Dalers Swimming Finishes Strong at Nassau County Championships

The Dalers boys swim team ended the 2011-2012 season with an eighth place finish at the Nassau County Championships on Saturday, with six Farmingdale swimmers and a diver being selected to the all-conference team.

This season the team lost of one state qualifier and all-county swimmer, and four other swimmers, and the Dalers were seeded 13th heading into the season. A facilities breakdown forced the team to be without a pool for twice during the season.

"The team’s late season surge is a testament to the perseverance and determination of the boys," said parent Larry Mattei. "Their hard work resulted in the team moving up five spots in the final rankings despite the loss of a third of their season.  That’s a tremendous accomplishment, and we’re confident that the foundation has been set for Farmingdale’s return to the top of the swimming rankings in Nassau County beginning in 2013."

Championship Relay Highlights: The 200 Free Relay team of freshman Jimmy Barnola, junior Matt Crow, sophomore Nader Golshahr and sophomore Vinny Mattei finished as conference champs in the event. Barnola split a 24.1 off the lead leg, followed by Crow’s 23.2, Golshahr’s 23.4, and Mattei’s personal best of 22.8 coming right out of the 500 Free. They finished as conference champs in the event and their time of 1:33.73 was just eight tenths of a second off the school record of 1:32.99 set in 2005. 

Championship Individual Swim Highlights: Top swims included Crow’s personal best of 23.67 in the 50 Free, good for 14th place, a five-spot jump from his Friday night finish. Crow was also 12th in the 100 Free, earning all-conference honors in the event.  

Mattei swam a 5:07.23 in the 500 Free, earning 12th place overall. The time was a nearly four and a half second drop from his Friday personal best of 5:11.64 and a 10 second drop from the week before.

Barnola (200 Free, 100 Back), Golshahr (100 Free), Kris Harris (100 Breast), and Logan Smalling (100 Breast) also finished with strong, steady times to help the Dalers move from 11th place to 8th place at the championships.

“The team really came together over the course of the season," said coach Ken Ilchuk. "They were faced with several obstacles during the year, but the boys worked hard and persevered, and by the end of the season they had established themselves as one of the better teams in Nassau, and I think really served notice that they will be a team to be reckoned with in the coming years."

All Conference Honors

Jimmy Barnola (200 Free, 200 Free Relay, 100 Back, 400 Free Relay)
Matt Crow (50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)
Nader Golshahr (200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)
Jon Gonzalez (1-meter Dive)
James Mangione (1-meter Dive)
Vinny Mattei (500 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)
Chris McGlynn (1-meter Dive)

Conference Champion

200 Free Relay, 1:33.73 – Jimmy Barnola, Matt Crow, Nader Golshahr, Vinny Mattei

All-Division Honors

Jimmy Barnola (200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)
Matt Crow (200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)
Nader Golshahr (200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)
James Mangione (1-meter Dive)
Vinny Mattei (200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay)

Division Champion

James Mangione, 1-Meter Dive, 346.10

Information provided by Coach Ken Ilchuk and Larry Mattei.