The Iroquois boys aquatics program, for the first time in 37 years, celebrated one its own as a gold medalist during its annual meet.
Brennan Hart had no answer for when an Iroquois swimmer last won an event during the school’s annual aquatics meet.
His coach, with notable enthusiasm, did.
“Kirk Haltiner in 1989,” Mike Kujawinski said.
Haltiner was a breaststroker for the Braves over the end of that decade, and then for Allegheny College in the early 1990s.
That discipline was one of four Hart completed en route to his notable victory during the Jan. 16 Iroquois Coaches Invitational. The junior, by a fingertip, outreached General McLane’s Brody Caldwell for first place in the 200-yard individual medley final at the Braves’ natatorium.
Hart set off his lane timer at 2 minutes, 3.35 seconds to Caldwell’s 2:03.57.
“When I looked over and saw (Caldwell) was right there, I knew it was close,” he said. “I know (the Braves) haven’t had a winner in this meet for a while, so this is great.”
Hart’s title-winning time doubled as a school record for the 200 IM. Chris Ravn-Nielsen held the former standard of 2:04.54 since 2009.
‘A different person’
A more familiar meet result was Fairview’s first-place finish in its team standings. The Tigers, with significant contributions by Clark Carney, totaled 444 points.
The Grove City Eagles, aided by 100 freestyle victor Liam Weller, were second with 313.
Carney swam a leg for Fairview’s first-place 200 free relay. The senior also was an individual titlist with his low time of 54.52 in the 100 butterfly.
Carney confessed he knew little about the Tigers’ status as an established District 10 power before his first day as a freshman.
“I was a different person before then,” he said. “I swam a little during summers, but this team has given me a love for the sport that I’ll never let go.”
Dorsch dominates
Sharon’s Nate Dorsch was voted the meet’s outstanding performer. The senior showed why he’s known as a distance specialist with victories in the 200 free (1:46.95) and 500 free (4:49.95).
Dorsch ably succeeded Mark Cattron in that role for Sharon.
Cattron is in his sophomore season for St. Bonaventure University. Dorsch plans to join him as a Division I swimmer this fall when he enrolls at The College of Holy Cross.
Not the norm
Iroquois’ pool has no diving board. That meant, per tradition, the meet’s springboard competition was held at Harbor Creek’s natatorium.
The winner, Titusville’s Weston Wakefield, was the only non-Erie County entrant. The sophomore compiled 299.75 points over 11 attempts, which are the same number held for postseason events.
North East’s Devin McGaughey was second (287.45), followed by Harbor Creek’s Jakub Gorski (248.95).
Wakefield is rare, if not unique, to varsity diving in that he has no gymnastics experience.
“I’m serious. I can’t even do a backflip on a trampoline,” he said. “My mom used to dive. I’d always told her no, I wasn’t going to dive in high school, but then my football coach (the Rockets’ Mike Reynolds) kind of got me into it.
“I’m really just trying to get better and improve my (degrees of difficulty).”
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Iroquois aquatics boast meet winner for the first time in 37 years
Category: General Sports
