples took 19th (1:32.55) for 12 points with Russi, junior Matt Wetmore, sophomore Justin Krakoff and senior captain Kyle Bacon.

In the 100-breaststroke, Wrecker sophomore Christopher Mombello was 18th (1:02.08) for seven points, and Abel was 22nd (1:02.49) for three.

The 400-yard freestyle relay race included a 14th place finish by the Wreckers as Boley, Krakoff, Blansfield and Bacon finished in 3:19.27 for 22 points.

“These are the best swimmers in the state. It’s always exciting to be out there,” said Blansfield, only a sophomore. “Last year, when I was a freshman, I was so nervous,” said Blansfield, adding that a year of experience and previous exposure to the State Open setting made for a higher comfort level this time around.

In the diving competition, held in Hamden two days earlier, Staples got a boost from junior Tanner Blank, who earned 12th with a score of 356.75, good for 15 points. He was seeded 21st with a score of 308.25 entering into the Open. “He really raised his game,” Schare said. “That literally spring-boarded us into a position where we were seeded 10th or 11th.”

Reprinted from the Westport News

By Eliot Schickler

The Staples boys swimming team enjoyed its best finish at states since moving up to Class LL.

Staples took fourth at LL Wednesday with 422.5 points, edging fifth-place Glastonbury (416) at Wesleyan University. This is the team’s best placement at states since taking fourth at Class L in 2005.

“I’m really excited,” Wreckers senior captain David Katter said. “We worked really hard this year. It was great to beat out Glastonbury.”

Moreover, Staples defeated sixth-place Westhill (367) and seventh-place Ridgefield (307). By beating both FCIAC rivals, the Wreckers avenged two regular-season losses. They also paid back Westhill for edging them out for fourth-place by one point at FCIACs (the team beat Ridgefield at FCIACs).

“That was a huge motivator for us,” Staples senior captain Kyle Bacon said. “We knew we were better than those teams, and we were able to prove it at this meet. It’s awesome. Everyone stepped up, and I’m proud of everyone.”

Fairfield Prep (693.5) won the 19-team meet, Greenwich (629.5) took second and Amity (536) placed third.

Depth carried the Wreckers to fourth place. Staples edged out Glastonbury despite having zero first-place finishes.

“We did really well, it was a team effort,” Wreckers coach Jeff Schare said. “We set ourselves up nicely at trials and at finals, we went with the flow, and it worked out for us. We were able to load a lot of guys in the most competitive heat, which gave us a chance to score more points. We placed guys in many events, and it was a number’s game for us.”

Staples senior captain Joss Abel said, “I’m very happy with how we performed. We swam well, and to finish fourth in LL, the most competitive class, is a huge accomplishment for us.”

Junior Nathaniel Boley was the Wreckers’ top-individual performer. Boley took second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 52.0 seconds and fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (48.19). In the 100-back, he was the top-seed and improved from Class LL trials (52.59), but Greenwich’s Alex Lewis (51.69) edged him out. Lewis dropped 1.71 seconds from trials (53.48).

“We didn’t swim our best, and a lot of us didn’t swim to our full potential, but the team overall swam well,” Boley said. “I wasn’t pleased with my swims today and sometimes, it’s not going to be there.”

By finishing second in the 100-back, Boley earned All-State honors.

“I’m happy to be All-State, but it wasn’t my best,” Boley said. “I hope to do better on Saturday [at the State Open championships].”

Senior Matt Wisher took seventh in the 100-back (55.0) and 17th in the 100-free (50.44). Wisher would have placed 16th if the event was based solely on times, but he was 17th because he was in the third-best heat.

Bacon (50.58) and sophomore Justin Krakoff (50.97) were 16th and 21st, respectively in the 100-free.

Staples did well in relays, and began the day with the 200-yard medley relay team of Wisher, Abel, Katter and Boley taking sixth (1:41.43).

“We got excited for the races, and it helped us have good swims,” Abel said. “Doing well in the medley relay got our energy flowing in the right direction.”

The 400-yard freestyle relay team of sophomore Jonathan Blansfield, Krakoff, Bacon and Boley took sixth (3:21.53). Juniors Marcus Russi and Matt Wetmore, Krakoff and Bacon won the B-heat in leading the 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:32.03) to ninth place.

“Our relay teams swam well,” Boley said. “We had good splits, and we hope to do better Saturday.”

Blansfield took fifth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.66) and eighth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.08).

“The team did well overall, and I’m happy about it,” Blansfield said. “I would have liked to go a little faster and have a better time, but I’m still happy with my performance.”

Freshman Danny Williams grabbed 12th in the 500-free (4:47.08). Bacon (1:50.21) and Krakoff (1:50.67) were 15th and 22nd, respectively, in the 200-free.

Junior Tanner Blank placed eighth in diving (308.25).

“I was very happy about, and I was glad I could help the team with some points,” Blank said. “I realized how important the performance was, and I did what I had to do.”

Abel took seventh in the 200-yard individual medley (1:59.19) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.99).

“I just worked hard in practice, had a good taper, and got excited for the races,” Abel said.

Staples did well in relays, and began the day with the 200-yard medley relay team of Wisher, Abel, Katter and Boley taking sixth (1:41.43).

“We got excited for the races, and it helped us have good swims,” Abel said. “Doing well in the medley relay got our energy flowing in the right direction.”

The 400-yard freestyle relay team of sophomore Jonathan Blansfield, Krakoff, Bacon and Boley took sixth (3:21.53).

Juniors Marcus Russi and Matt Wetmore, Krakoff and Bacon won the B-heat in leading the 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:32.03) to ninth place.

