Gonzaga High School finished first at the recent WMPSSDL swim meet held at George Mason University. Locally, Paul VI finished fourth, O’Connell was third and Bishop Ireton 14^th.

Freshman Thomas Hale-Kupiec led PVI. He finished second in the 100 free (48.15) and seventh in the 200 free (1:48.43). Senior Pat Cureton was fourth in the 50 free (22.43) and fifth in the 100 free (50.53). Sophomore Bobby Lytle was fourth in the 100 breast (1:03.45) and 11th in the 200 IM (2:08.23). Junior Mark Moran placed fifth in one-meter springboard diving (275.70 points)

"Both the team and myself were very motivated. Motivation brings great times," said Hale-Kupiec.

"I lowered my times in both races by about 1/4 and 1/2 seconds respectively. The starts are my strongest phase of each race," said Cureton.

PVI’s 200 free relay (Cureton, Hale-Kupiec, Kane and Lytle) placed fourth (1:32.3). The 400 free relay (Cureton, Kane, Lytle and Hale-Kupiec) placed sixth (3:28.01).

"The boys overall effort was the best that I've seen all season," said head coach Ahearn.

Spearheading O'Connell was junior John Dragelin who placed second in the 500 free (4:43.9) and fourth in the 200 free (1:46.04). Junior Nick Macedonia was second in the 100 breast (1:03.04) and ninth in the 100 butterfly (55.49). Senior Drew Hellmann took seventh in the 100 back (57.2) and ninth in the 200 IM (2:04.87). Senior Thomas Rooney was 11th in the 100 free (51.66). In addition, sophomore Bink Stewart barely finished out of the top 12 in the 100 back.

"In the 500 free, I brought my time down by about two seconds. In the 200 free, I brought my time down by about a second. I was very focused on the competition," said Dragelin.

"John broke the all-time O'Connell record in the 500 free," said Head Coach Evan Stiles.

"In the breast I did my best to keep up with everyone in the first 50 and then I gave it all that I had in the final 50," said Macedonia.

The Knights’ 400 free relay (Dragelin, Hellmann, Rooney and Macedonia) placed fourth (3:23.12). The 200 free relay of Dragelin, Macedonia, freshman Brian Schmitt and Rooney (1:34.0) and 200 medley relay of Stewart, Schmitt, Hellmann and junior Phil Cotchen (1:49.93) each placed fifth.

"In the 400 relay, we set a school record. We're very pleased," said Dragelin.

"The guys swam well overall" said coach Stiles.

No Ireton swimmer finished in the top 12. However, junior Joel Patierno placed a respectable 16th in the 100 breast (1:09.43). Sophomore Garrett Oldland turned in a respectable time in the 500 free.

"Joel had a very good time. We graduated some real talented kids last season. We just don't have the numbers on the boys’ side right now," said Coach Peggy Verducci.