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Clippers swim to victory

March 25, 2013 Editorial Staff

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The Xaverian High School Swim Team ended the 2012-2013 season in fine form, with two commanding dual meet victories. The Clippers also went on to win the CHSAA Novice Championships, and had their best finish since 2005 in the CHSAA City Championship finals.

Xaverians last home meet of the season, which marked the final home competition for graduating seniors Anthony Salerno, Sal Ventrice, Michael Olsen, Jason Deodato and Team Captain Tommy Fitzgerald, provided a fine send-off for the seniors on January 20, with the Clippers crushing the squad from St. Dominics.

The very next day, the Clippers continued their dominance in the pool, as they trounced Staten Island powerhouse Monsignor Farrell at the College of Staten Island Aquatics Center.

Once again, the relays were phenomenal as the Clippers garnered first place finishes in the 200 medley relay with dominating performances by Fitzgerald, Deodato, Patrick Coen 14, and Tomas Gonzalez 16, and in the 200 free relay with outstanding swims by Deodato, Thomas Lynch 15, Ryan Ward 14 and Robert Helbock 15.

Not surprisingly, the individual finishes were equally spectacular. Matt Cappiello14 and Frank Coen 16 finished firstand secondin the 200 free, while Lynch, Helbock and Justin Chung 15 swept the 200 IM.

Helbock and Fitzgerald exhibited their versatility with a 1-2 finish in the 100 fly, and Ward and Deodato continued the Clipper attack, finishing 1-2 in the 50 free, with Ward also placing firstin the 100 free.

Patrick Coen was once again in total control in the distance swim with an exciting win in the grueling 500 free, coming right back to win the 100 breast. Fitzgerald continued his dominance in the 100 back with a powerful first place finish, immediately followed by Frank Coen who placed a close second.

Xaverians novice swimmers captured yet another CHSAA Novice Championship title on January 26 at Lehman College, with amazing performances by the Clippers. James Pender 16 captured the gold medal in the 100 back, while Steven Brennan 15 and Pearse Crowley 14 captured the bronze in the 200 IM and the 100 fly, respectively.

The relays also finished strong, with the bronze going to the 200 medley relay team of Pender, Yanni Pittas 14, Harrison Jamin 15 and Matt Ruggiero 16. The strength of the Clipper relays was evident with a bronze medal finish for the 200 free relay squad of Crowley, T. Gonzalez, Michael Salerno 15 and Chris Langan 15.

Xaverian finished off the competition with the silver going to the 4 x 100 relay team of M. Salerno, Pender, Langan and Daniel Gonzalez 14. The Clippers first place finish in this competition marks their second consecutive title.

Finally, at the Nassau County Aquatics Center on February 9 and 10, the Clippers had their best finish in the CHSAA City Championship Finals since 2005, finishing eighth in the prestigious meet.

Those qualifying for the City Championship meet were Fitzgerald, Helbock, Lynch, Ward, Pender, Cappiello, Deodato, A. Salerno, P. Coen, F. Coen, Raysean Marin15, Justin Chung 14, and Konstantin Lomeyko 16.

Among the highlights of this meet were a sixth place finish for the 200 free relay team of Lynch, Helbock, Ward and Deodato as well as a ninthplace finish for the 4 X 100 relay team of Helbock, Lomeyko, Ward and Fitzgerald.

Furthermore, Lomeyko set new Freshman Varsity records in the 100 fly and the 500 free. At the City Championship meet, Tommy Fitzgerald received his secondconsecutive CHSAA League Dual Meet MVP Award. In September, he will be swimming for NCAA Division I, Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y.

After such a successful season, Head Coach John Ward and Coach Tom Fitzgerald are expecting even better things from the Clippers next season. The stage is set for future success, as the underclassmen have proved to be a formidable force.