Stagg set pool records in two relays Saturday on its way to edging Brother Rice for the Lockport Sectional title, but that’s not why tears welled up in the eyes of Chargers All-Stater Zack Amendola.
For the first time after a close call last year, Amendola’s twin brother, Nick, qualified for the state meet in an individual event. His second-place time of 52.62 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke beat the qualifying standard (53.86).
“Nobody deserves it more than him,” Zack Amendola said. “He has worked the hardest I’ve ever seen him. It brought tears to my eyes because he’s been a fingernail close to the state cut.”
A slim margin also brought Stagg its second straight sectional championship. The Chargers scored 264 points to barely beat out Rice with 260. Sandburg finished close behind in third (251), Lockport was fourth (223) and Shepard fifth (99) in the 12-team meet.
“It being my senior year, it’s such a great feeling to win it a second time in a row,” Stagg’s Evan Johnson said.
To capitalize on the double scoring potential of the relays, Stagg coach Jason Carr used the top foursome of the Amendolas, Johnson and Lucas Smiarowski in all three relays, and it paid off with three wins.
The group opened the meet with a pool-record 1:34.17 in the 200 medley relay and set another pool record of 1:25.46 in the 200 freestyle relay. The foursome nearly made it three records with a winning 3:08.62 in the 400 freestyle relay to end the meet.
“Instead of them swimming two individuals and two relays, those four swam three relays and one individual,” Carr said. “The Monday after conference, I showed them the results from state last year. We have a goal of trying to hit top 10 at state.”
In addition to the relay points, Stagg got first places from Smiarowski in the 200 individual medley (1:53.63, pool record), Johnson in the 50 free (21.38) and Zack Amendola in the 100 butterfly (51.35).
“It’s unbelievable knowing that every single person stepped up,” Zack Amendola said.
“My seniors that are leaving just worked their butts off these last four years,” Carr said.
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Another pool record went to Brother Rice All-Stater James Ryan, who won the 100 breaststroke in 57.45. Teammate Ray Adams (59.80) also beat the 1:00.50 state standard.
A first-time state qualifier, Sandburg sophomore Aiden Farley won the 200 freestyle (1:45.72) and the 500 free (4:43.85).
“It’s definitely the best meet I’ve ever had,” Farley said. “I surprised myself a lot in those two events. I’m really happy about it.”
Sandburg’s Jake Gobielle took first in the 100 freestyle (48.28) and Kevin Stratton won the 100 backstroke (52.23).
Sandburg’s second-place medley relay of Stratton, Dylan Comiskey, Josh Lang and Gobielle also broke the pool record (1:35.76) in qualifying for the state meet.
Rice qualified two relays–its runner-up 400 relay of Aaron Payne, Cole Gienosky, Luke Healy and Tommy Davey (3:13.27), and the third-place medley relay of Solomon Gienosky, Ryan, Healy and Payne (1:36.62). Davey also qualified in the 500 free (4:45.90).
The sectional diving title went to Lockport’s Michael Howard (412.15). The Porters’ second-place 200 freestyle relay of Steven Howell, Eric Johnson, Haddy Khatib and Matt Cavanaugh earned a thrilling state berth with a 1:27.33, just beating the 1:27.93 qualifying standard.
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer.