Hills' DeBlasio rises to the top
Half Hollow Hills senior Matt DeBlasio won Federation championships in both the 200-IM and the backstroke. (Mar. 5, 2011) Credit: James Escher
Each champion has his moment of adversity. Not the usual ups and downs of competition, but a turning point in which the taste of failure spawns the seeds of victory.
Of course, adversity is all relative.
Half Hollow Hills' Matt DeBlasio, now a state Federation boys swimming champ in two events, had his moment as a junior, at the same state championships he dominated only a year later.
DeBlasio placed first in the public school championships for the 200-yard individual medley, but was nosed out in Federation by Holy Trinity standout Jack Wagner, and was looking toward a similarly high finish in his other event, the 100 backstroke. He finished seventh overall.
"I don't think his down moments have been as down as some others, but it was a real letdown," coach Jason Wiedersum said. "That's when I really saw a recommitment to the sport."
DeBlasio began swimming in the mornings, at varsity practice and for two more hours with his club team. He got a personal trainer and began lifting weights and going to the gym every day.
"I never trained twice a day until this year," DeBlasio said. "Once I was able to get over the hump of being tired, I was able to focus and do well with it. I thought I should be able to get the same place as the top guys at states. And finishing where I did let me know what I needed to do to beat all the other guys."
This year, DeBlasio was in a class of his own. He won the 200 IM in 1 minute, 50.93 seconds, nearly two seconds faster than his nearest competition. In the 100 backstroke, he posted a 50.71 to become a dual winner.
"That moment at states was his down point, but it was a turning point," Wiedersum said. "And when I say down point, placing seventh at states isn't too bad."
Though first is always better.
Rocky Point's Dutton
captures public title
Rocky Point junior Matthew Dutton was first in the state public high school championships in the 100 butterfly (50.46). Dutton, who swims independently, missed the Federation title by 0.31 seconds. He won the 100 butterfly (51.85) and was second in the 500 freestyle (4:46.28) at the county championship.
