Huntington High School’s boys’ swimmers will join with their teammates from Walt Whitman and Harborfields and make a run at a county championship later this week at the Section XI finals at Stony Brook.
The Blue Devils, Walt Whitman and Harborfields have combined, similar to many other high schools and formed an exceptionally powerful team. The squad won the Suffolk League I championship and went 7-0 in dual meet competition. In doing so, the team snapped Half Hollow Hills’ 16 year winning streak.
As the team prepares for the county championship meet, the Blue Devils are still savoring their league performances. Highlights include:
• Junior Pierre Leroy stayed undefeated in his individual events winning the 200 yard free in a state qualifying time of 1:45.47 and the 500 yard freestyle in a state qualifying time of 4:48.67.
• Junior Evan Spagnoletti kept his 100 yard fly season going winning the event in a state qualifying time of 52.13 seconds. He also surprised everyone with a huge upset, winning the 50 yard free in a state qualifying time of 22.02 seconds.
• Senior William Weber had two huge swims in the 200 yard IM and 100 yard back. He was fourth in the 200 IM with a county qualifying time of 2:07.52 and fifth in the 100 back with a county qualifying time of 58.68 seconds. Both season bests for him.
• Senior Jonathan Larice also had two huge swims in the 200 yard free and 100 yard fly. He was fourth in the 200 free with a county qualifying time of 1:51.05 and fourth in the 100 fly with a season best and county qualifying time of 55.78 seconds.
• Sophomore Lucas Spagnoletti landed fifth in the 100 yard fly with a county qualifying time of 56.13 seconds and tied for sixth in the 100 yard breaststroke with a country qualifying time of 1:06.34.
• Freshman Max Leroy landed tenth in 200 yard IM in 2:16.41 and ninth in 100 yard backstroke in1:00.85, both county qualifying times.
• Eighth grader Samuel Klaaren swam the 500 yard free landing in 16th in a time of 5:53.09.
“This was my best and favorite meet so far,” Weber said. “I swam season bests in both of my events and it felt great. The team was also pumped up the whole meet, cheering on our teammates in every event with a lot of emotion. Receiving the first place plaque was also a great feeling.”
Veteran Blue Devil coach Meg McConnell is working her typical magic with the team this year.
“I am blown away by all the best swims and dives that allowed us to win a well-deserved league championship,” Evan Spagnoletti said. “I am grateful to personally savor this moment in my life. I can speak for the team when I say this; we all like winning, especially against Half Hollow Hills. When Huntington took the win against Half Hollow Hills for leagues, it was something that they have never seen before. Hills can also see these four gold medals around my neck from leagues as well. Spags still got it.”
The team practices at the Huntington YMCA daily, but since none of the three schools has its own pool, all meets are on the road. Yet, the squad still went undefeated and then won the league championship.
“I am insanely impressed with how everyone performed at leagues,” Larice said. “Each and every person did more than what they have to do; really going above and beyond to win the league title. This is a milestone that seemed to evade us since I’ve joined the team so to see us triumph is something that I along with my teammates will cherish. We are going to carry this big win through counties and states. The fun is just getting started for us”