“Our relay teams swam well,” Boley said. “We had good splits, and we hope to do better Saturday.”

Blansfield took fifth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.66) and eighth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.08).

“The team did well overall, and I’m happy about it,” Blansfield said. “I would have liked to go a little faster and have a better time, but I’m still happy with my performance.”

Freshman Danny Williams grabbed 12th in the 500-free (4:47.08). Bacon (1:50.21) and Krakoff (1:50.67) were 15th and 22nd, respectively, in the 200-free.

Junior Tanner Blank placed eighth in diving (308.25).

“I was very happy about, and I was glad I could help the team with some points,” Blank said. “I realized how important the performance was, and I did what I had to do.”

Abel took seventh in the 200-yard individual medley (1:59.19) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.99).

“I just worked hard in practice, had a good taper, and got excited for the races,” Abel said.

Williams (2:00.34), sophomore Chris Mombello (2:02.56) and freshman North Woods (2:08.31) were 13th, 17th and 22nd, respectively in the 200-IM.

Mombello (1:02.10), freshman Ethan Hunter (1:04.92) and sophomore Mike DeLuca (1:04.12) were eighth, 16th and 17th, respectively, in the 100-breaststroke.

Russi was 17th in the 50-yard freestyle (23.1) and 100-yard butterfly (56.67). Katter took 15th in the 50-free (23.34).

“We work hard, have great coaching, and we executed when it mattered,” Abel said.

The Wreckers are confident they can build on this performance, and do better next year.

“If we look at our freshmen, sophomores and juniors, you’d see we had great performances, and I’m sure they will carry our team next year,” Katter said.

Schare said, “We will take a hit with graduation because we lose four great seniors, but we should be able to replenish. Nathaniel, Jonathan and Danny will be back. We’re still a young team.”

Reprinted from the Westport News

By Justine Seligson

The Staples boys swimming and diving team had its best finish at the FCIAC championship in years.

Staples placed fifth with 256 points Thursday at Greenwich. The Wreckers were in third after the swimming part of the meet, but dropped to fifth after diving Friday at Westhill. They fell short of fourth-place Westhill (257) and third-place Darien (264). Greenwich (380.5) won, and New Canaan (294) took second.

Junior Nathaniel Boley was the high-point champion of the meet, and gave Staples a chance of finishing third by winning two events.

Boley broke a 14-year FCIAC record by striking gold in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 51.84 seconds.

“We’re all very proud of what we’ve accomplished this week,” Boley said. “We had a bunch of kids swim much faster they’ve ever swan before, along with one of the best finishes as we’ve had in a while.”

Boley also won 100-yard freestyle (47.16). Senior Matt Wisher took fourth in the 100-back (55.25) and 13th in the 100-free (51.80). Also scoring in the 100-free for the Wreckers were senior captain Kyle Bacon (50.93), and sophomore Justin Krakoff (50.96), placing 11th and 12th, respectively.

Sophomore Jonathan Blansfield was Staples’ second-highest scorer. Blansfield grabbed third place in the 500-yard freestyle (4:45.19) and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.21). Bacon took ninth in the 200-free (1:50.88), and freshman Danny Williams placed ninth in the 500-free (4:49.85).

The Wreckers took fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:32.55) with Bacon, Krakoff, Blansfield and senior captain David Katter.

Wisher, junior Matt Wetmore, senior captain Joss Abel and Boley led the 200-yard medley relay team (142.18) to sixth place. Williams, junior Marcus Russi, sophomore Michael DeLuca and Katter led the B-relay team to the ninth-fastest time (1:45.6), but they swum exhibition, and their performance didn’t count.

Williams (2:01.70) led the way in the 200-yard individual medley by taking sixth. Abel (2:03.10), sophomore Chris Mombello (2:06.08) and freshman North Woods (2:08.15) were ninth, 12th and 16th, respectively, in the 200-IM.

Mombello took sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:02.28). Abel (1:03.07) and freshmen Ethan Hunter (1:03.78) were seventh and 11th, respectively in the 100-breast.

Junior Tanner Blank placed seventh in diving (308.30).

Katter was 14thin the 50-yard freestyle (23.52).

Boley, Blansfield, Bacon, Wisher, Abel, Wetmore, Mombello, Krakoff and Williams earned First Team All-FCIAC honors.

Placing fifth at FCIACs is an accomplishment because the meet is renowned for being one of the most competitive of the championship season. Many of the state’s best teams (Greenwich is currently ranked No. 1) are in the conference.

Staples also had a chance to score in the 400-yard freestyle relay, but its performance was ruled null and void by the official.

“The official disqualified the relay because one of our swimmers did not exit the water promptly after his leg of the race,” Wreckers coach Jeff Schare said. “This turned out be a 30-point loss for us in the team totals, and we dropped two points in the standings.”

If this incident didn’t occur, the Wreckers would have grabbed third place for the first time since 1990. They would have finished only eight points behind second-place New Canaan.

Despite facing a few obstacles, the Wreckers are proud of their accomplishments.

“I am very happy with how each individual swam, and I am proud of the team as a whole,” Bacon said. “We did what we needed to do, and we worked [hard]at practice so that were able to have a successful meet,”

Schare said, “Staples was big winners in this meet, and proved that we are one of the best teams in the league. We are proud of everyone and are looking forward to the state tournament.”

Reprinted from the Westport News

http://blog.ctnews.com/overtime/2012/03/06/boley-mador-wynne-bluestreak-overtime-fciac-players-of-the-week/

Also, please remember that on Monday, March 5th we have a mandatory team meeting at 2:30 pm to elect next years team captains.  

Jeffrey Schare