- By Joyce Mulcahy Jones
- Sports
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Jake SandgrenJake Sandgren
The final team scores were: 1st place – Lansing (298); 2nd place – Waverly (263); 3rd place – Dryden (239).
Lansing's senior All-American swimmer, Jake Sangren, was the meet's MVP. In the 200 individual medley, Jake eclipsed his previous Lansing school record (1:59.68) with a new time of 1:57.96. This time is also a new IAC league record, meet record and state qualifying time. The old time of 1:58.96 was set in 2000 by Waverly's Pat Fell. In the 100 backstroke, Jake recorded a new EFA pool record, meet record and state qualifying time of 52.04. He was also part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team and 2nd place 400 freestyle relay team.
In the 200 freestyle relay, Lansing's team of Casey Hagin, David Bandler, Dan Ravas and Jake Sangren clocked a blistering time of 1:29.92. This is a state qualifying time. This team has previously qualified to swim at the state meet in the 200 medley relay. When asked how it felt to qualify for the state meet in a second relay event, Casey Hagin stated, "It is exciting! I am also very proud to be going as a sophomore!" David Bandler said, "It is awesome!" This time also gives this relay team a Lansing all-time top 10 performance (no. 2) behind last year's relay team of Sterling Gell, Jake Sangren, Aaron Mychack, Hans Roser (no. 1 - 1:29.83 – 2/17/07).
Lansing's Dan Ravas (junior) placed first in two events. In the 50 freestyle, Dan received a first place gold medal for the time of 22.76. Dan is just shy of a state qualifying time in this event by 0.19 seconds. When asked about this, Head Coach Brian Vaughan said, "Dan Ravas is perfectly capable of getting a qualifying time in the 50 freestyle. I expect him to qualify at sectionals at OFA." In the 100 butterfly event, Dan Ravas cruised to victory with a first place time of 54.79. This was a meet record and state qualifying time. "I expect Dan to go even faster at sectionals. He had his head and eyes up out of the water the whole race. We will be working with him on keeping his head down," stated Coach Vaughan. Dan was also the butterfly leg of the winning 200 medley relay team and part of the first place 200 freestyle relay team.
Ari DarlowAri Darlow in the #1 spot
In the team's 500 freestyle event (20 laps), Lansing's junior co-captain, Ari Darlow, took the lead early and set a smooth, steady pace. When it appeared that Waverly's Jeff Mastrantuono might be closing in to take over the lead, Ari increased his pace and held on to provide the crowd with an exciting finish and a first place for Lansing. Ari improved his best performance time in this event by 7.02 seconds. Ari was also the freestyle leg of the winning 200 medley relay team and part of the 2nd place 400 freestyle relay team.
In the 200 medley relay event, Lansing posted a winning readout of 1:47.18. The team of Clement Towner (backstroke), David Bandler (breaststroke), Dan Ravas (butterfly) and Ari Darlow (freestyle) stepped onto the first place podium to receive gold medals for Lansing in this event.
Lansing also recorded very important 2nd and 3rd place finishes that gave the team valuable points. In the 200 freestyle event, Casey Hagin came in 2nd place with a time of 1:57.59 (his best performance this season). Casey also recorded a 3rd place finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:00.24. Casey was the last leg of the 400 freestyle relay team and provided the crowd with another exciting finish – Lansing took 2nd place (3:28.97) with Casey's sprint to the wall for a 'photofinish'. Waverly placed 1st with the time of 3:28.73. According to Coach Vaughan, "All four swimmers did a great job hitting their split times. Casey previously had a 53 and hit a 51 second split time. They did better in this event than I thought they would!"
Lansing's David Bandler took 2nd place in the 100 breaststroke event with a time of 1:08.62. David was also the breaststroke leg of the winning 200 medley relay team and part of the first place 200 freestyle relay team. Coach Vaughan also expects David to qualify for the state meet in the 50 freestyle event. He stated, "Dave Bandler is doing exceptionally well in the 50 free. We are working with him on his turns and we expect him to qualify at sectionals."
The Lansing team, all with bleached hair to show solidarity
Clement Towner (freshman) came in 2nd place in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:18.50. Clement also came in 2nd place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:01.09. Clement was the backstroke leg of the winning 200 medley relay team and part of the 2nd place 400 freestyle relay team.
The Lansing team had solid swims all season by all members of this team. This includes Aaron Eddy, Pat Rodgers, Max Mackenzie, Justin Craig, Mike Coles, Taylor Germain, Ian Garnett, Martin Keefe, Ben Veaner, Jeremy Craig, and Josh Tull.
The team heads to Watkins Glen for Sectional pre-lims on February 13, 2008. The Class Sectionals (section IV) will be held at Owego Free Academy (OFA) on February 16, 2008.
Pictures courtesy of Joyce and Steve Jones
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