For the third year in a row, multiple record-setter Chris Lotano has been selected Schenectady High School’s most valuable performer in its boys’ swimming and diving program.
The senior captain set six school records in individual events this winter, and was a part of two
relays that set new marks. Additionally, his second-place showing in the 100-yard freestyle at the Section II championships was the best ever for an individual Schenectady swimmer.
“There’s 11 records for swimmers, and and he holds or is a part of eight of them. He is the fastest swimmer to come through Schenectady,” said coach Brian Melanson, whose
Patriots, anchored by Lotano, won the last three Aqua League titles. “His talent helped raise the level of others around him. He pushed them, and in turn, that made our whole team better.”
Lotano set his final individual school record at the sectionals in the 200 individual medley, finishing third in 1:58.84. He went 48.02 in the 100 free at the sectionals, just missing his school record of 48.01 set in early February.
Also at the sectional meet,
David Woods, Lotano, Ryan Quinn and Will Dobson teamed up for a school-record 1:40.11 in the 200 medley relay, while Quinn, John Fitzmaurice, Dobson and Lotano set another school mark at 3:22.02 in the 400 free relay. Both relays placed second, the best finish ever for a Patriots’ foursome in sectional competition.
Lotano, a first-team Section II large-school all-star, placed 10th at the state meet in the 100 free.
“His plan is to stay local with college for about a year, and continue to swim club to stay in shape, and then transfer into a Division I school to continue swimming,” Melanson said.
Woods has been accepted by the Naval Academy, and Quinn will attend St. Bonaventure. Both seniors were selected to the Section II all-star second team.
Schenectady records
200 medley relay — D. Woods, C. Lotano, R. Quinn, W. Dobson, 1:40.11 (2-16-08).
200 free — C. Lotano, 1:48.68 (2-5-08).
200 individual medley — C. Lotano, 1:58.84 (2-16-08).
50 free — R. Quinn, 22.16 (2-16-08).
Diving — J. DiPietro, 262.95, six dives (12-14-07); E. Masse-Mahar, 434.50, 11 dives (2-17-07).
100 fly — C. Lotano, 55.91 (12-14-07).
100 free — C. Lotano, 48.01 (2-7-08).
500 free — C. Lotano, 4:57.12 (2-5-08).
200 free relay — R. Quinn, J. Fitzmaurice, D. Woods, C. Lotano, 1:29.49 (2-16-08).
100 back — C. Lotano, 55.28 (1-26-08).
100 breast — P. Runfola, 1:05.20
(2-17-07).
400 free relay — R. Quinn, J. Fitzmaurice, W. Dobson, D. Woods, 3:22.02 (2-16-08).
welytok to oneonta
Senior guard Ashley Welytok, who played a key role in Amsterdam’s back-to-back Big 10 championship seasons, will continue her basketball career at SUNY-Oneonta.
Welytok averaged 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds while also collecting 28 steals this season as the Lady Rams won 22 straight games and climbed to No. 1 in the state Class AA rankings before losing to Bethlehem in the sectional semifinals. Amsterdam went 21-2 during Welytok’s junior season, winning 21 consecutive games before a semifinal loss to Colonie.
“She was our No. 3 scoring option after Megan [Gaugler] and Brittany [Stahura], and it was the perfect role for her,” Amsterdam coach Eric Duemler said of the academic and athletic standout. “She’s a very good shooter. She’s very accurate from 12 to 15 feet, and she gets her share off offensive putbacks.”
Welytok transferred to Amsterdam from Vernon-Verona-Sherrill for her junior year. She won a Section III championship as a freshman.
“It’s tough for some to go from one school to another, especially when they’re going to an established program, but she fit right in and did her part very well,” Duemler said. “It was a pretty smooth transition.”
Oneonta went 20-9 and reached the ECAC Division III Upstate title game this season under first-year coach Daphne Thompson. The team included Section II products Christi Podgorski and Mary Kate O’Connell of Guilderland, Casey Snyder of Colonie and
Rebecca Staples of Holy Names, all of whom are expected to return next season.
mcgirt commits
Senior wingback NyQuan McGirt of state Class A runner-up Lansingburgh will play his collegiate football at Division II New Haven, which is reviving its program after a six-year hiatus.
McGirt and the other incoming freshmen will be redshirted in the 2008 season, and play in 2009 for head coach Peter Rossomando, a former University at Albany
assistant.
McGirt was selected the Section II Class A Division II All-Purpose Player of the Year, and earned a spot on the all-state third-team offense. He rushed for 1,231 yards, averaging over 10 yards per carry, and 10 touchdowns for the 11-2 Knights.
McGirt also scored on kickoff returns of 99 yards in the Section II Super Bowl against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and 88 yards against Mohonasen in the sectional quarterfinals.
McGirt played only one season at Lansingburgh after transferring from Catholic Central.
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