BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
ITHACA — Going into the NYSPHSA Boys’ Swimming Championships the Corning Hawks top seed in an event was Joey Crisco seeded 20th in the 100 breaststroke.
Leaving states the Hawks won three state medals, moving into the top 10 in the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and the breaststroke.
The Hawks team of Crisco, J.P. Sierzant, Shawn DePedro and John McKane took 10th in public school in the medley relay.
Crisco was 10th in the 100 breaststroke and Sierzant, Crisco, McKane and Keith Huff finished ninth in the 200 free relay.
“We are incredibly proud of what this group accomplished this season,” Corning coach Anthony Furstoss said. “Our goal for the swimmers who advanced to states was to come away with at least one top-10 public school finish, and they delivered three.
“That is a tremendous accmomplisment and a credit to their work ethic, growth and ability co compete at a very high level on one of the biggest stages of the season.”
Swimming the first event of the day the Hawks finished in 1:38.26 in the medley relay, 1:37.08 in the prelims. That time came from the far outside lane, lane 10, in the opening event.
“We didn’t really have a chance to really stack our relay at sectionals, so we had a soft goal to make top 10 for those,” Furstoss said. “We are really happy with how they executed today.”
The relay had the perfect mindset going into the day.
“We just pushed ourselves, we had to get in the right mindset,” Crisco said. “Yestrday, before we got there wee were really nervous, but we just showed up and supported each other.”
“It’s all thanks to the coaches, they put together a routine for us,” Sierzant said. “With a different style for each of our sets. I think it worked out really well and we all really let it go today.”
It was special for the relay to bring home a state medal.
“It’s really special,” DePedro said. “There was a lot of mental things we had to take into consideration when preparing, and we all PR’d, which is the nice thing.”
“I think there was a lot of work that went in behind the scenes,” McKane said. “The camaraderie between us really helped. The chemistry and getting ourselves hyped up. Getting ready to go and putting in the work all season, I think it was bound to happen.”
Being in the outside lane would be tough for a lot of teams, but the Hawks used it to their advantage.
“It made us feel like we were sort of the underdogs,” Crisco said. “We couldn’t go any further down, all we could go was up. It felt like it was a relief, like less pressure.”
“Being on the outside is kind of nice, because you know you can’t go anymore down, all you can go is up so that kind of helps you,” DePedro said.
“Being in the outside lane just kind of motivated me,” McKane said. “And, I don’t want to speak for my teammates, but it motivated us to kind of push and move up.”
Having each other to push each other also motivated the members of the relay.
“Personally, I think it was really nice to have my teammates there to hype me up,” Sierzant said. “In my 50 freestyle I didn’t feel quite as hyped and I didn’t do quite as good. but, the medley I was hyped and ready to go.”
Furstoss knows that being on the outside can be a challnege at certain pools, but it was easier at the pool at Ithaca College.
“It’s no pressure, which helps, but at this pool you have those bulkheads next to it, which is better than a walled pool where the waves kind of crash in,” Furstoss said. “Mentally I think it was good, but physically it was fine.”
And, starting the day strong only motivated the Hawks for the rest of the meet.
“I think they were all very nervous to start out, but when they got that first relay and hit their goals for that it really impacted them positively for the rest of the meet,” Furstoss said.
For Crisco that helped carry over to the medley relay, and then his breaststroke later in the day.
“For me, usually I am really hyped up, but also nervous for my first indivudal race, but once I do 2-3 events I get in the groove,” Crisco said.
The Hawks had athletes at states last year, but didn’t have their best day. This year Friday was special as the Hawks swam a 1:28 in the final of the 200 free relay, after a 1:27.65 in the prelims.
“It’s really exciting,” Crisco said. “After last year where we didn’t do as good as we wanted to,” Crisco said. “We still did good, but we didn’t do as good as we wanted to. This year, with Keith (Huff) stepping up as a freshman, he definitely is a big part of our relay being top 10.”
Crisco knew this team was capable of big things.
“I knew when I saw JP at that one dual meet where he got both state cuts (In the 50 and 100 free), I knew our relay was going to do something good this year.”
For Huff it’s special being a part of a medal winning relay as a freshman.
“It is pretty special to be here as a freshman, going with my teammates,” Huff said. “I’m just glad I was able to pull my weight, do what I needed to do and I’m really just grateful for my teammates to get me to where I needed to go.
“It’s pretty incredible, especially with our senior JP, it’s really special to be on this team.”
Crisco swam a 58.73 in the 100 breaststroke.
Crisco was 17th overall in the 200 IM in 1:59.60. He swam a 1:58.68 in the prelims.
Sierzant was 26th overall in the 50 free in 21.93, 21.86 in the prelims. He was 34th in the 100 free in 48.53.
Horseheads’ Thang Tran was 45th in the 100 fly in 54.19. He was 42nd in the 100 back in 57.13.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM STATES:
