East closes regular season with six straight wins
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's boys swimming team finished the regular season 8-4 after wins at Hamburg, 59-43, on Jan. 30 and at Lake Shore, 103-82, on Friday.

It's East best record in ten years.

"Last year, we made great improvements but we were small," said East coach Mike Doerfler. "This year, we got a big boost from Mike Anderson and Matt Geiger from Williamsville North, plus some new kids for 25 people (on the roster). We haven't had that kind of depth in a long time."

Neil Batta was a double winner in both meets. Against Hamburg, he won the 50-yard freestyle (24.45) and 100 free (52.34) and followed at Lake Shore with firsts in the 100 (51.47) and 200 (154.28) free.

Geiger won the 100 back (55.77) against Hamburg and Lake Shore (55.72). He also won the 100 fly versus Lake Shore (58.52).

Anderson was a double winner against Lake Shore, winning the 200 IM (214.21) and 500 free (520.16).

East's 200 free relay won at both meets but with different swimmers. Kane Hsieh, Mike Anderson, Thomas Mitchell and Batta won against Hamburg in 140.17 and Anderson, Batta, Hsieh and and Kenny Munroe won against Lake Shore in 139.74.

The 200 medley relay of Batta, Hsieh, Munroe and Geiger won versus Hamburg in 151.75.

East also won the 200 medley and 500 free relays versus Lake Shore.

First-year swimmer Brad Kim won the 100 breast versus Lake Shore with a personal best time of 112.87.

Ten East swimmers will be competing at ECICs on Feb. 16-17 at Clarence High School. It is a timed trial.

Anderson, Batta, Geiger, Hsieh, Mitchell, Munrow, Joe and Jeff O'Gorman, Kim, Arjun Praven, Josh Vekter and Jean Coignet plus all three relays have qualified.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com