Schools
South Windsor High Boys Swimming and Diving Team Performs Well at States
Bobcats are eighth at state Class L meet on March 12.
Fueled by Patrick Savidge’s victory in the 100 breaststroke and second-place finish in the 200 individual medley, the South Windsor High boys swimming and diving team placed eighth out of 22 teams at the State Class L meet on March 12.
Not bad for a team that is in just its third year of competition.
The Bobcats, with nine swimmers and two divers competing in 10 events, scored 341 points. Class L powerhouse Pomperaug won the title with 772 points.
It was Savidge's second state title in as many years. In 2012, he won the 200 IM.
In addition to Savidge’s individual performance, the 200 medley team of senior Timothy Savidge, Patrick Savidge, senior Derek McLean and junior Tyler Vander Vos placed second with a time of 1:39.93. The team was touched out by Pomperaug by .72 of a second.
Vander Vos also placed second in the 100 free with a time of 48.21. He was also sixth in the 50 free, touching out at 22.57, while McLean placed eighth in 23.06.
The 400 freestyle relay team of McClean, Timothy and Patrick Savidge and Vander Vos placed fourth in 3:17.40.
Torri Russo also placed 13th in the diving competition with 280.05 points.
It’s been a successful year for the team, which finished 7-2 on the year.
Head coach Ron Ensling told the Hartford Courant prior to the Class L meet that he was pleased with the team’s performance this year.
"I knew I was inheriting a good team, but didn't know exactly how talented the kids were," Ensling said in an email to the Courant. "The hard work ethic these kids bring to practice makes it easy to do my job. Being a new coach [here] ... my fear was that they wouldn't adopt a new training program. To my surprise, it seems like it has worked out well."
And the season isn’t over just yet for several swimmers.
McLean, Timothy and Patrick Savidge and Vander Vos will compete at the State Open on Saturday.
All four will swim in the 200 medley and the 400 free, while Patrick Savidge will compete in the 100 breaststroke and the 200 IM.
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