Boys Swimming
Hard work earns South's Rogers return trip to states
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's Ryan Menasco finished 13th in prelims (pictured) and 14th at finals in the 100 free. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

All of Drew Rogers' year-round training in the pool has paid off.

The Williamsville South senior won the 200- and 100-yard freestyle events at the Section VI Championships on Saturday at Sweet Home High School to qualify for the New York State Championships which will be held Friday and Saturday at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Center.

"I think my training helped me win," said Rogers, who swims at South every week day then at least three times a week with his club team, the Tonawanda Titans.

"I've never trained like I have and went into sectionals knowing I'd do well."

It's been over 15 years since a South swimmer has won a section title so for Rogers to win is a big deal. Rogers won the 200 free in a school record 1:45.54 (old record was 1:47.09), and took first in the 100 free in a personal best 48.4.

South coach Richard Grampp said Rogers' race strategy changed leading up to sectionals.

Williamsville East junior Neil Batta had a season-best preliminary time in the 200 free on Thursday in 1:51.48 to place sixth (pictured) and finished eighth at finals in 1:51.91. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase photos at www.BeeNews.com

"In the past couple of weeks since ECICs, most of his swims looked really in control," he said. "But he looked relaxed and turned it on when he needed to, then shut off at the end. So we knew he had faster sprints in him but I don't think either of us thought he could go 1:45… We talked about the second half of the (200 free) race. Where other kids may have started out a little too strong, Drew conserved more energy."

Rogers hopes to break the school record in the 100 free (48.23) at states, plus finish in at least the top eight. Grampp thinks Rogers can go a little faster in both events.

Grampp also hopes Rogers' accomplishments can draw more swimmers to the program. This past year, the team only fielded nine swimmers.

Rogers qualified for states last year in the 100 and 200 free, finishing third (49.45) and fourth (1:48.91), respectively. At states, he was 19th in the 100 free and 22th in the 200 free in prelims.

Williamsville East

The Flames concluded a respectable season in the section with several outstanding swims at sectionals.

"We weren't a real big team at sectionals but the ones who were there swam well," said East coach Mike Doerfler.

Junior Kane Hsieh qualified for state competition in the 100-yard breaststroke, swimming the event in a personal-best 1:03.18. Sophomore Matt Geiger, who has already qualified for states in the 100 fly, finished in 13th at sectionals. Geiger did a lot better in another state qualifying event, the 100 back, finishing second in 54.31.

Doerfler is hoping for best times for Hsieh and Geiger at states.

"Where that places them, I have no idea," he said.

Also at sectionals, freshman Michael Anderson swam a season best 5:06.31 in the 500 free to take fourth. Junior Neil Batta had a season-best preliminary time in the 200 free on Thursday in 1:51.48 to place sixth and finished eighth at finals in 1:51.91. He was also 11th in the 100 free in 50.31. East's 200 medley relay of Geiger, Hsieh, Kenny Munroe and Anderson combined for tenth in a season best time of 1:45.75. The 400 free relay of Batta, Thomas Mitchell, Anderson and Geiger became the first East boys team to break 3:30 since 1997 with a personal-best 3:29.61 to place tenth.

In his first sectional competition, sophomore diver Joe O'Gorman came in eighth out of 20 divers with a score of 301.05.

"A score of 301 is an outstanding 11-dive score for him and eighth place was a great finish," said East coach Mike Doerfler.

Doerfler said expectations for the season were reached.

"It was our best season in a quite a while," he said.

Amherst Central

Paul Timmel had personal best times in the 200 IM (2:10.03, 10th place) and 500 free (5:11.38, ninth place). Ryan Menasco placed sixth in the 50 free and 14th in the 100 free.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com