The T&G Hometeam boys' swimming all-stars for winter 2022-23
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, with the Central Mass High School Sports Awards program, presented by DCU — Digital Federal Credit Union, is proud to announce the nominees for boys' swimming. The winner will be announced during the live show Wednesday, June 28, at the Hanover Theatre.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the athletes of the year in 31 other sports with Athletes of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, and a Courage Award.
Nominated athletes can register for their free ticket to the show here, thanks to sponsors: Nominee Registration for the 2023 Central Mass High School Sports Awards (smartsheet.com)
General public tickets are on sale here: 2023 Central Mass High School Sports Awards Tickets (enmotive.com)
Vote for your favorite school for the Spirit Award here: 2023 Show Your School Spirit - 2023 Show Your School Spirit (gannettcontests.com)
More information about the show, including other nominees, can be found here: Central Mass High School SportsCentral Mass High School Sports Awards (usatoday.com)
The Central Mass High School Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country. Last year’s show can still be viewed here: 2022 Central Mass High School Sports Awards - YouTube
Willem de Haan
Advanced Math and Science Academy
Senior, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle
A two-time team MVP for coach Susan Morse, de Haan has amassed a staggering 585 points for his team since joining the Eagles in the eighth grade — including 200.5 of those coming this season. De Haan has recorded 15 first-place finishes for AMSA and has helped relay teams to 21 wins this winter before shining in the postseason by placing 14th in the 50 freestyle at the Central/West sectionals and 11th in the 100 freestyle at the Division 2 state championship. de Haan holds team records in the 200 freestyle (1:54.81), the 50 freestyle (23.78) and the 100 freestyle (57.25) and is tied for the team record in the 100 butterfly. de Haan won the 200 freestyle (1:54.81) and the 100 freestyle (50.64) at the Mid-Wach Championships. He enjoys hiking, fishing, working out and gaming when he's not in the pool. de Haan is undecided on a college, but hopes to study data science and earn a master's degree. The Marlborough resident is the son of Suzie Ferreira and Georgius de Haan.
Kevin Dong
Shrewsbury High
Senior, 100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley
Dong earned Mid-Wach League Co-Swimmer of the Year honors and captained the Colonials on his way to his third consecutive T&G Super Team selection. Dong won the 200 individual medley (2:07.05) and the 100 breaststroke (1:02.73) at the Mid-Wach Championships, then followed it up by finishing third in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 individual medley at the Central/West Sectionals. Dong also placed 22nd in the 100 breaststroke at the Division 1 state meet. Dong broke the school record in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, the latter of which he had already owned, and also was a member of a relay team that owns school records in the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle. He enjoys playing the piano, watching movies and photography in his spare time, and in the fall, he will attend New York University to study computer science in hopes to become a software engineer. The Shrewsbury resident is the son of Hua Dong and Jichen Lin.
Cole Dunne
Grafton High
Senior, 100 butterfly
Dunne won the 100 butterfly (56.62) and placed second in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.12) at the Mid-Wach Championships to earn his first spot on the T&G Super Team. Dunne also placed 10th in the 100 butterfly and sixth in the 100 breaststroke at the Central/West Sectional before taking 21st in the 100 butterfly and 14th in the 100 breaststroke at the state meet.
Josh Huang
Shrewsbury High
Junior, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle
Huang placed third in the 50 freestyle (23.42) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (52.40) at the Mid-Wach Championships and followed that by finishing seventh in the 50 freestyle (23.02) and seventh in the 100 freestyle (51.00) at the Central/West Sectionals. Huang capped off his season by finishing 27th in the 50 free and 30th in the 100 free at the Division 1 state meet. He enjoys playing games and relaxing with his family and dog in his spare time. He is the son of Joanne Xie and Kenny Huang of Shrewsbury.
David Hunyh
Algonquin Regional
Sophomore, 200 individual medley
Only a sophomore, Hunyh earned his second-straight T&G Super Team nod after finishing 10th in the 200 individual medley (2:11.28) at the Central/West Sectionals and taking second in the event (2:10.60) at the Mid-Wach Championships. Hunyh placed first in 16 events this season for the Titans, and was also a member of the winning 500 relay team at the league championships. He is the son of Dat Huynh and Mylynh Tram of Southborough.
Aryaman Jain
Westborough High
Sophomore, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke
Jain emerged as one of the top swimmers in the area after his family moved to Westborough from Delhi, India, last summer. Jain won the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke at the Mid-Wach Championships and captured first in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 backstroke at the Central/West Sectionals. Jain capped his season by finishing 10th in the 100 backstroke and 13th in the 50 freestyle at the Division 1 state meet.
