Swimmers swarm to states

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, March 1, 2007

Isaac Patterson is one of eight Niagara-Wheatfield swimmers who will compete in this weekend’s state swim meet at Erie Community College’s Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo. The Falcons are sending three relay teams for the event. (photo by Larry Austin)

The Niagara-Wheatfield boys swim team dominated the regular season in the Niagara Frontier League, and the Falcons extended their mastery to include the rest of Western New York last weekend at the Section VI Championship at Sweet Home High School.

Now the Falcons will send eight swimmers and all three relay teams to this weekend’s New York State championship at the Erie Community College Flickinger Center in Buffalo.

“I wasn’t really surprised that we did so well at sectionals. I knew we could do it,” said senior Isaac Patterson, who will compete on three relay teams and the 50 freestyle. “We just had to have the right mindset and we had to want it more than everyone else.”

Aside from winning events at sectionals, some of the swimmers qualified for states earlier by hitting the magic time during the course of the season.

Niagara-Wheatfield coach Mike Corsaro could not say for sure if taking eight swimmers to states was a school record, but he’s sure that it’s the highest number in a very long time.

“The kids swam unbelievably,” Corsaro said. “To win all three relays is a testament to how strong they are, mentally and physically. I can’t say enough about them. They’re great kids and it’s a pleasure to watch them do so well.”

All three of the relay teams set pool records at Sweet Home.

The 200 medley relay team of Russell Sullivan, Lukas Shumway, Patrick Hughes and Patterson clocked in at 1:39.73. The 200 freestyle relay team of Hughes, George Todino, Ryan Link and Patterson finished in 1:30.51, and the 400 freestyle relay team of Hughes, Link, Sullivan and Patterson wound up with 3:17.63.

Individually, Shumway set a pool record in winning the 100 breaststroke (1:01.98). Sullivan also will compete in the 100 backstroke and Hughes will go in the 100 butterfly. Jordan Ohar and Brian Minicucci are relay team alternates.

“I wanted to go to states really badly,” said Link, who qualified for the first time. “I was also hoping to go in the 100 free and I just missed it, but I’m happy to have the opportunity. It’s exciting. I just want to do my best. We’re a good team and we work well together, and we all wanted to go to states. We treat each other like family – that’s why we click so well.”

The Falcons were strong last season, too, and they sent several swimmers to states but failed to come away with any titles.

Corsaro isn’t about to guarantee success this time around, but he’s sure that his swimmers have learned from last year’s experience. Whatever the rest of the state throws at them, the Falcons will be ready.

“It’s hard to tell what will happen at states because you’re not really sure what the other sections have,” Corsaro said. “We’re hoping to make the top eight in the first round so we can come back for the finals on Saturday. If the guys come out ready to swim, we could do very well.”