Photos: In The Swim, On to States
Four good friends who have been swimming together since they were 9 have qualified for state competition. The Guilderville relay team, which qualified by two one-hundredths of a second, is made up of three Guilderland seniors — Mike Ardito, Alexander Cresanti, and Luke Tanner — and Voorheesville junior Joe Gravino. They were determined to get to state competition together.
The Guilderville boys, coached by Vaclav Sotola, competed in the Section 2 championships last Friday and Saturday to earn their way into the state competition March 2 and 3 at Nassau County Aquatics Center on Long Island. In addition to being on the relay team, Ardito, Cresanti, and Gravino will also compete individually at States.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
With a water beard hanging loosely, Guilderville's Alexander Cresanti does the breaststroke in the 200-yard medley relay preliminary. Cresanti’s team won its heat with a time of 1:41.14 then finished third, qualifying for States, with a time of 1:40.65. Cresanti also qualified for States in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Smooth sailing: Guilderville's Michael Ardito swims in the 200-yard individual medley in the backstroke portion. Ardito finished third in his heat with a time of 2:04.68, then finished 11th with a time of 2:04.57. Ardito qualified for states in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ardito swam across Boston Harbor three years in a row to raise money and awareness about a rare disease his sister has.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Wings extended: Guilderville's Joseph Gravino competed in the Section 2, 100-yard butterfly on Thursday. Gravino was second in his heat with a time of 54.37 and finished fourth overall with a time of 53.22. Gravino will be competing at States in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, his best events for which he qualified earlier in the season.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Coming up for air: Guilderville's Victor Dai takes a breath during one of his many laps in the 500-yard freestyle. Dai finished third in his heat with a time of 6:05.35 and 25th overall.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Speed demon: Guilderville’s Luke Tanner swims the butterfly portion in the 200-yard medley relay on Friday afternoon in the Section 2 championship preliminaries. The relay team finished first in its heat with a time of 1:41.14 and finished third on Saturday, qualifying for States, with a time of 1:40.65.