Local Swimming and diving team breaks a pool record

SPRINGVILLE — The Springville-Griffith Institute boys swimming and diving team lost its first meet on Dec. 7 to Lake Shore by a score of 48 – 54. During the loss, the 200-meter free relay team of Ryan O’Hara, Trey Aebly, Don Piatek and Mitch Bunic broke a pool record, with a time of 1:39.95.

“First off, as any coach would be, it’s extremely exciting to see records get broken, knowing full well that this will not be the only record broken, this season,” said Coach Katie Shelley.

“Some of the records have been up there for 10, 15 even 20 years,” Shelley noted. “They have worked hard at practice and are so eager to break their own record again, this season. I try to remind them daily that, what you put into practice is what you’ll get out of a swim meet. And I think they really take that to heart.”

The relay team consisted of one junior and three sophomores. Most of the members have been swimming together since they participated together in the Springville Waves Aquatic Team.

“It’s a great feeling to have,” Shelley said. “I am very proud of them and their accomplishments. I give them all the credit. They are the ones in the pool, putting in the time and accomplishing the challenging workouts. This won’t be the last time you hear about records’ coming down and new ones’ going up. We are all so excited, including the very supportive parents and [the] athletic director.”

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The 200-medley relay of Piaek, Aebly, O’Hara and Bunic finished in first place, with a time of 1:51.83.

Bunic also finished first, in the 200-individual medley. The athlete pulled away, in the last 25 meters, to beat his Lake Shore opponent.

Hunter Louth took third place in diving, which Shelley said was “well-earned.” Nolan West earned first place in the 500-free, Aebly finished first in the breast stroke and the 400-free relay team of O’Hara, West, Piatek and Bunic completed first place finishes for the Griffins.

On Dec. 11, the Griffs avenged their recent loss to Lake Shore with a 69 – 33 win against rival Pioneer. The win included 10 first place finishes from Springville swimmers and divers. The 200-medley relay team of Piatek, Aebly, O’Hara and Bunic continued its winning streak, with a time of 1:53.79. This group has won in all four meets, this year.

West took first in the 200-IM, with a time of 2:33.39 and also won the 500-free. The Griffs finished one and two in the 50-free, as Bunic finished first, with a time of 23.66 and Piatek was behind him, at 25.97. Bunic also took first in the 100-free.

Louth took first in diving, for the third time this year and, in the process, qualified for the Erie County Interscholastic Conference, with a score of 164.63. Sam Sheppard finished second, with a score of 130.73. Piatek took first place in the 100-backstroke, with a time of 1:08.22 and Aebly took first in the 100-breaststroke, with a time of 1:11.72.

The 200-free relay of O’Hara, Elliot Tessmer and Aebly and the 400-free relay team of O’Hara, West, Piatek and Bunic finished off the meet, by taking first place.

Shelley said that the relay team of Garrett Olrogg, Jake Gorski, Trevor Cooper and West had a “great comeback,” as they finished second in the 200-medley. The boys took on Cleveland Hill Union Free School on Friday, Dec. 14.