HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING
Gutowski primed for a strong finish
Dressel is best hope for WNY in state meet
One thing Paige Gutowski knows about her races is she always saves her best for last.
It’s not a coincidence, rather part of a training regimen that is the difference between winning close races or settling for second.
The Sweet Home junior trailed most of the way in the backstroke at last week’s Section VI championships until overtaking the leader in the last three yards to win by .15 seconds. She did the same thing at last year’s sectionals, -winning the breaststroke by a mere .06.
The timing couldn’t be better for another one of Gutowski’s fantastic finishes as Section VI hosts the New York State Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend.
“I try to get ahead and know with my training I won’t die at the end and I’ll be able to give it a little extra,” said Gutowski, who is the fifth seed in the 100 backstroke and also is entered in the 200 individual medley in the states. “We do a lot of sprints and a lot of descending sets. Certain people I race, if you can get out ahead of them, you can stay there. Certain girls you know will come after you at the end. A lot of it is talent and training, but it all comes down to who wants it more.”
Competition will begin Friday with swimming trials and the first round of diving. The swimming and diving final will be Saturday. A field of 490 swimmers and divers from the state’s 11 sections plus the athletes from the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and the New York City PSAL will converge at the Erie Community College Burt Flickinger Aquatic Center for the 33rd annual event.
The section’s best shot for a state title is Kenmore West junior Marissa Dressel, the No. 1 seed in the 100 freestyle and No. 2 in the 200 free. Dressel is the defending champion in the 200. Her 1:49.98 seed time is faster than her winning time from last year: 1:50.20.
She’ll face her toughest competition of the season in the 200 against junior Emily Scott of downstate’s Sacred Heart. Scott and Dressel finished 1-2 in last year’s Federation meet. Scott is also the defending champion in the 500 free.
Victoria Jacumski of Clarence is the No. 4 seed in the 100 breaststroke. To win she’ll have to overtake the defending champion, senior Lauren Norberg of IV-Ithaca. Jacumski is also projected to reach the final in the 200 IM as the No. 7 seed.
West Seneca West sophomore Courtney Otto won the sectional title in the 500 free, but at states she’ll compete in the 100 butterfly (No. 6 seed) and the 200 IM (No. 13 seed).
Madeline Shults of Southwestern is the No. 4 seed in the 50 free.
Section VI qualified two divers: No. 17 seed Jessica Raymond of Jamestown and No. 27 Ashley Keller of Lockport.
Williamsville North coach Doug Cassidy expects the section’s divers to make a big jump after Friday’s first eight dives are scored. Cassidy, who is also the president of the WNY Association of Certified Swim Officials, said “we’re more realistic in this area on how we judge diving. Our kids always move up.”
Western New York had 11 teams qualify for the three relays. The highest seed among them is the No. 5 Kenmore West foursome of Haley Rice, Leah Villari, Dressel and Lindsey Sagasta in the 200 free relay. Niagara Falls qualified all three relays. Ithaca is the defending champion in all three.
Swim news and notes
The Section VI team includes 66 swimmers from 18 schools. Kenmore West and Niagara Falls qualified nine
athletes each while Olean, West Seneca West and Williamsville North have eight each. . . . Eight swimmers from Nardin will represent the Monsignor Martin Association. The Sharks’ highest seed is its 400 free relay at No. 11 with Jamie Ruh, Alli Gielowsky, Ashley Harrington and Lauren Marchese. . . . Forgive Williamsville East’s 200 free relay if it’s just happy to be there. The relay includes seven-grader Rebecca Anthone and eighth-grader Kendra Mayer. . . . Kenmore West freshman Haley Rice will compete in four events. . . . Jamestown’s Lauren Caldwell, a sophomore, will be making her third trip to states. . . . The meet’s Psych Sheet has been posted on home. windstream.net/pstyer.
