Joe Connolly is league champ in butterfly, backstroke
Published in the February 10, 2017 edition
MEMBERS OF the Melrose High boys’ swim team celebrate a successful day at the Middlesex League meet at Bentley University on Feb. 2. (courtesy photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—It was a day to remember for the Melrose Red Raider swim team, who crowned a league champ in two events on February 2 at Bentley University. Senior captain Joe Connolly is now the Middlesex League champ in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly, after besting all competition among large and small schools alike.
A proud Melrose coach, Richard Whitworth, saluted Connolly’s effort and that of the team’s. “Joe added an exclamation point to the day. After his last two meets, he will take his place beside the best we have had in Melrose High Swimming.”
Melrose, he said, competed at their finest. “The team met ever expectation I had for them. We had 15 best times in the meet. They were ready, they knew they were ready and they preformed at the highest level.”
Connolly’s time in the 100 butterfly 56.78 was also good enough to qualify him for a North sectional appearance. His time in the 100 backstroke, 58.77, also qualified him for North sectionals. He has also qualified in the 200 IM and will swim two events there this Sunday at M.I.T.
SENIOR CAPTAIN Joe Connolly was crowned league champ in two events for Melrose at the 2017 Middlesex League meet at Bentley University on February 2.
Melrose’s 200 Medley relay team also had a strong day, earning a 4th place finish. The team, represented by Sam Foley, Connor McDaid, Joe Connolly and Patrick Donahue, has also qualified for North sectionals and will compete for Melrose on Sunday.
Melrose’s Sam Foley also had a strong day. Besides swimming a leg of both relay teams, he placed fourth in the 500 free with a time of 6:01.95. Teammate Connor McDaid impressed in the 100 breast, with a 6th place finish at 1:12.09. Melrose’s 400 free relay also finished strong with Foley, Connolly, Tom Steinberg, and Patrick Donahue coming in 5th at 4:02.55.
Also competing over the day for Melrose were Eamonn Burke, Jared Dowell, Colin Mullane, Owen Markham, Troy Healy, Sebastian Monzon, Collin Coyne, Miles Delgreco, Eli Colman, James Frederick, Devin McDaid, Will McCarthy, Ethan Prospere, Calvin White, Sean Cady and Gabriel Monzon.
This Sunday, Melrose representatives will compete among the best in the North at the MIAA North Sectionals at M.I.T. Whitworth predicts good things. “Joe is primed for a strong showing at Sectionals and States.”
