East swimmers beats West Seneca East by fingernail
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Williamsville East-West Seneca East boys swimming meet last Friday came down to one event and Matt Geiger made sure the Flames left Transit Middle Pool as victors.

Geiger swan a personal-best leg of 49.7 of the 400-yard freestyle relay to lift East to a 93-92 win.

"Matt had to come way behind," said East coach Mike Doerfler. "After the first two legs, you really wouldn't have given us much of a chance. When Neil (Batta) took off, he was 15 feet behind and was able to come just within a body length, which gave Matt just enough. They came off the last turn tied and it was stroke for stroke. Matt touched him out by a fingernail."

Mike Anderson and Thomas Mitchell also helped East edge out West Seneca East's quartet in the event, 331.70-331.75.

Anderson (200 IM, 213.90; 500 free, 523.95) and Geiger (100 fly and 100 back) were double winners.

Batta won the 100 free (51.35). Kane Hsieh was first in the 100 breast (106.10). Geiger, Hsieh, Kenny Munroe and Batta also won the 200 medley relay in 147.43.

Mitchell swam personal bests in the 200 free (202.50, second) and 500 free (534.20, third, knocked four seconds off).

Joe O'Gorman won diving with 180.80 points. His brother, Jeff, qualified for ECICs in the 100 and 200 free with personal best times.

"I'm very proud of the kids," said Doerfler. "They swam tough."

East opened the week with a 109-49 home win on Jan. 24 over Sweet Home. Geiger (200 IM, 208.45; 100 free, 51.49) and Munroe (100 fly, 105.25; 100 back, 105.43) were double winners. Batta won the 200 free (154.64). Mitchell was first in the 500 free (539.30). O'Gorman won diving with 197 points. Sweet Home's Connor Hoffman won the 50 free (25.51).

East (6-4), winners of its last four meets, closes out the regular season at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Lake Shore. They swam at Hamburg Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com