Jack Boyd, who wanted to end his high school swimming career as the fastest distance swimmer in Western New York history, may have to set the bar a little higher.

The Canisius sophomore is already there with time on his side.

Boyd set the mark of 4 minutes, 30.85 seconds in the 500 freestyle at the Federation meet last year. He's just three seconds off the Catholic state record of 4:27.12.

His season-best effort this year is a 4:34.00 at a 65-team invitational in Cleveland on Dec. 17.

"He's tried to perfect a lot of his stroke technique and to get a lot stronger," said Canisius coach Brian Spurlock. "His sprinting has improved and that's helped him with his speed in the longer events."

Boyd has qualified for states in the 50, 100, 200 and 500. The two relays he's on, along with Dylan Telford, Christan Westermeier and Mike Wozniak, are ranked in the top three in the state.

Catch them if you can

Five Section VI champions return: Andrew Duszynski of Orchard Park (200 individual medley), Zach Toth of Starpoint (500 freestyle), Andrew Marsh of Jamestown (100 backstroke), Matt Schutt of Starpoint (100 breaststroke) and Austin Devlin of Niagara Falls (diving).

Marsh is ranked in the top five in the state in three events, including No. 2 in the butterfly.

Schutt is No. 9 in the state in the breast (1:00.95).

Clarence not only won the 200 and 400 freestyle relays at sectionals, it finished as state runner-up in both events. Returning from the 200 free relay are junior Nick Hook and senior Kevin Kreher. Back from the 400 free relay are senior Ryan Saenger, Hook and Kreher.

Fast times, ECIC style

Williamsville North's showdown against Clarence on Jan. 27 will be a fundraiser for Carly's Crossing. Both teams swimmers will wear Carly's Crossing caps in their respective team colors, bearing the signatures of all contributors to the cause. Fans, friends and family will sign a swimmer's cap for a $1 donation. The teams are hoping to raise more than $1,000 by the meet.

North is 10-0 heading into a tough two-week stretch against fellow unbeatens Orchard Park and Clarence.

Cameron MacDonald has the top 50 free time in WNY and is No. 6 in the state at 22.07. Last year, he qualified for states in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay, but could not compete because of a hand injury.

Seniors Matt Berus, Will Baker and Sam Zwierzchowski also return from last year's state relay team. North's 200 and 400 freestyle relays are both in the top three in WNY with times of 1:30.31 and 3:21.63, both just off the state qualifying standards.

Junior Jerry Daigler's 100 backstroke time of 55.10 has earned him a trip to this year's state meet.

Clarence is not as deep or talented as a year ago thanks to graduation and skiing accidents that resulted in the loss of a diver and a top butterfly swimmer, but they do have a solid core with Kreher, Saenger and Hook. Kreher (breaststroke) and Hook (50 freestyle) have qualified for states this year. Upcoming dual meets with Orchard Park and Williamsville North will let them know where they stand.

"Our goal for this year is to give OP and North a competitive meet and qualify three or four individuals and a relay or two for the state meet," said coach Eric McClaren.

Cozy Clarence will host the sectionals again this year.

Orchard Park's Duszynski was ninth at states in the back and 10th in the 200 free. In the state, Duszynski is No. 7 in the backstroke at 53.13. Fellow senior Spencer Bray is a multi-year state qualifier and is ranked in the state in the 200 and 500.

The new coaches in the ECIC are Larry Millson (Eden), Jeff Moessinger (Frontier), Lori Zimmerman (Iroquois), Amy Shepard (Pioneer) and Tim Harroun (Tonawanda).

Amherst is off to a 6-0 start with Cleveland Hill and East Aurora lurking. Senior backstroker Jacob Hofmar-Glennon has qualified for his fourth state meet riding a 55.30. He looks to win the sectional title in the back after placing second the past two years.

Senior Luke White of Amherst is the top sprinter on the team after capturing first place in the 50 and 100 at the recent Frederic J. Puff Memorial Invite. Senior Kevin Bardak is the Tigers' top butterflyer and a solid sprinter.

Starpoint is 4-0 in ECIC II the league and 6-3 overall with two of the losses coming to ECIC I powers Orchard Park and Williamsville North.

Senior Matt Schutt is a three-year state qualifier. He holds school and pool records in the 50 free, 100 breaststroke, two relays and plans to swim at either St. Bonaventure or Niagara University.

Senior Luke Martinic looks to make a return trip to states and joins Schutt as part of two record-setting relays. Sophomore Alec Toth is close to qualifying for his second states. His name's in the record book four times, the 200 and 500 free and two relays. Sophomore Robbie Luckman was on two record-setting relays last year.

Eden graduated 16 seniors. The Raiders' first-year coach Millson had been an assistant the past eight years. Junior Jamie Miller leads a young squad that has only six seniors. He's a member of the school's record-setting 200 medley relay that went to states and looks to go this year in the fly riding a season-best 59.20.

Charlie Hund retired after coaching Eden from 1999-2011 and working with such talents as Andy Gorcica and brothers Kyle and Mike Zittel.

Cleveland Hill has good numbers with 38 swimmers and divers. They won the Alden Relays to kick off the season and the Frederic J. Puff Memorial meet. Senior Adam McPherson is hovering around the state qualifying times in the 50 and 100 free.

Hamburg senior captain Nick Marco is having a breakout season winning 17 of 18 individual events to date. He is near state qualifying times in the 100, 200 and 100 fly.

Jamestown senior diver Phil Tubbs is undefeated for the season.

Frontier senior Willy Patrum has accepted a scholarship offer from the University at Buffalo. He didn't swim for the Falcons the last two years, but returned for his senior year. He's ranked in the top five in WNY in five events and is a member of Frontier's ranked relays. He's No. 4 in the state in the 500 free at 4:39.57.

Pioneer senior Danny Urbino holds school records in the 50 free and 100 breast and is going into the Air Force in the fall.

Senior twins Warren and Wesley Weber give Tonawanda a double threat. Wesley is extremely versatile swimming the 200 IM and butterfly. Warren swims the 500 free, but is competitive in any of the freestyle events. The twins' father, Wade Sr., swam for Tonawanda during the 70's.

Around the pools

- Senior Eric Ebert, who competed in two events at states last year, returns for Lew-Port. He will swim for Niagara next season. Ebert is undefeated this season in every race he's entered. Senior Seth Carey of Grand Island excels in the sprints. Another top sprinter in the NFL is Lockport senior Garrett Sheehan. Niagara-Wheatfield's Josh Miller (back) and Trevor Hillman (breast) are ranked in the top 10 locally.

Check out the NFL's website: www.nflswim.pbworks.com.

- In diving, senior Austin Devlin of Niagara Falls is back looking to improve on his seventh-place finish at states. He won sectionals last year with 494.75 points. He is one of three divers from Section VI currently ranked among the top 10 in the state. Devlin is No. 6, junior Jeff Matter of East Aurora is No. 9 and sophomore Ryan Moeleone of Lew-Port is No. 10.

- City Honors (7-0) and Hutch-Tech are on their annual collision course to meet for the Syracuse Cup title. The unbeatens go head-to-head on Thursday at City Honors.

The top female in the City is one of the youngest, eighth-grader Alize Allen of City Honors, who already owns City records in the IM and butterfly. Senior Anthony Solomon of City Honors is undefeated in the 100 free and expects to qualify for sectionals, along with teammate Henry Keane (sprints).

Hutch-Tech has a pair of promising underclassmen with freshman Kevin Lopez-Rodriguez in the fly and back and sophomore Ashley Barca in the 200 IM and back.

mmonnin@buffnews.comnull