Yet another championship quest is underway for the Liverpool boys swim team, and before the calendar even turned to December, it had passed one of its sternest CNY Counties League tests.
West Genesee paid a visit Wednesday night, and it was a competitive meet full of quick times, but the Warriors’ depth and double wins from Tom Griffin and J.J. Ross helped the hosts prevail over the Wildcats 99-87.
Griffin started out his night helping Matt Geary, James Hunter and Dan Stapleton win the 200-yard medley relay in one minute, 47.95 seconds. Then he swam the 100 freestyle in 50.69 seconds to get past WG’s Nate Gdula (51.36 seconds) as Geary finished third in 51.91 seconds.
In the 200 freestyle relay, Griffin paired with Ross, Geary and Curtis Merrick to finish first in 1:33.26, right before the 100 backstroke, where Griffin claimed a second individual title in 1:02.11, with Kyle Richardson (1;05.81) in third place.
Ross prevailed in an exciting 200 freestyle, going 1:54.27 to fend off WG’s Nate Gdula (1:55.75) for the top spot. Moving on to the 100 buttterfly, Ross again beat the field, his time of 56.14 seconds well clear of Brandon Nguyen (1:04.93) in second place.
Merrick needed 2;14.22 to pull away in the 200 individual medley, more than 12 seconds ahead of the Wildcats’ Zach Zoanetti (2:26.33). Griffin O’Neill was just as dominant in the 500 freesatyle, winning in 5:19.32
Hunter was second (24.21 seconds) behind WG’s Evan Tuthill (23.99 seconds) in the 50 freestyle, while Brennan Matthews was third in the diving competition with 186.1 points and Stapleton was third (1;11.24) in the 100 breaststroke. Liverpool has another home meet next Wednesday against Auburn.
