In some ways, a lot of pressure is off Baldwinsville boys swimmers Nick Schultz and Alex Hiltbrand.
That’s because, regardless of what happens in the next month, Schultz and Hiltbrand are guaranteed a spot in the March 2-3 New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship meet at Nassau County Aquatic Center on Long Island.
Schultz earned that spot with his victory in the 100-yard breaststroke during last Saturday’s Salt City Athletic Conference championship meet at Nottingham High School.
Needing a time of one minute, 1.20 seconds to get that state meet berth, Schultz, who had gone 1:02.47 this winter, sped forward and won the race in 1:00.75, beating the standard by nearly half a second and the field by more than two seconds.
Alex Hiltbrand’s big moment came in the 100 freestyle, where he had to beat his brother, Ryan. In 48.54 seconds, Alex eclipsed the state qualifying standard of 48.76 as Ryan got second place in 50.93 seconds.
Another B’ville victory came from John Licciardello, who powered through the 500 freestyle in 5:04.32 to pull away from Liverpool’s J.J. Ross (5:11.68) in second place as Brandon Formoza finished fourth in 5:28.04.
And in the closing race, the 400 freestyle relay, B’ville won as Licciardello, Bailey Ludden, Alex Hiltbrand and Ryan Hiltbrand went 3:26.38 to pull away from runner-up Cicero-North Syracuse (3:35.47) by more than nine seconds.
Earlier in the meet, in the 200 individual medley, Schultz posted 2:05.95 to finish second behind Jamesville-DeWitt/CBA’s Chris Bushnell, who won in 2:03.50.
Ludden, eighth in the 100 freestyle, got to fourth place in the 50 freestyle in 23.90 seconds, with Brandon Formoza 10th in 24.52 seconds. John Burns was eighth in the 200 IM in 2:24.28, but improved to fifth place in the 100 butterfly in 1:01.59.
Schultz, Licciardello and the Hiltbrand brothers finished third in the 200 medley relay in 1:41.63, with Ludden joining Licciardello and the Hiltbrands for third place in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:33.08. Jamus Socker was 10th in the 200 freestyle in 2:08.21.
The Bees had little trouble during last Tuesday’s meet against the combined Syracuse City team, prevailing 53-32 and improving its overall record to 7-2.
Alex Hiltbrand and Ryan Hiltbrand each won two races in the early going. In the 200 IM, Alex Hiltbrand prevailed in 2:06.70 and then beat the field in the 100 butterfly in 56.24 seconds.
As for Ryan Hiltbrand, he needed 1:59.53 to dominate the 200 freestyle before going to the 100 freestyle and prevailing in 53.07 seconds over Ludden, who was second in 55.43 seconds.
In the 50 freestyle, Ludden, in 24.28 seconds, beat out Formoza (25.20 seconds) in a 1-2 B’ville effort. Licciardello rolled to victory in the 500 freestyle in 5:07.66 as Schultz swam the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.59 and Smith had a time of 1:09.47 in the 100 backstroke.
Schultz, Licciardello and the Hiltbrand brothers swam the 200 medley relay in 1:45.25, with Formoza, Ludden and Schultz joining Alex Hiltbrand as they won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:36.92. To close the meet, Licciardello, Ludden, Formoza and Hiltbrand went 3:39.76 in the 400 freestyle relay.
B’ville visits Mexico this Thursday night and then starts to gear up for the Section III championships that take place Feb. 15 and 17 at Nottingham High School.
