FSPY Swim Team places 8th at YMCA Nationals

• The Fanwood Scotch Plains YMCA swim team placed 8th overall against 37 teams from across the country
• The event, the highest level of competition for YMCA teams, was held in Indianapolis
• All of the FSPY national team swimmers met qualifying time standards to compete at this meet

SCOTCH PLAINS The Fanwood Scotch Plains YMCA (FSPY) swim team experienced its own version of “Hoosier Hysteria,” placing eightth overall against 119 teams from across the country at the YMCA Long Course National Championships in Indianapolis in August.

The FSPY team of nine women and 12 men achieved 11 top eight and 22 top 16 finishes, with the Women’s team placing fifth and the Men’s team placing 14th overall. The event, the highest level of competition for YMCA teams, ran from Aug. 3 to 7 at the Indianapolis University Natatorium, the nation’s largest indoor swimming facility and host to the 1987 Pan Am Games and 13 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

In one of the team’s most exciting events, 17-year-old Sarah Davis and 14-year-old Monika Burzynski faced off in the Women’s 50 m Butterfly finals with Burzynski taking second place (28.07) and Davis close behind in third place (28.10). Burzynski broke her own 13/14 girls team record in the 50 Fly and set a New Jersey 13/14 state record in the 100  Fly (1:02.28), placing fifth, with Davis finishing 10th (58.52) in the 100 Free. Rachel Maizes placed seventh in the 50 Breaststroke (34.63). Darlene Fung placed 23rd in the 50 Freestyle (27.25).

The Women’s relay team composed of Fung, Maizes, Burzynski and Davis finished third at finals in the 200 Medley (1:59.25), and fourth in the 400 Medley relay (4:25.85). In the 400 Free relay, the team of Amanda Banasiak, Burzynski, Maizes and Davis finished 12th (3:59.39).  Julie Stankiewicz, Davis, Fung and Burzynski finished 14th in the 800 Free relay (8:45.23). The women set team records in the 200 Medley, 200 and 800 Free relays.

In men’s events, Alex Skoog, competing in his last national meet with FSPY, finished sixth in the 50 Back (27.59) and 13th in the 100 Back (59.59), breaking two team records he had set in 2014. FSPY swimmers Chris Bondarowicz and Brody Rash dominated in the 50 Breast finals, with Bondarowicz finishing 10th (30.81) and Rash winning the “C” finals to place 17th (31.31). Bondarowicz placed 10th in the 100 Breast (1:06.94) and ninth in the 200 Breast (2:23.79), setting a new 15-18 Boys team record. Fourteen-year-old Josh Cohen set 13/14 team records in the 200 Back and the 100, 200, 400 and 800 Free events. He also set New Jersey 13/14 state records in the 200 and 400 Free. Cohen placed 8th in the 400 Free (4:09.12), 17th in the 200 Free (1:55.18) and 12th in the 800 Free (8:33.27).

In the Men’s 200 Medley Relay, Eric Chang, Bondarowicz, Skoog and Nick Heath finished 14th (1:51.39). In the 400 Free Relay, Cohen, Skoog, Heath and Rash placed 14th (3:39.00). The team of Cohen, Skoog, Peter Tomljanovic and Chang also finished 14th in the 800 m Free Relay (7:57.63).

All of the FSPY national team swimmers met qualifying time standards to compete at this meet. Among those also attending their first national championships were Erika Frazier, Macie Schaper, Caroline Warren, Kevin Fleck and Jake Lessner.  Returning nationals swimmers also included Nick Giardiello and Nolan Kearns.

“I am really proud of all of our FSPY swimmers on their performances at the meet.  Their hard work, effort and commitment was visible in all of our races both individual as well as relays,” said Chris Karelus, head FSPY coach. “I would like to thank our graduating seniors for everything they’ve done for our team over the years and wish them best of luck in college.”