Hauppauge wins first league title since 2001
Diver Ryan Savit helped Half Hollow Hills capture the League I championship. (undated file photo) Credit: Bob Mitchell
Host Hauppauge won the League III swimming championship Thursday with 294.5 points, earning its first league title since 2001.
"The kids really worked hard to get to this point, and their hard work has paid off," coach Rich Lionetti said.
Sophomore Justin Plaschka set a school record and won the 100-yard butterfly in 51.18, breaking his own record of 51.82, and also won the 100-yard backstroke in 52.33. Plaschka also was part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:28.84) along with Pouria Hamidi, Travis Maida and Trevor Maida. The team of Plaschka, Hamidi and the Maida brothers also won the 200 medley relay in 1:43.77.
Harborfields finished second with a score of 229.5. Deer Park senior Bryan Rennhack won the 1-meter diving with a score of 195.95 on a six-dive total.
At Sachem North, Half Hollow Hills won League I with a score of 324, earning its sixth straight league championship.
Isaac Vingan won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:50.06 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:06.24. Michael Mattera won the 100 backstroke in 55.67.
The Hills diving team of Ryan Savit, Alex Cohen and John Natalone took 1-2-3 in the 1-meter diving. Savit's winning score was 320.80, Cohen scored 193.05 and Natalone had 177.35.
"I'm really proud of our divers," Hills coach Jason Wiedersum said. "But it's going to take a better performance from us at counties if we want to repeat as county champions."
The Thundercolts have been the Suffolk champs for the past five years.
Sachem North finished second with 314 points and Smithtown was third with 252.
The county championships will be held Feb. 18 at Suffolk Community College's Brentwood campus.
