2014 radically altered the record books at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center over the weekend. State records fell in 10 of 12 events, and some by wide margins in what was the fastest state meet in the history of the event.
Fordham Prep won the team title by over 150 points while winning 3 of the meet’s final 4 events. The driving force was senior Patrick Conaton, who was a part of all three titles.
First, he led off the 200 free relay in 20.76, Fordham’s fastest split even with a flat start. He passed the baton to Michael Verini, Oliver Patrouch and Richard Mannix who sealed a win for Fordham in a state record 1:23.84. Patrouch was also 20.8 on that relay.
Conaton came back in the very next event to win and set a state record of 48.53 in the 100 back. He had to hold off Ryan Gordon of Shenendehowa, who was also under the old state record, going 48.78.
Finally, Conaton led off Fordham’s 400 free relay in 45.02, a few tenths faster than he went in the open 100, to power the team to yet another state title. Conaton, Patrouch, Declan Kennon and Mannix went 3:05.28 to win by four seconds, just a few tenths off their state record of 3:04.88 set in prelims.
The only race Conaton lost on the day was to Hauppauge double-individual winner Justin Plaschka. The senior broke three state records while dominating a pair of individual races. He went 1:47.83 to win the 200 IM, then topped Conaton with a blazing 43.70 in the 100 free. He also broke the state record in the 50 free, leading off Hauppauge’s 200 free relay in 20.08 at prelims. He would also go 20.11 on the relay at finals for the two fastest swims in state history.
Ithaca’s Ryan Nicholson won three events and set two state records of his own. He split 21.2 swimming fly on Ithaca’s state championship 200 medley relay. Together with Faadhil Moheed, Noah Frost-Clapp and Francis Schickel, he put up a 1:33.83 to run away with the event ahead of Plaschka’s Hauppauge team.
Nicholson, also a senior, returned to win the 50 free in 20.25 and the 100 fly in 48.14, both dominating wins and his prelims time now stands as a new state record in the 100 fly at 47.76. That 50 time would have also been a state record had Hauppauge’s Plaschka not lowered the mark in prelims.
Also setting state records were Pittsford’s Patrick Ransford in the 500 free (4:21.06) and Smithtown’s Ben Cono in the 100 breast (54.72). Both are seniors. Other state titles went to Jack Boyd of Canisus in the 200 free (he went 1:37.31 and was also second to Ransford in that 500) and Dan Roche of Liverpool in diving (565.80).
Full results are available on the Meet Mobile app, listed under “2014 NYS Federation Swimming & Diving.”
Top 5 Teams
1. Fordham Prep 316
2. Liverpool 143
3. Pittsford 137
4. Ithaca 130
5. Canisus 118
As a former NY State public high school swimmer, I’ve never understood why private schools like Fordham Prep, which recruit and give scholarships to swimmers, are allowed to compete against public high schools.
They don’t give scholarships
Fordham Prep may not, but other private schools that compete with public schools do. Ursuline School in New Rochelle actively recruited and gave scholarships to girls in the 1990s, when I was competing.
I’m not sure where you get your information from sir but you are clearly misinformed. Fordham prep doesn’t give athletic scholarships. Either way that is why there are two separate meets in one: the federation meet which includes private schools and the public high school meet which is only public schools. It doesn’t make sense to me that you would not want these schools to compete given that they clearly improve the competition and overall quality and excitement of the meet.
Fordham Prep may not have scholarships, but other schools do. Ursuline School in New Rochelle did, in the 1990s, when I was competing. Certain private schools also competed at the public school state meet – the New York State PUBLIC High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) State Championships. In fact, some private schools, such as Ursuline, ONLY compete against public school teams. For girls, at least, there was only one state championship that public school athletes had access to, and I suspect it’s the same situation for men. I’ve never heard of any public school athlete competing at a “federation” high school state meet in New York.
They might “improve the quality” of a meet, but it’s an unfair contest when… Read more »
Ryan Nicholson broke the 100 fly record in prelims with 47.76.
Justin Plaschka actually broke the record set by Ryan Nicholson with a 20.08 leading off in the 200 yard freestyle relay minutes later.
Swimmerkid – thanks for the heads up! Hauppauge’s splits weren’t available on Meet Mobile since their relay was DQ’d at finals, but I was able to verify that Plaschka did break the 50 free record on a leadoff split. Article is updated to include it above.
Some really outstanding swims at this meet. They set the bar high for next year.