DeBlasio looks to keep Hills rolling
Half Hollow Hills' Matt DeBlasio hasn't had to deal with a loss in his high school career. That's because Hills hasn't lost a dual meet, league championship or county championship in the last four years. And with DeBlasio going into his senior season, he's not about to let the trend come to an end.
"He's always been probably the hardest worker I've had in all my years at Hills," coach Jason Weidersum said. "But this year through the summer he's actually increased his level of training . . . from the fall until now he's actually doubled his water hours."
Scary proposition for a guy who won the 200-yard individual medley (1 minute, 53.24 seconds) and was sixth in the 100 backstroke (53.14) at the state Public High School Championships last year. He also swam the lead leg on the seventh-place 200-medley relay (1:38.40). And that was an encore after he won two events - 200-IM (1:55.9) and 100-backstroke (53.99) - and was part of two winning relays - 200 medley (1:39.86) and 400 medley (3:16.3) - at the Suffolk championships.
DeBlasio's star power in the lanes is almost equaled by Ryan Savit's on the diving board. Savit placed 13th at states (417.6 points), third at the county finals (4:16.15) and had the top diving totals in the 2009 regular season.
Ward Melville's strength comes from its relays. After finishing second at the Suffolk County meet in 2009, the program returns its relay core largely intact, led by Liuben Chipev and Michael Yavid. The Patriots finished second in both the 200-medley relay (1:41.96) and 200-freestyle relay (1:32.30).
Sayville/Bayport-Blue Point has been particularly hurt by graduation and is a program in flux. But it still has bright points. Like Andrew Cremer, brother of Chris, the now-graduated 2009 Suffolk finals most outstanding swimmer. Andrew swam the lead leg on the second-place 400-free relay (3:17.73) at the Suffolk finals and figures to take on a much larger role with the team this year.
Lindenhurst's Kevin Konarski qualified for states in the 200-freestyle (1:45.8) as an eighth-grader.
Along with HHH's Savit, Suffolk diving is deep. Deer Park/ North Babylonsenior Kyle Gannon returns after winning the Suffolk finals (437.25). The words you hear to describe him this year are "more focused." Not bad for somebody who's already a champion. DP/NB also boasts seniors Chase Henry and Matt Mullen in the lanes.
Sachem East sophomore Anthony Stefanelli placed eighth in diving at the public school championships (430.45). It was the highest placing for a Long Island competitor in the event in 2009.
Stefanelli gained 10 pounds of muscle over the off-season from gymnastics work and is jumping higher. His degrees-of-difficulty are already high and he's actually working on refining some of the easier dives.
With one diver who led in the regular season, one who took first at counties and another who placed highest at states, it's going to be a see-saw Suffolk season on the boards.
