Loyola Blakefield and Severn swimmers seek championship repeats

by Nelson Coffin

Having snapped McDonogh’s five-season reign atop the A Conference, Loyola Blakefield hopes to capture its second straight swimming title at the MIAA championship meet in February.

Severn’s B Conference three-peat bid could give the Admirals four out of the last five crowns. 

That said, Gilman and McDonogh won’t be pushovers in an A Conference chase that also includes Archbishop Spalding, Mount St. Joseph and Calvert Hall College.

The Admirals are likely to face a fierce challenge from St. Mary’s, which. like Severn, has prevailed in all three of its meets this winter.

A CONFERENCE

Loyola Blakefield appears to have what it takes to take a title for the second straight yea and 22nd time since the 1995-1996 campaign. 

The Dons exude depth and talent with senior co-captains Harry Belbot (100/200 freestyles) and Dominic Feracci (100 backstroke/200 free) leading the way. Belbot is committed to Tufts University.

Drew Turk (100 back/sprint free) and diver Oliver Black are two senior standouts on a team that features a dozen of them.

Liam McQuaid (100 butterfly/individual medley), Ian Durham (500/200 free) and Sal Anello IV (500 free/IM) are the top juniors with Spencer Belbot (500 free/IM) a sophomore on the rise.

Loyola coach Gordon Amato said that his team “is always looking for top spots in the MIAAs.”

The Dons also like to make their mark in the National Catholic Championships, an event they have won three straight times.

This week, Loyola swimmers will embark on the annual 100-mile swim, a staple at the school that will raise funds for the  Baltimore Hunger Project.

There will be at least one swimmer knocking out laps in the pool from noon on Thursday to 3 p.m. Friday to cover the distance, including the wee hours of the morning.

“That’s my favorite time,” Amato said, noting that’s when the Dons are most likely to doze off on or around the pool deck and adjoining areas. “The lights are out because most of the boys are sleeping. All you can hear is the splashing (from the lone swimmer).” 

McDonogh should be Loyola’s most viable opponent, considering the number of returners dotting the Eagles’ roster.

With senior Mason Bainbridge being the team’s emotional leader and a slew of eager veterans hoping to return the title to Owings Mills, McDonogh could battle the Dons down to the wire this winter.

Captains Mark Cherches (free/medley relays, 200 free) and Owen Patterson (100 free/back) join Northwestern commit Langston Duncan (sprint fee, medley relay) and CJ Meier (25 points in last year’s championship meet, IM/breast) as McDonogh’s top senior point producers.

Bofeng Shu (16 pts., 200 free/back), Rahul Shahani (8 pts., IM/500 free) and Jack Mislow (27 pts., fly/back) are juniors on the rise with sophomores Ethan Davies (distance free), Maxwell Jackson (100/200 free), Riley Poirier (7 pts., distance free) and Zehe Wickham (15 pts., sprint free) coming on strong.

“We’re in the hunt,” McDonogh coach Scott Ward said. “The boys have a chance.”

The showdown at Loyola (Jan. 23), Ward said, “should be really close. But it will be Loyola’s Senior Day, so that will be a challenge. But that's what makes it fun. We’re hoping some of the younger guys will rise up. We want everyone to believe that if you’re on the team, you can contribute.”

Gilman will feature senior captain Jackson Heether (sprint free), the top point-scorer for the Greyhounds at last year’s championship meet.

Classmate and fellow captain Max Kunisaki (Villanova University commit will use his versatility to compete “in a number of individual events where he can place in the top three,” Gilman coach Vaughn Smith said. “So we'll be evaluating where to place him as the championships approach.”

Junior Myles Koff falls into the same category as Kunisaki in terms of swimming a variety of events for the Greyhounds.

Freshmen Charlie Dieveney and Kyan Siri “are off to a very productive start, and, hopefully, can contribute to big individual points and relay points at championships,” Smith said.

Although Gilman is typically the third-best A Conference finisher, Smith has designs on “bumping up to second, or if things fall into place for us, perhaps claim the 'ship,’” he concluded.

Senior captains Billy Connor (University of Cincinnati commit, 200 IM/500 free), Lawson Cate (200 IM/100 back) and Josh Mundy (sprint free/100 fly) give Archbishop Spalding coach Chip Helferstay plenty of experience in a lineup that also includes juniors Will Rosenthal (200/500 free/100 back), Bennett Reed (100/200 free/100 fly), Carter Williams (200/500 free), Tim Williams (100/200 free), Cody Winn (100 fly/100 breast), and David Stanley (sprint free).

Sophomores Jack Garvey (100 breast/200 IM) and Aubrey Henderson (100 fly/sprint free) are the core youngsters on a team that will also welcome newcomers, sophomores Cole Lewis (500 free/100 back) and freshmen Collin Hutzell (sprint free) and Foster Linehan (200 IM/100 fly), to the fold.

“We hope to keep breaking team records and achieve goals we have as a team,” Helferstay said. “We are shooting for third place at the MIAA Championships, as last year we finished fourth, which was our best finish in team history. With our team over 90% of our points returning this year, we are expecting to have the best year in team history again.

B CONFERENCE

Severn’s three-peat chances are bright because senior Harlen Erskine (sprint free), juniors Court Barrett (back) and Callum Olenec (sprint free) and sophomores Reid Gonzalez (breast) and Rhett Walker (200 free/breast) are back on board for the Admirals.

Freshmen Gavin Monaldo (distance free) and Nate Michalski (sprint free) add to the team’s bounty.

Severn coach Erin Domenech said that the Admirals are “gearing up for another exciting season following last year's incredible achievements. With a roster of 27 talented swimmers, the team is coming off an undefeated season and a well-earned MIAA championship title. Building on that momentum they are focused on defending their championship and continuing their streak of success in the pool.”

St. Mary’s coach Allyson Reiter said that her team will work hard despite the lack of a large roster.

Senior Aidan Pongratz (sprint free) and juniors Ethan Lowe (IM) and Thomas Tollefson (fly) will play important roles for the Saints this winter. 

Sophomores freestylers Brendan Peck and Parker Norton round out the team with freshman flyer William Cylc also making an impact.

“St. Mary’s, like other small schools, succeeds because of the many multi-sport athletes who take a spot on the roster to represent their school,” Reiter said. “Swimming is not the primary sport for most of our team.  While this leaves the team competing for the student athletes’ time, these athletes bring their drive, competitive mindset and physical strength for the betterment of the team.”