The comparisons were inevitable. Any team that boasts as much young talent as the Clarence girls swimming team is sure to be labeled the next Orchard Park.

The Quakers were a powerhouse winning 13 state titles from 1998 to 2006, breaking state

relay records along the way. They did it with a magical group of athletes including Andrea and

Robin Lehner, Martha Whistler, Maria Wolbert, Alaina Thiel and Beth Galloway.

Whether Clarence reaches those heights will be decided in a few years by a talented pool of

promising underclassmen.

Meet Russ Sampson. He may be the fourth coach Clarence has had in four years, but what

separates him from his predecessors is he's also coach of the Clarence Swim Club, his own

feeder program. He not only knows what he has today, he also knows what he'll have tomorrow.

"I love the youth on this team, and I can't hope for anything better to come out of our

situation than to be compared to a team like Orchard Park," said Sampson. "We're pretty good,

but I don't want to inflate anyone's expectations. I like our future and what the kids we have

bring to the table, but we have a long way to go to get there."

Right now his focus isn't so much on training as it is on creating a sense of team. At

Clarence, Sampson wants to eliminate the cliques and create bonds among teammates that last a

lifetime. Once he's established that atmosphere, he said, championships and records will take

care of themselves.

Clarence has nine varsity swimmers in eighth through 10th grades. They've already qualified

all three relays for the next month's New York State Championships at V-Webster-Schroeder. The

same five swimmers make up all three: senior Victoria Jacumski, freshman Allison Voll,

eighth-grader Dina Rommel, freshman Claire Willis and eighth-grader Rebecca Anthone.

Two more swimmers who contribute equally are eighth-graders Syndey Modeas (200 and 500

yards) and Victoria Butler (individual medley, butterfly).

Jacumski has made the state cut in the 100 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and 100

butterfly while Rommel is going in the 50 freestyle.

Besides winning most of her races, Jacumski will also contribute some much-needed senior

leadership. She is the defending Section VI champion in the 200 IM and the breaststroke. She

has qualified for states in both events for the last four years. If she swims both at states,

she's looking for a top-three finish.

Clarence (7-0) will visit Williamsville North on Oct. 20 in a meet that is likely to

decide the ECIC I title.

Kenmore West's Dressel a winner

One of the best swimmers in Section VI history has reached her senior year. Marissa Dressel of

Kenmore West is admired throughout the Section for her humility and how hard she trains

and swims every set.

She's competed in five state meets. Last year she won the 100 and 200 freestyles. In doing

so she broke her Section VI records in the 100 at 50.99 and the 200 at 1:48.47.

Dressel has visited Ohio State, Alabama and Indiana and is scheduled to visit Duke on Oct.

16-18.

"I'm looking for a school I fit into and could see myself at someday," said Dressel, who

plans to study nursing.

Dressel's season goals go beyond her races. She has high hopes for the Blue Devils' 200 and

400 free relays that include senior Leah Villari, sophomore Lindsey Sagasta and sophomore

Haley Rice.

Jamestown's dynamic duo

What a partnership senior Jennifer Bentley and junior Lauren Caldwell have in

Jamestown. Luckily for the Red Raiders, each excels in a different event.

Bentley holds all the school records in the freestyle events: 50, 100, 200, 500 and the 100

backstroke.

Caldwell is the two-time defending Section VI champion in the 100 butterfly. Her school

records are in the fly, breast and IM.

"I see her every day of my life," Caldwell said of Bentley. "She keeps me going in

practice. It's fun to have someone next to you who is your speed that you can try and keep up

with. We're like sisters pretty much."

Paige Gutkowski would like to add to her string of Section VI titles that include the

breast in 2007 and the back in 2008.

The Sweet Home senior has verbally committed to St. Bonaventure where she will swim

for first-year coach Seth Johnson, a 2001 Frewsburg graduate. Gutkowski said she stays in

shape by cross training on dry land with weights and she plays lacrosse to stay in running

shape.

Senior Maddy Shults of Southwestern is the defending Section VI champ in the 50

free. At last year's states she reached the finals. She said she has "slow arms," but is

working to improve that. She said she uses 12-13 strokes to cover one length of the pool, but

she's like to get that to 19-20.

Senior Rachel Bantelman helped Olean win the Section VI title in the 200 medley

relay for the second year in a row. In the first meet of the season she went 1:01.3 to qualify

for states in the back.

As gifted as she is in swimming, she's verbally committed to the University at Buffalo for

basketball next year.

"I really like swimming, not quiet as much as basketball, but there was a time when I

didn't know if I wanted to swim in college or play basketball.

"I like how in swimming you don't have to rely on anyone but yourself. If I'm having a bad

day in basketball it might not be so obvious, but in swimming, everybody knows."

Bantelman, Grace Williamson, Summer Sawiya and Emily Simon have qualified for states in the

200 medley relay.

Williamsville North returns four of its swimmers who competed at states last

year: senior Cami Farkas (200 free, 200 relay) and other relay swimmers: Clare Battaglia,

Maddie Schmidt and Kaitlin Walsh. ... Olean's Samantha Huselstein will be among the favorites

to win the diving at Sectionals. ... Junior Courtney Otto of West Seneca West, the

current Section VI record holder in the 100 butterfly, chose not to swim high school this

year. ... East Aurora (4-0) is going for its fourth straight ECIC III title. ...

Williamsville East has been undefeated in ECIC II for the past seven years, a run of

approximately 72 meets. Sophomore Tori Frustaci holds the pool record in the 500 at 5:35.88.

... ECC will host this year's Section VI meet Nov. 13-14.

Nardin goes for 10th title

Nardin (6-0) has won nine straight All-Catholic titles. Senior Lauren Marchese has

qualified for states in the 200 and 500 free. Senior Alli Gielowski joins her in the 100 free,

100 fly and two relays.

Alex Doody of Sacred Heart (5-1) excels in the breast and freestyle events. The

All-Catholics will be Nov. 4 at Erie Community College at 6 p.m.