By Larry Moko
For the third consecutive year the Bishop Ryan Celtics captured the team trophy at the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school swimming championships.
However, in the opinion of St. Mary Crusaders coach Kathryn Newberry, the city final was a total success for her team.
“We only had 12 swimmers here, yet we finished in second place,” Newberry said after the award ceremony at McMaster University’s pool Tuesday.
Bishop Ryan earned a total of 538 points in the various races while St. Mary picked up 308 – one point more than the third-place St. John Henry Newman Cardinals. They were followed in order by the St. Thomas More Knights, St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves, Cathedral Gaels and Bishop Tonnos Titans.
“Pretty much every kid that we brought here came away with a medal,” Newberry added.
A highlight for Newberry came in the open boys’ 100-metre IM. It was a showdown between St. Mary’s Noah Beaudoin and Bruno Garb of Newman.
“It was a very exciting race,” she said. “So close. Both are very strong swimmers. They’ve swam against each other in the past.”
Beaudoin touched the wall first in a personal-best time of 1:06.10 -- .14 of a second ahead of Garb.
Said Newberry: “Noah is a flyer (excelling in butterfly). That’s his strongest stroke. I was going to put him in 100 fly and 100 free but at the last moment he told me he wanted to do 100 IM. I was surprised because I know breast stroke is not his best stroke. But he really wanted to do it and it turned out great.”
Beaudoin’s other individual victory came in the 100m butterfly (1:04.25).
The Crusaders again this year got dominating performances by the Giammichele triplets – Joseph, Thomas and Charles.
“The brothers did great,” Newberry said. “They medalled in all of their events. Joseph and Thomas also swam against each other in the 200 IM. Thomas won that (2:36.39).”
In other events, Joseph came first in the open 200m freestyle while Thomas was tops in the 100m breast stroke (1:20.11) and Charles raced to a win in the mixed 100m freestyle (1:14.06).
Joseph and Thomas Giammichele then teamed up with Tavian Augustus and Beaudoin to win both the 400m freestyle relay (4:02.84) and the 200m freestyle relay (2:07.00).
Augustus, who is Newberry’s son, also prevailed in the 100m open backstroke (1:08.63).
“That too was an exciting race,” the Crusaders coach said.
There were three meets before the city finals.
“It was nice to see all the schools had a team this year,” Newberry said. “We had a great season.”
Other individual event winners (some surnames not included on official results) were: C. Sophia, Newman; Larissa Colatosti, BR; Dominic Gazzola (2) BR; Ada Beckman, Brebeuf; K. Charles, Newman; W. Brooke, Newman; Connor Woodworth (2) More; F. Mattia, Tonnos; G. John, Newman; Mackenzie Whitehouse (2) More; G. Bruno, Newman; M. Mia, BT; Maisy Thomas, St. Mary; Christopher Simrak, Brebeuf; G. Halina, Newman; Ethan Smillie, BR; C. Sophia, Newman; C. Nadine, Cathedral; Joshua Gris (2) BR; Abigale Tozer, BR; John SanMartin Puig, St. Mary; Maeve Puri, St. Mary; Erick Selvanayagam Quinton, Brebeuf; C. Katrina (2) Cathedral; Sophia Rodriquez, St. Mary; Jade Yee, BR; Allison Sell, St. Mary; L. Kyle (2), Newman; P. Elizabeth, Newman; C. Max, Cathedral; B. Emiliano, Cathedral; C. Lauren, Cathedral.
The Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference championships are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13 at McMaster.
Photos by Bob Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
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