Swimming: Savit, Steffanelli square off
Photo of Half Hollow Hills HS diver Ryan Savit, competing in a Swim meet in Sayville. (December 22, 2009) Credit: Thomas A. Ferrara
Friday was not the last time Half Hollow Hills' Ryan Savit will engage in a diving dual with Sachem East's Anthony Steffanelli. And it certainly wasn't the most important time.
But it was the most recent, and as the duo head into divisions and then the Suffolk team championships, it's the clearest indicator of just how closely matched the top Suffolk underclassmen divers are.
Savit edged Steffanelli, 306.81-301.90, in a 97-86 Hills victory Friday night.
Savit, whose previous high score was 296.10, was intent on breaking the 300 threshold this season.
"There's a sense of accomplishment there that can buoy him more than one dive can, or more than one meet could," Hills diving coach Chris Blumenstetter said. "He didn't know until I did the math. He had that unmistakable Savit ear-to-ear grin as soon as I showed him the score.
"He was very comfortable today. Some days you just feel it, some days you're in the zone. This was one of those days."
But Savit, who came in third at the 2010 county finals, still has some work to do. After all, Steffanelli placed second at counties.
Then there's Deer Park-North Babylon senior Kyle Gannon, who won the event in 2010, and is looking for an encore performance before graduation.
