The six Wreckers swimmers from Staples High School today placed eighth at the state open swimming championships at the six-lane amphitheater pool at Yale University.
Max Wimer competes in the 200-yard freestyle event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
The team was led by senior Daniel Williams who was declared the co-champ in the 500-yard freestyle after an ultra-rare dead heat in high school swimming’s longest and most grueling event.
Williams trailed Karl Bishop from Cheshire who seemed to dominate the race with a comfortable lead until the final 100 yards, when Williams, trailing by two body lengths, started to surge.
The crowd at the arena grew loud as Williams caught Bishop about 10 yards from the finish and big cheers erupted when the scoreboard reported matching times of 4:35.61.
“it was a tough race for me,” said Williams. “I am really focused on YMCA Nationals which starts March 30th, and I am still training hard for that meet. It feels great to finish so strong.”
Williams also placed seventh in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:55.88.
Other Wreckers at the meet included North Woods, who placed fifth in the 100 breast stroke (59.59) and 14th in the 100 yard freestyle (48.62).
During the swim season, Woods also broke the Staples High School 100-meter breaststroke school record that had stood since 1986 with a time of 1:08.11.
Senior Max Wimer finished 12th in the 200 freestyle (1:46.65), senior Ethan Hunter finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.07), junior Mark Schachter placed 23rd in the 100 butterfly (55.27), and junior Harrison Napp finished 23rd in the 100 back stroke (57.57).
