Yeager, Mo, Cassell swim in wins

CHRISTIAN YEAGER

ST. ANTHONY'S

200 IM state and Federation champion

Yeager, a senior, won the first state federation championship of his career with a time of 1:49.06 in the 200-yard individual medley. The win caps an outstanding career for Yeager, who St. Anthony's coach Dan McBride called the most decorated swimmer in school history.

"I've loved high school swimming, I've loved my teammates and I've loved my coaches," Yeager said. "It feels really good to win a state championship in my final year. When I was standing on the podium and Coach Dan gave me the medal, it was the pinnacle of my high school career."

Yeager is the first individual state champion in school history. He set school records in the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM and is part of the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay records. At the CHSAA championships, he set a then-league record in the 100 backstroke on his way to being named the meet's Most Outstanding Swimmer. He also was voted the Jack Kennedy Award winner, which is given to the swimmer who has had the best four-year career in the league.

Yeager is also the first swimmer in school history to qualify for Olympic trials, where he will be competing in the 200-meter backstroke in June. He will be swimming for Harvard next year.

SAM MO

GREAT NECK SOUTH

200 IM state public championMo won the state public schools championship in the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:52.81. It is the first state championship of his career.

Mo helped lead Great Neck South to its fourth straight undefeated season and Nassau title. Since he joined the team as a freshman, the team has not lost a regular season, division or county swim meet.

"He's the best swimmer I've ever coached and the best swimmer Great Neck South has ever had," coach Andy Berlin said. "He's led the team with great dedication and hard-work and he set a great example for the younger swimmers. It's going to be sad to see him go, he'll certainly be missed."

Mo holds eight school records: He was part of the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 free relay records and has five individual records in the 200 IM, 50 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. He was named the county meet's Most Outstanding Swimmer after setting county records in the 100-yard breaststroke (57.48 seconds) and the 200 IM (1:51.42). He also swam the third leg of the record-setting 200-medley relay that finished in 3:18.99. Mo will be swimming for Army next year.

GUNTHER CASSELL

HUNTINGTON

100 Breaststroke state, federation champ

Cassell won the state title in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 57.20. The time is a new Suffolk record, breaking the 2011 record of 57.40 set by Matthew Goetz of Islip. Cassell is Huntington's first male swimmer to win an individual state title in 30 years.

"It was the greatest moment of my life," Cassell said. "I just want to keep working hard to get better and do the best I can."

The freshman phenom also took first in the 100 breaststroke at the Suffolk championships.He took fourth in the 50 freestyle and swam the second leg in Huntington's fourth-place 200 medley relay team.

"There will be days when I win, days when I lose, but there will never be days when I stop trying," he said.

Huntington coach Gil Smith, who has coached for the past 30 years, was leaning toward retiring after this season. But after Cassell's state championship win, Smith said he is contemplating staying another year. "I think he's an exceptional athlete," Smith said. "He's a tough kid, and he's only going to get better."