Swimmers Streak to 10-0

This update provided by assistant coach Colleen Donnelly. If you see a game we were unable to cover, please feel free to send over the score and photos.

The Cranford High School swim team continued their winning streak with a win over Dayton-Brearley Tuesday night 97-73. The team is now 10-0 and is only a few meets away from capturing the first ever Coed Conference Championships in Union County.

Head coach Barbara Kolesa knew she had to use strategy to win Tuesday's meet.  

"I wanted to make sure our line-up was pushed to the max, knowing that Dayton-Brearley would be doing the same," she said. "With that I made some changes to the line-up of the 200 yard medley relay and 500 yard freestyle. Knowing where certain swimmers could help knock off seconds on the final times of the relays was what helped us win the 200 medley relay this time."

The last time Cranford faced Dayton-Brearly, they touched the Cougars out in this event, giving them a four point edge.

"I wanted to make sure this did not happen again," Kolesa said. "By examing the splits specific swimmers have turned in during meets this month, we were able to figure out the fastest relay squad and we won the relay this time."

The 200 Medley Relay team of freshman Christian Woo, freshman Nick Kalafatis, junior Captain Eric Walano, and senior Connor Harkins won the event in 1:53:84.  

Kalafatis also won the 200 yard and 500 yard freestyle events in 2:00:27 and 5:30:32 respectively.

Junior Kathleen French has been working very hard this season, at times attending morning and afternoon practices.  This helped her to have a great meet by swimming a personal best time of 2:25:32 in the 200 yard individual medley with a second place finish, and another personal best of 1:13:27 in the 100 yard breast stroke in which she took first place.  

"Kathleen's energy and enthusiasm for her sport, her teammates, and competition always amazes me," said assistant coach Colleen Donnelly. "Kathleen felt she hit her plateau last month in the breast stroke when she wasn't breaking new times. She put that extra effort in during her practices and really went for it today.  I am so proud of her and her double accomplishment today.

Other strong swims were had by Eric Walano who captured first in the 50 yard freestyle in 23:92, as well as the 100 yard butterfly in 1:02:03. Junior Robert Lento went third in both of his individual events finishing the 50 yard freestyle in 25:21 and the 100 yard freestyle in 59:95.

The Cougars look for continued victories this week when they take on South Plainfield Thursday and a tri-meet with JFK High and Colonia High on Friday.

200 Yard Medley Relay
1st (1:53:84)  Christian Woo, Nick Kalafatis, Eric Walano, Connor Harkins
3rd (2:07:79)  Gabriel Nino, Evan Brawley, Zach Fried, Robert Lento
6th (2:36:61)  Stephanie Bagniewski, Dan Couto, Will Bender, Matt Ghiretti

200 Yard Freestyle
1st (2:00:27)  Nick Kalafatis
3rd (2:21:31)  Dmitry Kotov
4th (2:31:12)  Peter Gallo

200 Individual Medley
2nd (2:25:32)  Kathleen French
4th (2:45:07)  Brian Leu
5th (2:57:76)  Juliet Longo

50 Yard Freestyle
1st (23:92)  Eric Walano
3rd (25:21)  Robert Lento
4th (25:89)  Connor Harkins

100 Yard Butterfly
1st (1:02:03)  Eric Walano
3rd (1:12:03)  Zach Fried
4th (1:13:36)  Megan Byrne

100 Yard Freestyle
2nd (58:12)  Connor Harkins
3rd (59:95)  Robert Lento
5th (1:03:36)  Dmitry Kotov

500 Yard Freestyle
1st (5:30:32)  Nick Kalafatis
3rd (6:34:20)  Katie Pijanowski
4th (6:49:25)  Kelly Miller

200 Yard Freestyle Relay
1st (1:45:32)  Robert Lento, Nick Kalafatis, Connor Harkins, Eric Walano
2nd (1:54:56)  Peter Gallo, Kathleen French, Zach Fried, Kelly Miller
6th  Catherine Burns, Naomi Assaf, Galen Vosseller, Vasyl Nayda

100 Yard Backstroke
2nd (1:04:48)  Christian Woo
4th (1:16:17)  Gabriel Nino
5th (1:20:89)  Megan Byrne

100 Yard Breast Stroke
1st (1:13:27)  Kathleen French
5th (1:20:89)  Evan Brawley
6th (1:25:18)  Kaitlin Hipkin

400 Yard Freestyle Relay
2nd (4:20:42)  Kotov, Gallo, Woo, French
4th (4:52:60)  Katie Pijanowski, Tom Marra, Lori Joseph, Brian Leu
5th (4:57:74)  Kelsey Fried, Megan Pijanowski, Kevin Ostendorf, Juliet Longo