Ethan Korenda
Tantasqua Regional
Junior, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle
Korenda finished 11th in the 50 freestyle (23.61) and 12th in the 100 freestyle (53.05) at the Central/West Sectionals and was 23rd in the 50 freestyle at the Division 2 state meet to earn a spot on the T&G Super Team. Korenda also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 50 freestyle at the Mid-Wach Championships. He earned the Coach's Award and was a Mid-Wach League all-star for coach Lisa Lamothe and the Warriors this season. Korenda was a part of a 400 freestyle relay team that set a school record, which was his most memorable moment of the season. Korenda enjoys biking, hiking, fishing and water sports such as water skiing and wakeboarding in his spare time and while he hasn't decided on a college yet, he hopes to go into the medical field as a physician. He is the son of Kathleen and Brian Korenda of Sturbridge.
Jacob Pervier
Gardner High
Sophomore, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle
Pervier, who attends Narragansett Regional, but swims for Gardner due to a co-op agreement, shined for the Wildcats this winter, recording top times in the 50 freestyle (22.37), 100 freestyle (49.58) and the 100 breaststroke (1:05.58) to earn his second spot on the T&G Super Team. A captain for coaches Lisa Arsenault and Francis Freel, Pervier was fourth in the 50 freestyle (22.37) and 13th in the 100 freestyle (50.20) at the Division 2 state meet after taking sixth in the 50 freestyle (22.91) and ninth in the 100 freestyle (51.24) at the Central/West Sectional. Pervier also took third in the 100 freestyle (51.51) and fourth in the 50 freestyle (23.58) at the Mid-Wach Championships. Pervier plays soccer and basketball and enjoys lifting weights, running and longboarding in his spare time. He hopes to swim in college and qualify for the Olympic Trials. He is the son of Lori and Timothy Pervier of Baldwinville.
Vance Petrossi
Bromfield School
Sophomore, 100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle
Petrossi earned his second spot on the T&G Super Team after placing second in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.75) and ninth in the 100 freestyle (49.89) at the event at the Division 2 state meet. Petrossi finished fourth in the 100 freestyle (50.47) at the Central/West Sectionals after missing the Mid-Wach Championships due to injury. Petrossi has career highs in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.75), 100 freestyle (49.89) and 100 butterfly (56.44) to lead the Trojans under coach Sabiha Madraswalla. He is a half-second off school records in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Petrossi enjoys playing basketball, working out and playing with his dog in his spare time. He is the son of Katie and Dan Petrossi of Harvard.
Joel Picard
St. John's
Junior, Diving
A three-time selection to the T&G Super Team, Picard was tops in the 1-meter dive at the Central/West Sectional with a score of 486.90 and took fourth at the Division 1 state meet with 478.75. Picard was named to the Catholic Conference all-star team and broke the school record for 11 dives at the Catholic Conference Championship with a score of 505.25. Picard also swims for the Dolphin Diving club team and snowboards in his spare time. He hopes to become a nurse after graduating college. He is the son of Caryn and Rob Picard of Worcester.
Axel Soderquist
Algonquin Regional
Junior, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle
Soderquist was named Algonquin's MVP after recording 16 first-place finishes and four second-place finishes to lead the Titans in the regular season. Soderquist took fourth in the 50 freestyle (22.71) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (50.60) at the Central/West Sectionals and followed it by finishing 17th in the 50 free and 19th in the 100 free at the Division 1 state meet. Soderquist finished second in both events at the Mid-Wach Championships. Soderquist is hoping to attend West Point or MIT and major in computer science, and enjoys playing concert piano, drawing, painting and writing in his spare time. The Southborough resident is the son of Joy Ongard and Peter Soderquist.
Ethan Zhu
Tantasqua Regional
Freshman, 100 backstroke, 200 freestyle
Zhu earned team MVP honors for the Warriors after taking eighth in the 100 backstroke (58.85) and ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:57.23) at the Central/West Sectional. Zhu capped his season by finishing 14th in the 100 backstroke at the Division 2 State Meet. Zhu was second in the 100 backstroke (58.41) and fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:02.50) at the Mid-Wach Championships. Zhu also set the school record for the 100 backstroke (58.24) and has improved on that to 57.77. He is also a member of the 400 freestyle relay team that also owns a school record (3:37.47). Zhu enjoys mountain biking and skiing in his spare time. The Sturbrdge resident is the son of Alice Kao and Wayne Zhu.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Check out the T&G Hometeam boys' swimming all-stars for winter 2022-23
