SS. Peter & Paul falls to St. Mark's in recent meet

SS. Peter & Paul of Williamsville was no match for the deep and talented St. Mark's of North Buffalo, losing 152-92 defeat in a Neuman Catholic Swim League meet held Sunday at Sweet Home High School.

St. Mark's won all three age groups on its way to victory and all of the team's swimmers, coaches and parents demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship throughout the entire meet.

SSPP's 9-10 group had the best day for the team, losing by only two points to St. Mark's. Matt Ruggiero was a double winner with firsts in the 100-yard individual medley and the 50 butterfly. Brian Costello won the 100 free and Marissa Olsen took first in the 50 backstroke. Jason Brick (50 free), Caitlyn Novak (50 fly) and Peter Weimer (50 breaststroke) recorded second place finishes; Novak (100 IM) and Olsen (50 free) earned third-place points.

SSPP finished second in both relays thanks to the efforts of Lauren Shine, Olsen, Weimer, Ruggiero, Costello and Novak.

St. Mark's exceptionally large number of 11-up swimmers overwhelmed SSPP's correspondingly small group. Laura Brick finished first in the 50 back and Rachel Kuechle topped all swimmers in the 50 breast. Kathleen Ruggiero

200 free), Maury Fields (50 fly) and Kuechle (100 free) recorded seconds; Fields (200 IM), Claire Haumesser (50 free), Ruggiero

100 free) and Max Roehmholdt

50 breast) captured third-place points. The medley relay team of Brick, Kuechle, Roehmholdt and Julia Collins finished second and the free relay team of Brick, Fields, Roehmholdt and Collins placed third.

Kurt Haummeser was SSPP's lone winner in the 8-unders, cruising to an easy victory in the 50 free. Evan Manna (25 free) and Charles Weimer (25 back) won second-place points while thirds were recorded by Anna Maria Sauer (100 IM), Jacob Barberio (25 free), Grace Galvin (50 free) and Haumesser (25 breast). Both relay teams finished second.

The medley team consisted of Galvin, Sauer, Haumesser and Manna while Weimer, Galvin, Brynn Cowe and Manna comprised the free.