Swim team has experience, versatility

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, December 7, 2006

The Niagara-Wheatfield boys swim team has a tough act to follow.

The Falcons posted an undefeated season last year, going 16-0 to win the Niagara Frontier League. They then went on to send a trio of athletes to the state swim meet, and all three placed in the top five in their respective events.

What can the Falcons do for an encore in 2006-07?

“We’ll see what we can do,” N-W swim coach Mike Corsaro said. “It’s a team effort, and we have a pretty solid team. Everybody contributes, and that’s why we’ve been successful.”

For starters, the three state competitors all return. Senior Isaac Patterson qualified in the 500 freestyle, and he can also swim the butterfly. Junior Lukas Shumway went in the 100 breaststroke, and he can do freestyle events. Senior Russell Sullivan went in the 100 backstroke, and he also can do freestyle.

That trio also combined with Pat Hughes to set a school record in the 200 freestyle relay last season, and they’ve already come close to setting a new mark this year. Hughes, who swims freestyle and butterfly, just missed out on a trip to states last season, although he hopes to rectify that this year.

While that group is a solid nucleus of returning swimmers, Corsaro has a number of other athletes coming back and in a variety of different events.

George Todino can swim just about any event, and he also can dive, although he concentrates mostly on the individual medley. Bryan Minicucci also does the IM, as well as the breaststroke. These two typify the Falcons, as Corsaro likes all of his swimmers to be able to compete in any event.

“It’s really nice because everybody can do everything,” he said. “Some are better at certain things than others, of course, but it gives me a lot of flexibility when I’m setting my lineup. That’s one of the reasons we match up well against other teams. Good thing, too, because the other coaches in this league don’t miss anything.”

Also returning are Bryan McSwan (freestyle, butterfly), Ryan Link (freestyle), Jordan Ohar (freestyle), Casey Matthews (backstroke, freestyle), Ryan Wagner (diving), Curt Hester (IM, distance), David LaComb (freestyle, breaststroke) and Kyle Hughes (diving).

As if that weren’t enough, Corsaro also has a good crop of young swimmers moving up from the junior varsity, and he expects them to make contributions as well.

Freshman Luke Kellogg saw some varsity action last year, but now he’ll be there full-time in some of the freestyle events. Also moving up are Jacob Henry (backstroke, freestyle), Alex Marshanke (butterfly), Dan Haberle (breaststroke, freestyle), Kevin Cutler (freestyle), Michael DeRose (freestyle), Wesley Dillon (freestyle), Tom Weber (diving) and Bobby Seiwell (freestyle, backstroke).

“It’s a good group of kids, and they all work hard,” Corsaro said. “It’s obviously still very early in the season, and already we’re putting up some very good times. We just want to continue to improve as the season progresses and peak at the end for sectionals and states.”