Sports
Champs Again: Panther Swimmers Take SWC Crown
First place finish despite no individual champions.
The Pomperaug Panthers rode their team depth to a fifth consecutive SWC swimming title, edging rival Brookfield, 597-552 at the meet held at Masuk High School. The Panthers took the overall top spot despite not having an individual champion in the swim portion of the meet. The Panthers divers took the top spot, giving them much needed points to secure the victory.
Coach Fran Pentino has been here before, “My very first year we won states, we won without winning an individual medal.”
The Panthers also got a bump from the Barlow/Immaculate combined team, which finished third overall. Barlow/Immculate didn’t have nearly the team depth of Pomperaug, or rival Brookfield, but what they did have were some very strong swimmers in a few events. That strength did not allow Brookfield to place higher, which in turn kept points out of their column.
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“It was really a total team effort all the way around,” said Pentino. “Our guys are solid for the most part.”
He also realizes that this is just the beginning for the lofty goals he has for his team. “In order for us to have a really good season, to put a cap on it, we have to swim well at states,” he said. “I wouldn’t be happy if this is how we ended the season. We want to challenge for the state title.”
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As for his rival Brookfield, he knows that next year is going to be a challenge to vie for a sixth consecutive league title. “They’re a very young team, and they really only lose one kid.” For now though, the Panthers are SWC champs once again.
Pomperaug returns to action in the state qualifying rounds which begin on March 12th at East Hartford High School.
Overall Team Results:
1. Pomperaug 597
2. Brookfield 552
3. Barlow/Immaculate 311
4. Newtown 293
5. Weston 246
6. New Fairfield 188
7. Masuk 137
8. Oxford 123
9. Bunnell/Stratford Co-op 98
10. Bethel 84
11. New Milford 67
Individual Events:
200 Medley Relay:
1. Brookfield 1:39.73
2. Pomperaug 1:45.0
3. Pomperaug `B' 1:46.43
200 Freestyle:
1. Robby Harder (Barlow/Immaculate) 1:44.76
2. Ryan Murphy (New Fairfield) 1:49.84
3. Drew Krentsa (Brookfield) 1:50.49
200 Individual Medley:
1. Sam Delise (Barlow/Immaculate) 1:59.31
2. Matt Moen (Brookfield) 2:01.01
3. Max Dolan (Pomperaug) 2:05.73
50 Freestyle:
1. Michael Pilyugin (Barlow/Immaculate) 21.67
2. Luciano Souza (Brookfield) 22.56
3. Abben Hung (Newtown) 22.61
100 Butterfly:
1. Jordan Berger (Weston) 53.69
2. Jeff Magin (Brookfield) 53.98
3. Austin McMahon (Pomperaug) 54.90
100 Freestyle:
1. Michael Pilyugin (Barlow/Immaculate) 47.75
2. Luciano Souza (Brookfield) 49.58
3. Phil Brophy (Pomperaug) 50.16
500 Freestyle:
1. Robby Harder (Barlow/Immaculate) 4:33.94
2. Matt Moen (Brookfield) 4:53.36
3. Ryan Murphy (Newtown) 5:00.28
100 Backstroke:
1. Jeff Magin (Brookfield) 54.59
2. Nick Miller (Brookfield) 57.6
3. Jimmy Davey (Pomperaug) 58.18
100 Breaststroke:
1. Jordan Berger (Weston) 1:01.56
2. Sam Delise (Barlow/Immaculate) 1:02.65
3. Janco Cornelius (Brookfield) 1:03.77
400 Freestyle Relay:
1. Barlow/Immaculate 3:16.70
2. Brookfield 3:20.12
3. Pomperaug 3:26.80
