WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen boys varsity swim team placed third and Odessa-Montour fifth at the Interscholastic Athletic Conference Championship, held at Watkins Saturday, Feb. 8. Matt Doppel claimed first in the 100 backstroke (54.85, a school record) and third in the 100 butterfly (57.59). Jacob Slater won the diving championship. Lucas Wickham placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.85). Mitch Mangus took fourth in the 200 IM (2:24.85) and fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:38.53). Pat Hazlitt took fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:42.95). The 200 freestyle relay team (Doppel, Whickham, Brandon Pike, and Aidan DeBolt) was fourth with 1:39.67 and the the 400 freestyle relay team (Hazlitt, DeBolt, Mangus, and Doppel) was third in 3:41.86. "The boys swam very well getting some amazing times,” said Coach Jen Conklin. “We had a close match up with Lansing, but lost to them in the final events of the meet. They are excited for sectional preliminaries next Wednesday at Waverly. Sophomore Matt Doppel is on the verge of making it to the New York state swim meet in March along with breaking his own school record. I'm very proud of Matt Doppel and Jacob Slater for being the IAC champions in their individual events." Odessa's Chris Husted won the 100 freestyle championship in 48.83 and the 50 freestyle in 22.48, setting new Watkins Glen pool records in both events. In fifth place was the 400 yard freestyle relay team (Billy Tague, Anthony Humphries, Tyler Goossen, and Husted) with 3:53.81; the 200 freestyle relay team (Goossen, Charles Sidle, Tague, and Husted) with 1:44.13; and the 200 medley relay team (James Terry, Humphries, Charles Sidle, and Alec Betts) in 2:06.89. Humphries was fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.81) and eighth in the 200 IM (2:29.09). Tague placed seventh in the 500 free (6:01.22) and eighth in the 100 fly (1:09.46). Goossen won seventh in the 50 free (25.81) and 12th in the 100 free (59.01). Terry was 10th in the 100 back (1:13.08) and 11th in the 100 fly (1:24.96). Sidle was 10th in the 100 fly (1:22.42) and 12th in the 50 free (28.06). Betts placed 11th in the 200 IM (personal record of 2:37.14) and 11th in the 100 breast (1:18.85). Dan Rounds was 15th in the 100 back (1:25.58). "The guys had a great meet today,” said O-M Coach Terri Brace. “I wasn't sure what to expect today as snow days and sickness have interrupted our training recently. Chris was outstanding in the sprints, taking two IAC titles. The pool records were the icing on the cake. However, I was a bit disappointed in our relay performances. We still have some work to do in that area before sectionals. I'm expecting some better relay performances next week."
