Sports

Cranbrook Swimmers Outduel Notre Dame Prep

Cranes honor their senior leaders and prepare for league meets in 149-31 win Tuesday.

 

It was an especially sentimental night for the Cranbook Kingswood Boys Swim and Dive as they and Notre Dame Prep boys’ swim/dive teams squared off in the last dual meet of the season Tuesday night. The host Cranes honored six senior teammates: Drew Branigan, Hyon Kim, Isaac Mooney, Jon Withrow, Alex Hogan (Captain), and Stefan Withrow (Captain). With the majority being 4-year veterans, Head Coach Tony Kurth had stories to share about each swimmer. The team will certainly miss their leadership and camaraderie, but used it as fuel for a 149-31 victory.

With League Meets around the corner for both teams, this meet was short and sweet with only one heat per race.

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The 200 Medley Relay found two Cranbrook teams facing off against the Notre Dame Prep relay team. It was a close race with Cranbrook clinching first and second with times of 1:48.40 and 1:51.61 respectively, and Notre Dame's Guerra, Cain, McGreevy,and Pietroski taking third with a 1:54.85.

Following his Medley Relay swim, CK senior Drew Branigan turned right back around to swim the 200 Freestyle and took third with a time of 1:58.83, just behind teammates Matthew Liu (1:56.46) and fellow senior Alex Hogan (1:56.61).

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The 200 IM saw another Cranbrook sweep and a new D3 State cut for senior Jon Withrow, who turned in a time of 2:08.23. Ben Schneider came in second with a 2:12.79, and Danny Misra took third with a time of 2:14.04.

The 50 Free – always an exciting race to watch – did not disappoint. Notre Dame and Cranbrook swimmers were neck and neck the entire race with Cranbrook’s Stefan Withrow taking first with a 23.95. Crane Peerasorn Chantadansuwon took second with a 24.13, Cranbrook’s Frankie Misra came in third with a 24.20. Notre Dame Prep’s Ruairi McGreevy finished fourth with a 25.24, Will Mullen of Notre Dame in fifth with a 25.67, and Eduardo Cordera of Notre Dame Prep rounding out the group with a 28.48.

Swimmers Ready for Leagues

The Cranbrook swimmers were back to it in the 100 Fly with a “senior sweep” of the event. Captain Alex Hogan took first with a 1:01.01, and seniors Isaac Mooney and Jon Withrow took second and third with times of 1:02.38 and 1:03.16.

The 100 Free and 500 Free were also dominated by Cranbrook swimmers with top spots going to Ben Schneider, Nate Tattrie, and Alessandro Guttilla for the 100; and Mitch Buccalo, Alessandro Guttilla, and Drew Branigan for the 500.

It was time for the 200 Free Relay and some great head-to-head competition. Cranbrook’s team of Buccalo, Hogan, Branigan, and S. Withrow took first with a 1:37.34; Second went to Cranbrook’s Liu, D. Misra, J. Withrow, Tattrie who turned in a 1:37.48,; Notre Dame Prep’s team of Guerra, Pietroski, Rutila, and McGreevy turned in a close third with a 1:43.00.

With the 100 Back, Cranbrook’s Frankie Misra added a State Cut to his accomplishments with a 1:00.18. Peerasorn Chantadansuwon and Stefan Withrow of Cranbrook took second and third, just edging out Notre Dame’s Hayden Guerra who turned in a 1:06.22.

The 100 Breast was also a tight race with Matthew Liu of Cranbrook taking first with a time of 1:01.13. CK’s Mitch Buccalo took second with a 1:10.35, barely touching out Notre Dame’s Brian Cain who came in third with a 1:11.23.

Finally it was time for the 400 Free Relay, and each school had 2 teams in the water. Cranbrook’s team of Hogan, Guttilla, Chantadansuwon, and F. Misra took the race with a 3:34.63, edging out teammates Tattrie, Schneider, Liu, and Mooney who took second with a time of 3:35.28. Notre Dame Prep’s team of Guerra, Pietroski, Varsanik, and McGreevy took third with a 3:59.01, with fellow NDP teammates Mullen, Tatum, Cordera and Cain rounding out the field with a 4:18.48.

Both teams are looking forward to their upcoming League meets.

“This was a great way to end the season, and I am excited to be moving on to the final championship meets,” Cranbrook Head Coach Tony Kurth said.

Notre Dame Prep’s Head Coach Alex Lamerand said he and his team are very excited for Leagues, adding “We are just a few seconds off State cuts for relays.  The boys dropped a ton of time last year, and I am looking forward to more dropped time this year.”

Diving Duel

With no competitor from Notre Dame, Tuesday's diving competition was a battle between Cranbrook divers Ray Gagliardi and Grant Glover. The competition remained in a dead heat until the final dive, when Gagliardi pulled ahead of Glover for the win. Final scores were Gagliardi - 145.19, Glover - 140.03. Head Diving Coach, Scott McHugh said his divers are ready for Leagues and hoping to qualify for Regionals.

This update was provided by Patch reader Carolyn Stevens, a Cranbrook parent that volunteers time to distribute swim team media releases.

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