The Swimming Scene: A Quintet of Qualifications for Two Nassau Swimmers

When the season started Great Neck South coach Andy Berlin gushed about Samuel Mo, and with good reason.

"He's well accomplished in just about every event," he said. "I'm sure he'll be a top-five swimmer in all of his events this year."

Great Neck South still has a few more trials until we can declare them the Nassau team of the year, however, Berlin's statement already qualifies as one of the understatements of the season.

Mo, still just a sophomore, has already qualified for states in five events: the 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. He qualified for the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke just this week.

But he's not alone.

Sewanhaka senior Nicholas Spinella has also qualified for states in five--FIVE--events: 100 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle and, on Jan. 21, the 200 IM, posting the fastest time in the event Nassau this season.

No one in either county comes close to these two. It's going to be fun watching the pair rack up wins at countys and states. The best part is that they have both qualified for three of the same events: backstroke, 200 free and 200 IM. If they're paired up in any of those events, it's going to be a dogfight.