Wreckers take 7th place

Placing as high as last year turned out not to be a problem for the Staples boys swimming team. Last year, Staples took sixth at the Class LL championships with three college-bound performers on the squad. The Wreckers placed seventh at the Class LL championships on Wednesday with 298 points at Wesleyan University, falling way short of sixth-place Ridgefield (399.5) and beating eighth-place Norwalk (220) by a convincing margin. Last year, Ridgefield, who moved up this year, took second in Class L, thus Staples virtually held place and didn't lose to a team it beat last year.

"Starting all over is a difficult thing to do," Wreckers Coach Jeff Schare said. "After what we graduated last year, it looked difficult, but we were able to match what we did last year and I'm very proud of them."

Greenwich (664) easily won the 19-team field, beating second-place Fairfield Prep (555). After trials last Saturday, Staples was in seventh place.

"They matched expectations," Schare said. "We had a great trial meet, which set us up for today. Everyone matched or bettered what they did on Saturday."

Wreckers senior captain Cameron Bruce said, "I wasn't surprised and I expected us to do well."

Junior diver Zach Slater placed fifth in diving by scoring 347.10 points. Freshman Tanner Blank took 20th (222.50).

"I was really concentrated, I was having fun and I was trying my best," Slater said. "It was one of my best performances and I felt I was on."

Next up for Slater is State Open tomorrow morning at Yale University. Last year, he was seeded last but moved up the standings into 12th place. This year, he's seeded 18th.

"It will help me on Saturday," Slater said. "This meet was a warmup for Saturday. I hope to do as well or better than last year."

Freshman Nathaniel Boley scored 41 points in individual events and contributed to the relays.

"I think I did OK," Boley said. "My teammates did well and I was happy to support them."

Boley's best performance was in the 100-yard backstroke where he placed fifth with a time of 55.58 seconds. Following in him in the 100-back were sophomore Matt Wisher (56.79) and Bruce (58.25), who placed 10th and 18th, respectively.

"I got a good start and I worked to keep it up in the end," Boley said.

Boley took eighth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.50). Junior Corey Bacon (1:53.17) was 16th in the 200-free.

"I had an OK race even though it wasn't my best performance," Boley said. "I focused on my turns and hitting the walls."

Bacon (56.58) and junior Scott Feder (58.31) were 18th and 21st, respectively, in the 100-yard butterfly.

"I'm very happy with how I swam," Bacon said. "There is room for improvement and I hope to improve on Saturday [tomorrow at the State Open at Yale], which is my main goal. I have to get ready for YMCA Nationals."

Staples did well in relays with Boley and Bacon playing big roles. Boley, senior captain Mac Mombello, sophomore Kyle Bacon and Cory Bacon led the 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:32.81) to sixth place and in the 400-yard freestyle relay, Boley, Kyle Bacon, Wisher and Corey Bacon powered it to eighth place (3:27.78).

"We were really pumped and went in with a great heart," Cory Bacon said. "We had a positive outlook and we were able to do it."

Wisher, sophomore Joss Abel, Feder and Mombello carried the 200-yard medley relay team (1:44) to eighth place. Wisher (2:03.96), Abel (2:05.44) and Bruce (2:08.70) were 11th, 15th and 21st in the 200-yard individual medley. Mombello was 16th in the 100-yard freestyle (52.32) 23rd in the 50-yard freestyle (23.86).

Kyle Bacon took 21st in the 100-free (52.07). Abel was 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.72) and junior Steve Siecienski scored a point by finishing 24th in the 500-yard freestyle (5:19.53. Siecienski dropped 3.73 seconds from trials.

"I'm extremely happy with our placement," Bruce said. "A lot of guys stepped it up. Steve Siecienski did amazing in his 500. Everyone swam well, especially at trials. We peaked at the right time."