Pittsford has record-breaking day in capturing 22nd straight Section V boys swim championship

WEBSTER — How did Pittsford celebrate capturing a remarkable 22nd straight Section V championship?

Pittsford's boys swimming team sang "Happy Birthday" to 15-year-old Freddie Fox, lifting him on their shoulders on the pool deck before leaving the Webster Aquatic Center with cupcakes Thursday night. For photos, the Panthers pointed two fingers on each hand to commemorate their 22 consecutive titles.

All that came after the Panthers' routine dive into the pool to celebrate another sectional brick. Pittsford coach Rich Schmitt was the first to jump dressed in his golf shirt and shorts. Following his lead were 27 kids jumping and flipping into the deep end, drenching their navy blue "Pittsford Swimming" windbreakers.

Pittsford powered through Thursday's Class A finals. The Panthers became the first team to sweep every swim event. Senior Lucas Golembiewski put on a show as part of a record-breaking relay. Schmitt, soaking wet from head to toe, attempted to articulate all that his Pittsford Panthers accomplished.

"We've created a culture in our program that's not about winning. It's about giving the best you've got, going after it and reaching your full potential. If you do that, winning takes care of itself," Schmitt said.

Section V swimming: Results for the 2023-24 season

"Everybody loses some day. One day it'll happen to us. But we'll enjoy what we have today, which is the most dominating performance in Section V swimming history."

What it means

Pittsford's 22 Section V championships are unparalleled. As was the Panthers' sweep, winning all 11 of Thursday's events. The only event Pittsford did not win was diving — the Panthers do not have a diver this season. Pittsford's best performance prior to Thursday happened under former coach Mark Morris, whose Panthers won 10-of-12 while dropping two swimming events.

On Thursday, Pittsford scored 563.5 points to win easily. Webster (267), Fairport (212), Brighton (189) and Penfield (183) rounded out the top five. Along with its section title streak, Pittsford won Monroe County Division I for its 11th straight league championship.

Each Pittsford section championship team has its own story. This edition of the Panthers put Section V on notice from day one as Golembiewski, Cam Stetzer, Ethan Rehkopf, Tim Fan and Calvin Braun and company broke pool records all across the area.

"I'm fortunate that I have kids who actually listen, do what they need to do, and want to put the time in. It's not just Cam, Lucas or Ethan. It's all the guys. We had 25 kids swim this weekend and that's why we have 22 (straight championships) in the books," said Schmitt, who coaches with Marty Keating.

Top performances

Lucas Golembiewski

The Pittsford senior was named Section V Class A Swimmer of the Meet.

Golembiewski joined Braun, Rehkopf and Stetzer on the 200-yard freestyle relay that broke the Section V record. They touched in 1:24.73 to set a new section and Class A meet mark, and were two-tenths of a second from the state record.

According to Schmitt, the 200 free relay may have recorded the second-fastest time ever from a public school. The previous 200 free relay record was 1:25.64 set by Pittsford's 2018 team.

"I'm extremely proud (and) honored to be part of this legacy. Just trying to make my mark. I'm extremely happy," Golembiewski said.

Individually, Golembiewski won two more events. He broke the Pittsford school record, and tied the Class A meet's 50-yard freestyle mark, when he touched in 21.01 seconds. Golembiewski's time matched the 10-year-old standard set by Brockport's Nick Olson in 2014. Golembiewski's win in the 100-yard freestyle (46.15) was two-hundredths of a second away from the 6-year-old meet record.

"He looks forward to racing in big meets, and that's the difference. He got up for states last year, got up for sectionals today, and the coaches acknowledged it," Schmitt said.

George Ligozio

The Irondequoit diver won the Class A diving championship on Saturday, Feb. 3. Ligozio won comfortably with a score of 499.70 points. Churchville-Chili's Kyler Thomas was the runner-up with 479.85 points.

Section V Class A champions by event

Pittsford tied two other Class A meet marks.

Stetzer touched in 1:52.37 to tie the meet's 200-yard individual medley record. Former Pittsford star Matthew Tanchick set the previous mark in 2012.

Stetzer has had an outstanding season. He qualified for states in every swim event. The senior felt felt ill and still managed to enter the record books. Stetzer expects his team to perform even better at states in March.

Fan also won two events: the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. Rehkopf is a star swimming in the "shadows of giants", but claimed two titles of his own after strong finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle.

"That doesn't mean he isn't working or earning his two individual sectional titles. Sometimes you give it everything you've got and it goes unnoticed. But we see it," Schmitt said.

Here are the Section V Class A champions from each event:

• 200-yard medley relay: Pittsford (Tim Fan, Kosta Oluic, Calvin Braun, Michael Kusch) 1:38.86.

• 200-yard freestyle: Ethan Rehkopf (Pittsford) 1:46.09.

• 200-yard individual medley: Cam Stetzer (Pittsford) 1:52.37.

• 50-yard freestyle: Lucas Golembiewski (Pittsford) 21.01.

• 100-yard butterfly: Tim Fan (Pittsford) 50.26.

• 100-yard freestyle: Lucas Golembiewski (Pittsford) 46.15.

• 500-yard freestyle: Ethan Rehkopf (Pittsford) 4:55.25.

• 200-yard freestyle relay: (Lucas Golembiewski, Calvin Braun, Ethan Rehkopf, Cam Stetzer) 1:24.73.

• 100-yard backstroke: Tim Fan (Pittsford) 52.62.

• 100-yard breaststroke: Cam Stetzer (Pittsford) 57.43.

• 400-yard freestyle relay: Pittsford (Cam Stetzer, Tim Fan, Ethan Rehkopf, Lucas Golembiewski) 3:08.60.

• Diving: George Ligozio (Irondequoit) 499.70.

Coach of Year

Webster coach Ben Whipple was named Section V Class A Coach of the Year.

His Webster Lakers were runners-up of the Class A final after placing second in four events. Maksim Avlasevich, Jack Frenzel, Jon Murtha and Micah Stephany each swam on the second-place 200 free relay and 400 free relay quartets.

What's next

Section V championships will conclude over the next week before the state championships take place in March.

The Class B swimming meet was Friday. The Class C and Class D diving championships are Saturday. Section V's championship swim meets will conclude with Class D on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Haverling, and Class C is Friday, Feb. 16, at Churchville-Chili.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Boys Swimming and Diving Championships are Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, at Ithaca College.

— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports.He has been reporter for 14 years. Follow him @MarquelSports on X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V swimming: Pittsford breaks records, wins 22nd straight title