When the Liverpool boys swim team routed Watertown 104-73 on Jan. 3, it only marked the beginning of a busy stretch where it would compete in three meets in a six-day span.
But the Warriors would brush them all aside, as it followed up the big effort against the Cyclones with a solid 97-86 victory over visiting West Genesee last Tuesday night.
Despite the Wildcats’ 4-1 mark, it could not match Liverpool’s depth, which was on display right from the outset as Nick Burdo, paired with Troy Miller, Liam Henry and Matt Petit, tore through the 200-yard medley relay in one minute, 40.44 seconds for the first of many victories.
Not stopping there, Burdo would post the fastest Section III time of the winter in the 100 freestyle, posting 47.15 seconds. Minutes later, Burdo, paired again with Miller, Henry and Petit, would go 1:30.26 to earn first place in the 200 freestyle relay.
Petit would prevail in the 50 freestyle, getting to a time of 23.72 seconds, while Henry engaged in a close 100 butterfly with Connor Thiel, earning the win in 55.64 seconds as Thiel (57.83 seconds) settled for the runner-up spot. James Hunter needed 5:39.32 to prevail in the 500 freestyle.
Nick Matthews had to do well in diving, posting 251.5 points to pull away from WG’s Peter Bowman (220.1 points), with Griffin O’Neil winning the 200 individual medley in 2:21.71 and finishing second (1:02.51) to the Wildcats’ Matt O’Donnell (1:02.02) in the 100 backstroke.
Just two nights later, the Warriors were at Baldwinsville, where no diving competition took place, changing the point structure –but Liverpool still won with ease, handling the Bees 55-39.
Given the tight schedule, the Warriors’ top swimmers limited themselves to relay duties, which led to a sweep. Burdo, Griffin, Miller and Trevor Thompson went 1:48.26 in the 200 medley, with Tyler Popp joining Miller, Petit and Burdo to go 1:35.20 in the 200 freestyle as Thiel, James Hunter, Kamen McIlroy and Andrew Phan swam the 400 freestyle relay in 3:47.83.
Individually, J.J. Ross was victorious in the 200 freestyle in 2:01.27, while Luke Rogers went 1:01.53 in the 100 butterfly to prevail. O’Neil, in 5:37.28, outlasted Hunter (5:43.47) in the 500 freestyle. B’ville’s Ryan App (50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) and John Sidorakis (200 IM, 100 backstroke) won two races apiece.
