Loyola Swimming: "Why not us?"
Dons end McDonogh's reign over the MIAA A Conference and their own championship drought
by Derek Toney
Before jumping into the pool with his Loyola Blakefield swim team after Saturday’s MIAA A championship meet, coach Gordon Amato succinctly summarized the Dons’ effort.
“Someone had to win, why not us,” he said.
The Dons ended their championship drought and McDonogh’s reign at Loyola University’s Mangione Aquatic Center. Loyola outlasted the Eagles, 494-484.5, with Gilman (287.5) a distant third.
Loyola got contributions from all over its roster, claiming its first championship meet crown since 2016. The Dons, who won 15 of the first 16 championship meet titles, were runner-up in the previous five meets (there was no championship meet in 2021 because of COVID-19).
The wait ended Saturday for Terry McQuaid and his Loyola teammates.
"I was hoping this would happen for a long time and I'm glad it happened this year," said McQuaid, a four-year letterwinner. "We were fighting for this the last couple of years."
After placing second last year, McQuaid broke through, winning the 100-meter backstroke in 49.59 seconds, headlining a critical momentum swing for Blakefield. The Dons went 1-2-3 in the event with juniors Matthew Cattaneo and Lucas Wright following McQuaid, who was runner-up in the 100 butterfly.
Freshman Daniel Branon placed first in the 200 individual medley (1:50.6) and 500 freestyle (4:29.6) for Loyola, continuing a family championship tradition. Branon's brother, Patrick, won the 200 and 500 freestyle events at last year's championship meet. Older brother Ryan (Texas) won the 200 freestyle crown in 2022.
With competitive juices in his blood, Daniel Branon said the Dons were "locked in" Saturday.
"We've been working for this and we knew we had to show our A-game to win," said Branon, who trains daily with brother Patrick. "We were determined and it worked out."
Junior Harrison Belbot placed second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle with brother Spencer, a freshman, claiming third in the 200 individual medley and 100 breastroke. Catteneo, a junior who missed last season with a back injury, finished third in the 50 freestyle and was the lead leg on the second-place 200 medley relay.
Loyola needed every ounce Saturday to finally wrestle the crown from McDonogh, which got dynamic efforts from Caiden Bowers and Langston Duncan.
Bowers, who will perform for Cal next season, won his third straight 100 butterfly (47.03) and second consecutive 100 breastroke (54.64). His winning times were championship meet records and qualified for All-America honors by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.
Duncan, a junior, posted a three-peat in the 500 freestyle (20.7) and placed first in the 100 freestyle (46.1). Duncan and Bowers also picked up first-place honors in the 200 medley (1:31.74; Connor Tiffin and Mark Cherches) and 200 freestyle (1:24.24; Cherches and Alexander North) relays, posting All-America times in both.
McDonogh coach Scott Ward said several factors conspired against his squad claiming a sixth championship Saturday, none bigger than a deep and determined Loyola squad.
"They (Loyola) swam outstanding, Gordon had his boys ready to go," said Ward. "Their depth was more stronger at the top."
Mount St. Joseph senior Nicolo Gurri won the 200 freestyle (1:39.49) title after placing fourth last year. Gilman won the 400 relay (3:06.13; Max Kunisak, Yaroslav Mytsak, Bogdan Mytsak and Jackson Heether), aiding its third-place finish.
Loyola, which won the regular season meet crown, won its 21st championship meet title Saturday. The Dons and McDonogh are the only programs to win the A Conference regular season and championship meet titles since the MIAA started competition in the 1995-96 school year.
"The boys put everything they had on the line today," said Amato. "From the very beginning in the morning they were so focused and knew what we needed to do, and to put together what they did was really impressive."