Masuk Free Press

Masuk’s Boys Swim and Dive team started off their season on a good note with an impressive 97-73 win against Newtown. This meet was an incredible display of the team’s talent and dedication, as they piled up points in each event.

“For the first meet of the season, it couldn’t have gone any better. We have a bunch of new guys, including a whole new coaching staff. It went smooth, we got the W. That’s all I could ask for,” coach Jenna Manion said.

The meet began with the 200 Medley Relay, which was an immediate success for Masuk as the team of Brendan Kirberger, Mason Eannotti, Carter Adragna, and Mert Baykus won the heat in 1:46.39.

Following the relay, the team continued their streak of victories. Kirberger and Eannotti secured two additional wins for Masuk in the 200 freestyle and the 200 individual medley, and Adragna and Will Hardy scored first and second place in the 50-yard freestyle. Following this event, Baykus won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.21. 

The 500-yard freestyle was another win for Masuk, as Kirberger reached the wall first in 4:54.95. 

Eannotti and Hardy scored first and second place in the 100-yard backstroke, and Adragna secured yet another win in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.07.

Lastly, closing out the meet was the 400 freestyle relay consisting of Kirberger, Baykus, McHugh, and Adragna. “It was fun to watch that group of boys swim together,” Manion said.

“The first day of practice, which was only two weeks ago, we kind of had an easy day, trying to get the team ready for the season, and we really ramped it up in preparation for today,” said senior Brendan Kirberger. This victory was the result of lots of hard work and preparation, proof that hard work pays off. 

There has always been a strong rivalry between Newtown and Masuk, so Masuk’s team is especially excited to have won this year’s battle.

“I’m really proud of all the new swimmers who came along and swam for the first time. They did the best they could. A lot of time drops, overall it went really well,” said junior Jack McHugh. “I think the relays were really good. There was a lot of cheering, which I was proud of. Everyone was cheering everyone on during every event.”

For the future, the team hopes to keep the momentum going and carry this energy into the rest of the season.

“I had expectations for practice as to the amount of yardage that they were going to swim, and they’ve already surpassed that by 2,500 yards. So we’re doing great there,” said Manion. “Their attitudes are great when they come in, they’re open to their new program, so we’re having a great start. Hopefully, it continues through the season, that’s all I want.”

The team attributes much of their starting success to patterns of consistency and focus throughout the season. “I think the team needs to work on staying consistent, going to practice every day, working their hardest, and making sure that work ethic stays up,” Kirberger said. “I think we want to have multiple records broken by the end of the season, and I want the team to have a lot more championship meet qualifiers.”

McHugh added, “We should do the best that we can. I want to beat every team that’s possible. I want to do better than last year. I want as many of our swimmers to make states as they can, be successful at SWCs, get all of the state cuts and SWC cuts.”

If this meet is an indication of how the rest of the season will go, the Masuk Boys Swim and Dive team has many more successes ahead of them. Catch them at their next meet against Brookfield on Tuesday, January 7.