To the blocks: The 2024 Daily News boys swimming & diving all-stars
After combing over statistics and results, and with the guidance of local athletic directors and coaches, we at the Daily News selected All-Stars for boys and girls basketball, boys and girls hockey, boys and girls swimming, boys and girls track and field, gymnastics, skiing and boys and girls wrestling.
Although the sports and skill sets may vary, there’s no denying that this group put up otherworldly numbers this winter while helping their respective teams find success – whether that be on the court, field, ice, mat or track, or in the gym or pool.
The Daily News presents its 2023-24 All-Stars for boys swimming & diving:
Ivan Cheung, Natick
He touched third in the 50-yard freestyle at the Division 1 state meet in 21.88 seconds and was just .02 seconds out of second. Cheung also took bronze in the 100 free (48.39) and swam on the Redhawks’ 400 freestyle relay. That followed a second-place finish in the 50 at the South sectional meet (21.85), where the sophomore was fifth in the 100 butterfly (53.23).
Taryn Craze, Holliston
He reached the Division 2 state podium in sixth in the 100 butterfly (54.09) and placed 16th in the 100 backstroke (57.85). Craze also swam on two top-10 relays. The junior took fourth in the 100 back at the South sectionals (55.86) and sixth in the 100 fly (54.03).
Thomas Eppich, Lincoln-Sudbury
The Dual County League Thorpe Division Swimmer of the Year took third in both the 200-yard individual medley and 500 freestyle at the Division 1 state championships and anchored both L-S’ state championship 400 freestyle relay and its fifth-place 200 free relay. He was named a Dual County League all-league performer after winning the 200 IM and 500 free at the league championship meet. Eppich set the DCL meet record in the 500 and broke the Warriors school record. He’ll swim at RIT next season. “Thomas set extremely high goals for himself starting from the first week of practice his freshman year. He embraces good old hard work on a daily basis and year-round. Thomas has been an outstanding teammate along the way, pushing his teammates in practices and supporting the team in every way,” L-S coach Julie Nocka said. “It has been an absolute pleasure to witness him reaping the benefits of his efforts in his final season.”
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Brady Foley, Wayland
He finished sixth in the 100 backstroke at the Division 2 state meet (55.04). Foley also swam the 200 IM at states and was on the Warriors fifth-place 200 medley relay (1:40.23). The junior took eighth in the 100 back at sectionals (56.61).
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Lucas Haynes, Holliston
The senior captured the TVL championship in the 500 freestyle and placed second in the 200. He followed that with a third-place finish in the 500 at the South sectional meet and was fourth in the 200 (1:45.16). Haynes took fourth in the 500 at the Division 2 state meet (4:46.35) and fifth in the 200 (1:45.16). Holliston’s 200 medley relay took eighth and its 400 free relay finished ninth at states with Hayes.
Joseph Hemmerle, Wellesley
The senior took eighth in the 200 freestyle at the Division 1 state championships (1:50.48) and 12th in the 100 free (50.11). Hemmerle was also on two top-10 relays at states. He finished 11th in the 200 at the South sectionals and eighth in the 100 butterfly (49.76).
Aidan Huang, Wayland
The Dual County League all-star placed fourth in the Division 2 state championships 200 IM in 2:00.89 and placed 11th in the 100 free (49.21). The Warriors 200 free relay that he led off finished second (1:29.47), and the junior swam on Wayland’s fifth-place 200 medley relay. Huang was fifth in both the 500 and 200 IM at the North sectional. At the DCL meet, he took second in 100 free and third in the 200 IM.
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Aryaman Jain, Westborough
The junior only lost one individual race all year, taking first in the 50-yard freestyle and fifth in the 100 at the Division 1 state championships. That followed winning both events at the Central/West sectionals and shattering the meet records in both at the Mid Wach League Invitational. Jain also set the Westborough school record in the 50. “He is a strong and talented swimmer who loves to race, and hates to lose. He carries himself with confidence, and consistently delivers. He is a solid teammate, pumping up not only members of his own team, as well as swimmers from other teams at our league meet or at the sectional meet,” Westborough coach Bethany Bergemann said.
Daniel Leonce, Lincoln-Sudbury
The sophomore placed 11th in diving at both the Division 1 state meet and the North sectional. He scored 352.2 points at states, increasing his score form sectionals (341.6) by more than 10 points.
Alex Lu, Wayland
The sophomore was fifth in the 100 breaststroke at the Division 2 state championships in 1:01.02 then finished 15h in the 50 free (22.9). Lu also contributed to two top-five relays, as Wayland was second in the 200 freestyle (1;29.47) fifth in the medley.
Ethan Lu, Framingham
He took fourth in the Division 1 state championships 100 butterfly (52.75) and seventh in the 500 (4:59.94). Lu also competed on the Flyers eight-place 200 medley relay and 10th place 400 free relay. The junior raced the 50 free (12th, 22.91) and 500 (ninth, 5:01.66) at the South sectionals, where he also was on both relays.
Brandon Liu, Framingham
He placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Division 1 state championships in 58.65 after entering the event as the top seed. The junior was also ninth in the 50 free (22.29) and competed on two top-10 relays. He also finished second in the 100breast at the South sectionals (59.19) and sixth in the 50 (22.16), as the Fyers took fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:42.98) and sixth in the 400 free relay (3:27.79).
Davis Peishoff, Hopkinton
He’s been a TVL all star each of the past three years. Peishoff set a school record in the 100 backstroke at 55.07 at the Division 1 state meet, where he finished fifth. The Hillers' senior captain also placed third in the backstroke in the South sectionals and seventh in the 100 butterfly That followed a silver medal in the TVL Showcase 10 backstroke and bronze in the 100 freestyle. “Davis is the ultimate competitor. He is always reliable in meets. No matter what event you put him in, you can count on him to chase down his competitors,” Hopkinton coach Kristen Wells said.
David Ryu, Wayland
He captured a bronze medal at the Division 2 state championships in the 100-yard breaststroke and took eighth in 200 IM. Ryu was eighth in the 100 breast at the sectional meet and 12th in 200 IM. The sophomore found the podium in third at the DCL championships in the 100 breast, and finished seventh in the 200 IM.
Graham Skelly, Lincoln-Sudbury
The junior won a Division 1 state title as part of the 400-yard freestyle relay and reached the podium in three other events. Skelly took sixth in the 100 butterfly and seventh in the 200 freestyle. L-S’ 200 free relay squad took third. He was a DCL all-star after placing third in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 fly at the DCL championship meet. "Graham spent much of the season nursing an injury while continuing to compete at the highest level. The fact that he was able to perform so well without his signature powerful kick is a testament to his incredible work ethic and will power, he simply refused to give up,” L-S coach Julie Nocka said.
Axel Soderquist, Algonquin
The senior finished second in the 50-yard freestyle at the Central/West sectional meet in 22.44 seconds and was third in the 100 freestyle (49.6). Soderquist also swam on the Titans fifth-place 400 free relay and its 200 medley relay, which was fifth at sectionals. He competed in three events at the Division 1 state meet.
Honorable mention
Alexander Beers, So., Holliston
Caleb Burke, Sr., Hopkinton
Grant Jackson, So., Lincoln-Sudbury
Tim Ketryk-Simson, Sr., Dover-Sherborn
Peter Morris, Jr., Wayland
Devon O’Connor, Jr., Dover-Sherborn
Zach Rainville, Sr., Wayland
Jagger Sandford, Jr., AMSA
Branden Yan, Sr., Algonquin
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: The 2024 Daily news boys swimming & diving all-stars made a splash
