Exciting County Meet Ends With Uncertain Future

All great things must come to an end.

Sadly, that was the lesson learned by the boys and girls from the Lake Isle Swimming & Diving Team Thursday afternoon, as their run of six-straight Westchester County overall team titles came to an end. With the last race of the 2011 Counties completed, and all the points from three days of competition tallied up, Lake Isle finished third in the combined team scores, 10 points behind second place Chappaqua and 15 more behind winners Greenburgh. The Bronxville Field Club finished 20th overall with 38 points.

Although a seventh-straight team title was ultimately the goal heading into the week, Lake Isle Head Coach Kevin Lavelle knew going into the championships it would be a tough feat to accomplish.

“We’re definitely happy with third place,” Lavalle said. “It was a tough year. There were so many good swimmers and good teams. Chappaqua came out of nowhere from Northern Westchester and did an amazing job, we knew Greenburgh was going to be the team to beat coming in and Scarsdale came in right behind us. There’s so much competition out there that we knew it’d be tough.”

Despite their impressive run coming to an end, Lake Isle still had much to smile about Thursday afternoon, as they won the overall boys title for the first time since 2008, scoring an impressive 153.5 points – 40 clear of second place Scarsdale – and receiving a number of individual awards and accolades.

Nick Torres, 9, wrapped up an incredible week of competition by securing the 10 & Under boys High Point award, as he finished the County Championships a perfect four-for-four in individual events, scoring a perfect 36 points. In the meet’s last session, Torres took home the 10 & Under boys 50 Yard Butterfly, finishing in a time of 31.62 seconds. Teammate Aidan Bowers, who finished third in the 10 & Under High Points standings, was second in the event in 32.89 seconds.

Also wrapping up a successful week at the Playland pool was 15-year-old Declan Kennon, who was crowned County champion Thursday after finishing first in the 17 & Under boys 200 IM in a time of 2 minutes and 5.48 seconds, five seconds a head of teammate Sora Shiraishi who placed sixth in the event.

Another local swimmer who made his mark at this year’s championship meet was Bronxville Field Club’s Patrick Conaton, who tied for first place in the 17 & Under boys High Point standings with 18 points and took home two County titles this week. After winning the 17 & Under boys 100 Yard Freestyle on Wednesday, Conaton took first place in the 17 & Under boys 100 Yard Backstroke, finishing in a time of 56.08 seconds, just over a second behind meet record holder Jim Flannery, also of the Bronxville Field Club.

Like so many swimmers who competed this week, Conaton grew up taking part in the historic County meet, which he said despite being both physically and emotionally taxing remains one of the highlights of his athletic calendar and career.

“I felt good coming in, even though the delays definitely changed the mindset of everything,” Conaton said. “Overall you just have to say mentally tough and stick through it. You just have to keep swimming your own race and go out and do your best. It’s kind of like a tradition to come here. I’m honored to be a part of it and it’s just a great experience. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

Sadly, and largely due to budget issues, this week’s County meet will most likely be the last one held at the Playland pool, its home for the last 50 years. In a gesture aimed at paying tribute to the historic venue and the countless volunteers that have made the meet possible over the years, Regina Riley – wife of former President of the Westchester County Swimming Association (WCSA) Edward Riley who served for 30 years – handed out medals to participants at Thursday’s session. Current WCSA President Paul McClintock admitted to being seriously concerned about the meet’s future, even as far as next year goes.

“It’s 86 years of family and tradition,” said McClintock, who along with his children and wife competed, coached and volunteered at the County Championships. “It’s as much about the venue and the family atmosphere as it is the actual competition. So if this is in fact the last year here, I worry that it becomes just another swim meet some place else. I also have a fear that this could be the last year of the whole thing. We have a challenge before us of trying to find some place else to go to.”

McClintock added that the Playland pool is simply too old and too worn down to accommodate the County meet anymore, and said that the WCSA is currently having trouble finding another venue in Westchester that is “competition ready” and the correct size. He did reveal that the Department of Parks and the County executive’s office are working alongside the Board to explore other solutions, however.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of the meet, Lake Isle’s Lavelle remained optimistic that a change of venue would not necessarily spell a complete end to the County meet as he and so many other local swimmers, parents and coaches have come to know it, and already had his sights set on the start of a new winning streak.

“It’s definitely going to be different,” he said. “We’re hoping that there is a county meet next year, and that we can find somewhere to have it. No matter where it is it’s going to be a different meet and feel, but it’ll be exciting. It’ll be a whole new meet and a new chapter and we’ll hopefully be able to start that off with a win.”

For photos and complete results of the 2011 Westchester County Swimming Championships, visit the Westchester County Swimming Association's website.