Roster numbers up for North, Matthews ready to reclaim diving title
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North junior Casey Matthews is looking to reclaim her spot as the top diver in New York State. File photo

Ask coach Doug Cassidy how long it takes him to figure out which of his Williamsville North girl swimmers are competing in events at a league meet and you'll scratch your head.

"It conservatively takes me four hours," said Cassidy.

It takes Cassidy a long time because there's a whopping school record 60 girls on the roster.

"I have 60 kids and every one of the parents couldn't be more supportive," he said. "They are the nicest people and will do anything for us. They are just as committed to having 60 kids on the team as I am... I'm having more fun that I've ever had (26 years of coaching)."

The mass quantity of swimmers has made Cassidy divide the team into three different practice squads - A, B, and C, who swim different shifts in lanes by the side of the pool. This allows the team's three divers, Casey Matthews, Krissy Flierl, and Dana Gradl, time to practice in a middle lane.

Team unity is high and there's no greater example than from senior captains Becky Akers, Sarah Bachwitz, Kelly Battaglia, and Lindsay Carucci. Cassidy said at least two of the four captains come in early each practice to help out younger swimmers.

"They're four of the best captains I've ever had," said Cassidy.

All four are seniors and except Battaglia, who has been on the team since seventh grade, are four-year swimmers.

Battaglia is one of the team's top swimmers, Cassidy said.

"Her best event is the 200 IM but she's also an awesome (butter) flyer," he added.

Battaglia is also one of several key freestyle relay swimmers. Others include Akers, juniors Brittney Talty and Bachwitz, and freshmen Maggie Schmidt, Cammie Farkas, and Abby Zwierchowski. Akers also swims distance events. Also back is sophomore Abigail MacDonald, who is the team's best in the backstroke and strong in the IM, back and free events. She will also swim the back in the medley relay.

The team also boasts the top diver in Section VI for the last three years, junior Casey Matthews, who placed seventh for USA Diving in the girls' 3-meter board finals at the 16th FINA World Diving Championships held from Aug. 23 to 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She won the New York State Championship as a freshman and placed second last year.

Matthews said her experience in Malaysia gave her a ton of self-confidence heading into the high school season.

"It helped me tremendously," she said. "To know that you can compete with the best in the world is really a confidence booster. It almost never happens."

"She remains a level-headed really nice high school kid," said Cassidy. "She doesn't come in with a swagger."

If Matthews qualifies for states, her toughest competition will come from Kristen Meier of Section IX's Valley Central, who edged her out last year, 499.05-490.95.

Matthews said to get back to the top, she has increased her dive degree difficulty, including a backflip 21/2 twist and reverse 21/2 tuck.

"I think she already looks stronger on the board but when she adds those dives, she'll be right up there again," said Cassidy.

"I have no doubt she'll be in the top three, if not top two (in the state)," added North diving coach T.J. Hirsch. "She has phenomenal body control. For being as tall as she is (5-foot-eight), she has very good board awareness and has control over her body and legs."

Besides winning her second state title in three years, Matthews also wants the school record for most diving points scored in a league meet. Tracy Hoover set the record with 306.65 in 2000. Matthews fell four points shy (302) last year. Matthews also scored 493.30 points at ECICs, a school and pool record at the event.

North finished 6-2 last year with losses to Orchard Park and Jamestown. North's first two meets this season are against Orchard Park and Jamestown.

North 2006 Schedule 9-26 Orchard Park............ 5 p.m. 9-29 Clarence .................... 5 p.m. 10-4 at Hamburg ............... 5 p.m. 10-6 at Sweet Home.... 4:45 p.m. 10-10 Lancaster................. 5 p.m. 10-13 W.S. West................. 5 p.m. 10-17 at Frontier............... 5 p.m. 10-26 ECICs swimming (Sweet Home)................................. 1 p.m. 10-27 ECICs diving (Sweet Home)................................. 2 p.m. 10-28 ECICs (Sweet Home) swimming and diving finals ..... 9 a.m. 11-9, 10, 11 Section VI Championships (Erie Community College Aquatic Center)............. TBA

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com