Also make strong times at Middlesex League meet
THE MHS Red Raider 200-Yard Medley Relay team of Ben Fiesel, Hudson Rubbins, Jack Steinberg and Joe Connolly (pictured l-r) will compete at the MIAA All States this weekend. The team is coached by Richard Whitworth and Vicky Brienza. (courtesy photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — After a hard fought season that brought moments of victory, the Melrose High School boys’ swim team saw success at the league meet and also sent a quartet of swimmers to the MIAA North Sectional Championship held at Boston University on Saturday, Feb. 2.
Joe Connolly, Ben Fiesel, Hudson Rubbins and Jack Steinberg represented Melrose after qualifying in various events for coach Richard Whitworth’s Red Raider swim team. The four strong swimmers also consisted of the team’s sectional qualifying 200 medley relay team, (Connolly on backstroke, Rubbins on breaststroke, Fiesel on butterfly and Steinberg on freestyle) who entered with a qualified time of 1:52.19 and amid strong competition improved their time to 1:50.90. This team will advance to All States this weekend.
Connolly had a strong day for Melrose, competing in both the relay and two individual events. He improved his times in both swims, posting a 2:06 in the 200 IM, for an overall 19th place finish and, swimming the 100 back in 59.17, good enough for 23rd. Ben Fiesel also qualified individually in the 200 free and 100 butterfly. Fiesel swam a 1:57.92 in the freestyle and 1:00 in the 100 butterfly.
“We had some best times and an overall good performance,” says longtime head coach Richard Whitworth, who confirms that other coaches noted the strong performances of these swimmers.
Whitworth was also pleased with his entire team’s performance at the 2015 Middlesex League Meet at Bentley College on Jan. 29.
“We swam some of our best times,” confirms Whitworth. “A lot of our [non-qualified] swimmers did great at this meet.”
Melrose’s 200 medley relay team of Sam Foley, Hudson Rubbins, Kyle Vanderhorst and Brian Murphy led the day off with a fifth place finish in the 200 medley. Joe Connolly had an impressive swim for Melrose when he earned a bronze in the 200 IM with a time of 2:12.80 and sixth in the 100 back. Ben Fiesel swam a strong 2:00.21 in the 200 yard free, good enough for a fifth place finish. Fiesel simply brought it in the 50 freestyle, placing fourth among a contingent of 86 swimmers with a great time of 24.33. teammates Justin Hori and Sam Foley were behind him at 15th (25.95) and 17th (26.05) and Brian Murphy (26.36) at 19th. Melrose’s Jack Steinberg (27) Kyle Vanderhorst (34), Joe Brach (37) Ian Brophy (43) Tom Steinberg (43) and Duncan Leitz (47) cracked the top 50 in the event. Also swimming were Collin Coyne (54), Will McCarthy (59) Sean Cady (73) Geoffrey Rowe (76) and Colin Mullane (77).
Others who competed strongly were Hudson Rubbins, who placed eighth in 100 butterfly and seventh in the 100 breaststroke. Brian Murphy and Justin Hori swam to the 100 free with 19th and 24th finishes respectively and Duncan Leitz and Collin Coyne Geoffrey Rowe behind them. Sam Foley had a solid eighth place finish in the 500 free while teammate Ian Brophy placed 16th. Connor McDaid (24th) and James Dwyer (27th) competed in the 100 backstroke. Melrose brought plenty of swimmers in the 100 breaststroke, with Hudson leading the pack in seventh, behind him was Jack Steinberg, Connor McDaid, Joe Brach, Will McCarthy, Sean Cady and Colin Mullane.
Melrose’s strong 200 free style placed fourth behind the swimming of Fiesel, Hori, Steinberg and Connolly with a time of 1:43.78. That quartet swam again in the 400 freestyle relay team who wrapped the day up with a fifth place finish.
Overall, Melrose placed fifth among all Middlesex League teams.
The road continues for the Red Raider team. Their 200 medley relay team will advance to the MIAA All State Championship on Feb. 15 at MIT and Joe Connolly will swim individually there in the 200 medley and 100 backstroke.
