NHS swimmers post new records

It has been 16 years since Newark varsity boys swimming was prepared to challenge the best swimmers in Section 5.

At the Section 5 Class B finals held at the University of Rochester, Newark scored 222 points, broke four long-standing school records, earned three Sectional championships, and recorded many personal best performances.

In the 200 medley relay, the team of Ben Compton, Brendan Morrissey, Rick Nichols, and Tom Alberts, swam 1.43.09, shattering the old school record of 1.44.76 set in 1986 by Gordon Devens, Kevin Ingraham, Walt Crothers, and Rob Goodman. This performance earned second place in Section 5 class B.

In the 200 freestyle, sophomore Rick Nichols became the first section 5 champion from Newark in 16 years. His time of 1:46.83 eclipsed the old school record held by Rob Gadjo from 1981.

Alberts finished third with a personal best time of 1:52.48.

In the 200 individual medley, both Ben Compton and Brendan Morrissey swam personal best times. Compton finished in 6th place with a time of 2:16.46. Morrissey won the consolation race and ninth place in 2:14-32.

In the 100 fly, Travis Bean swam to a 12th place with a personal best time of 1:01.80.

The 100 free was won by Nichols, his second individual Sectional title of the meet. His time of 48.19 broke the school record held by Rob Gadjo since 1981. His time also qualified him for the New York State Championships at West Point, February 28-March 1.

Alberts swam a strong 500 Freestyle to win the consolation finals in 5:15.60 to take 9th place.

The team of Morrissey, Paul Scarpati, Bean, and Ben Williams swam to a seventh-place finish in the 200 free relay in 1:39.52.

Compton swam a personal best time in the 100 backstroke in 58.85, which placed him fourth.

Morrissey shattered his personal best time (100 breast) in 1:03.93 and a finished fourth.

The 400 free relay was the race of the day. It pitted powerhouse Spencerport vs. the Reds. Alberts led of for Newark with a fast :49.76 followed by Compton :51.75 and Bean :54.88, all personal best splits. Nichols, the anchor leg, was nearly two seconds behind when he began the final 100 free. Spencerports Landon Fears, the 50-free champion was the anchor for Spencerport. Nichols slowly narrowed the gap until the last five yards, when he caught Fears at the wall. Both teams finished with the identical time of 3:23.04 and finished as co-Sectional 400 free relay champions. Nichols final split was :47.24.

The winning time was another school record, the fourth of the day. The old record of 3:23.97 was set in 1980 by Bruce Harvey, Rob Gadjo, Craig Seely, and John Gadjo.

Newark's 222 points and fourth-place finish are outstanding accomplishments for a small team. Nichols was named Secton 5 Swimmer of the Meet.

The varsity team is coached by Katie Amyot, a 14-year veteran of Fairport swimming, and currently assisting with the successful Newark Dragons Swim Club. Her assistant is Corey Cox Hartman from Palmyra.

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