Pittsford breaks more Section V records at NYSPHSAA swim championships
Another record-breaking, runner-up performance at states from Pittsford didn't come easily.
Pittsford's 22-time Section V champion faced adversity as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Boys Swimming and Diving Championships concluded Saturday at Ithaca College. Battling health and a few relays that were just a tad faster, Coach Rick Schmitt's Pittsford Panthers still found a way to leave their mark as one of the best teams from their own rich program and Section V history.
Even before the section title streak, Pittsford had nationally-ranked teams that won state titles in the late 1990s. Schmitt's 2024 roster, starring Cam Stetzer, Lucas Golembiewski, Ethan Rehkopf, Tim Fan and Calvin Braun, finished second at states for the second year in a row, but still placed itself in the conversation as one of the section's and Pittsford's best teams after breaking Section V's 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay records with All-American times at states.
"As far as accomplishments, winning every event at sectionals, breaking pool records, and owning two of the fastest times in state history with Frewsburg (Section VI) ... maybe this team is better than 2020 swimming wise, but that team won the states," Schmitt said.
Visit the Section V or NYSPHSAA sites for full results.
What it means
Pittsford finished second among public school with 174 points at the NYSPHSAA championships. Section I's Horace Greeley won the event with 300.5 points. With Braun battling an illness at sectionals two weeks ago, and Golembiewski swimming under the weather at states, Schmitt wished his Panthers were healthier last weekend, but was proud of how they responded to an underwhelming preliminary round Friday.
"We talked all season about not making excuses. ... It's just unfortunate you cant control certain factors, and how other swimmers swim around you is another," Schmitt said.
Section V sent its smallest crew of athletes to the NYSPHSAA championships with 34 swimmers and divers. There were still shining moments from the locals. Attica's Joe Parkhurst swam an All-American consideration time, all five divers placed within the top-20, and many other swimmers performed well.
Most outstanding swimmers
Pittsford relays
Stetzer, Golembiewski and Braun returned after missing Section V's 200 free relay record by 0.54 seconds at the 2023 NYSPSHAA meet. With the addition of Rehkopf this winter, the Pittsford relay broke that mark at sectionals (1:24.73), then again at states (1:24.30) for an automatic All-American time.
Pittsford's goal since the season began was to break the 200 free relay state record. They did touch in state-recording time Saturday, but Frewsburg's winning relay (1:24.58) swam 0.25 seconds faster to own the record.
"I told the guys, 'We did what we set out to do. You broke the state record. You can't control what others do in swimming. You do what you're capable of doing. You can't beat yourself down because you didn't go first,'" Schmitt said.
Fan joined Golembiewski, Rehkopf and Stetzer on the third-place 400-yard freestyle relay that swam and All-American consideration time of 3:06.77, which broke the Section V record their program set at the 2023 NYSPHSAA meet.
Individually, Stetzer placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (46.21) and seventh in the 200-yard individual medley (1:52.77). Braun placed 14th in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.95) and 16th in the 200 IM (1:57.23). In the 100 free, Golembiewski swam the fifth fastest time (46.14) but was relegated to the consolation heat and placed 11th. Golembiewski battled an illness to take 10th in the 50-yard freestyle (21.27).
"He gave it everything he's got. Under the circumstances, Lucas did a great job," Schmitt said.
Joe Parkhurst
The Attica senior swam an All-American consideration time in the 50 free. Parkhurst finished third, touching in 20.79 seconds, just two-hundredths of a second from the runner-up. Parkhurst also placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke (56.68).
Most outstanding divers
Kiran Natarajan
Section V sent five divers to states, and the Harley Allendale Columbia athlete had the best performance. Natarajan, a two-time Section V champion, placed 10th at the NYSPHSAA championships with 407.65 points.
Irondequoit's George Ligozio placed 11th with 402.50 points. Churchville-Chili's Kyler Thomas (14th, 393.90), Haverling's Devin Cornish (17th, 377.85) and Brighton's Quinn Kelstone (18th, 374.35) also participated in Saturday's diving final.
Section V standouts
Here are some of Section V's other top performances from the NYSPHSAA championships:
McQuaid freshman Ian Miller placed fifth in the 100-yard butterfly.
McQuaid 400-yard freestyle relay of Luke McCormack, Miller, Xavier Joseph and Ben Hinds placed ninth (3:14.05). Those same four placed 13th in the 200 medley relay (1:37.41).
Hinds placed 11th in the 100 breast (58.93)
McCormack placed 15th in the 200 free (1:44.11).
Jon Murtha, Jack Frenzel, Maksim Avlasevich and Micah Stephany led Webster's 200 free relay (1:28.54) to 15th place.
Spencerport's Aiden Agostini placed 15th in the 100 breast (59.94).
Byron-Bergen-LeRoy's Jackson Fix was awarded the Good Sport Award. Fix finished 22nd in the 100 free and also competed in the 50 free.
What's next
The NYSPHSAA championships concluded the 2023-24 season. The 2024-25 campaign technically begins in November, but programs like Pittsford will return to the pool soon for a head start.
Pittsford will have a young team next winter. Braun is the only individual state qualifier returning and is one of four juniors who will be the senior leaders next season. Much of the roster will be made up of underclassmen and middle schoolers hungry for a 23rd straight Section V title.
"We will be very young next year. We've got a lot of work to do," Schmitt said.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Pittsford breaks more Section V records at NYSPHSAA swim championships
