Avon wins final race to capture CCC North White championship meet

The Avon High boys swim team beat Wethersfield by 4 1/2 points to win the CCC North White championship meet Friday.

WETHERSFIELD, March 4 – It came down to one last race Friday at the CCC North White Division boys swimming championships. The winner of the final race – the 400-yard freestyle relay — would take home the championship trophy.

In the end, it was no contest. Avon won the race by more than six seconds and won the CCC North White Division championship meet by 4½ points over Wethersfield, 316½ to 311. Avon’s team of Andre Richards, Maks Jaremko, Kyle Emery and Riley Strassner finished first with a meet-record time of 3:25.98, far ahead of Wethersfield, which was second in 3:32.32

Newington was third with 224½ points followed by E.O. Smith/Tolland co-op (204), Rocky Hill (147) and Hartford Public (54).

Avon won four events and two relays to win the meet. Strassner won the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle while Jaremko won the 500 free and Emery captured the 100 backstroke with a meet-record time of 55.11 seconds. Emery, Sam Johnson, Strassner and Andre Richards won the 200-yard medley relay by six seconds over Wethersfield.

Wethersfield (7-2, 5-0 CCC North White) won the league title with a perfect record in the division including a 101-82 win over the Falcons on February 9. Avon, in its first year in the Central Connecticut Conference, had one of its best seasons ever with an 11-4 record, 4-1 in the CCC North White.

Avon wasn’t aiming to win the championship meet. Their goal was to continue preparations for the upcoming Class M championships and swim well.

Avon’s depth in the freestyle, breast stroke and back stroke was key. Avon had three of the top four swimmers in the 100 freestyle, three of the top eight in the 500 free, three of the top six in the 100 backstroke and three of the top eight in the 100 breast stroke. Andre Richards (50 free), Kyle Emery (100 free) and Brendan Downey (diving) each finished second in their respective races.

The girls on Avon’s team also contributed with significant points. Ryley Higgins was fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:03.97) with Megan Boswell (1:04.51) in sixth place. In the 500 freestyle, Jaremko won in 5:14.94 while Sarah Preleski (5:28.74) was fifth Emily Boswell (5:51.11) was eighth.

In the 100 butterfly, Megan Foley (1:01.81) was sixth with Anne Hayes (1:03.05) taking seventh and Kayla Bucci (1:05.98) finishing ninth. Cristina Samaniego was sixth in diving with 140.60 points.

Avon broke four meet records in the 200 medley relay, the 400 freestyle relay and the 200 freestyle (Strassner) and 100 backstroke (Emery). Prior to the realignment of the league with the addition of Avon, this CCC North White division was called the CCC East.

CCC North White championship meet
At Wethersfield
Team results – 1. Avon 316½, 2. Wethersfield 311, 3. Newington 224½, 4. E.O. Smith/Tolland 204, 5. Rocky Hill 147, Hartford Public 54
Individual winners and Avon swimmers that scored points.
200 medley relay: 1. Avon (Emery, Johnson, Strassner, Richards) 1:43.04, new meet record. Old mark, Wethersfield, 1:44.02, 2014
200 free: 1. Riley Strassner (A) 1:47.48, new meet record. Old record Matt Gerarde, 1:50.12, 2012; 3. Maks Jaremko (A) 1:56.16, 8. Sarah Preleski (A) 2:01.05
200 IM: 1. Mark Sullivan (RH) 2:11.27, 12. Ryley Higgins (A) 2:25.11
50 free: 1. Colin Stewart (W) 23.74, 2. Andre Richards (A) 23.81, t8. Alex Traktoveritto (A) 24.74, 10. Jared Culbertson 24.92
Diving: 1. Ray Neistat (New) 266.0, 2. Brendan Downey (A) 192.90, 6. Cristina Samaniego (A) 140.6
100 free: 1. Riley Strassner (A) 49.34, new record. Old record, Jack Malespini, 50.00, 2014; 2. Kyle Emery (A) 50.88, 4. Andre RIchards (A) 52.49
100 fly: 1. Austin Bovino (W) 57.69, 6. Megan Foley (A) 1:01.81, 7. Annie Hayes (A) 1:03.05, 9. Kayla Bucci (A) 1:05.98
500 free: 1. Max Jaremko (A) 5:14.94, 5. Sarah Preleski (A) 5:28.74, 8. Emily Boswell (A) 5:51.11
200 free relay: 1. Wethersfield 1:35.96, 3. Avon (Austin Matterson, Ricky Garcia, Michael Allo, Elias Bitzarakis) 1:39.31
100 backstroke: 1. Kyle Emery (A) 55.11, new meet record. Old mark, 56.46, 2013; 4. Ryley Higgins (A) 1:03.97, 6. Megan Boswell (A) 1:04.51
100 breast: 1. Cole Tamburri (EOS) 1:04.45, 4. Sam Johnson (A) 1:07.44, 7. Alec Traktovenko (A) 1:10.04, 8. Jared Culbertson (A) 1:10.60
400 free relay: 1. Avon (Andre Richards, Maks Jeremko, Kyle Emery, Riley Strassner) 5:25.98, new meet record. Old Mark 3:27.91, Wethersfield, 2013.

2016 CCC North White Championship meet results