STAC BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING: UNDERMANNED OWEGO BATTLES IN SEASON OPENER; GAULT POSTS THREE WINS (2021-01-16)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — A small, but scrappy Owego boys swimming and diving team opened the season here Friday, battling hard in a 106-51 STAC loss to Chenango Forks.

"They've been super excited to be here," Owego coach Kyle Lounsberry said of his team. "They were thrilled at practice. They're enthusiastic about it. And they want to compete, so they're happy, I'm happy with them. It's good all around."

The coach was pleased with the way his small, 10-swimmer roster stepped up to face the challenge.

"In general, most of them do (step up)," he said. "Being we have a small team there's going to be back-to-back events, which is never easy, and not once have I heard a complaint about that. They suck it up and they do it and they grind it out, and I'm proud of them for that."

Adam Gault would highlight the Indians' effort, collecting a trio of victories, two in individual events.

The junior dominated the 200-yard freestyle, winning by just over 15 seconds with a time of 2:05.06. He also won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:15.14.

In the 400 free relay, he came from behind during the anchor leg to touch the wall in 4:13.01. The Blue Devils were swimming the final event of the meet as exhibition, but were in the lead for a portion of the race. They had three quartets competing, the top group clocking 4:16.37.

"Adam Gault did well," Lounsberry said.

Senior Eric Theal put Owego in front during the opening leg, but CF would push in front on the second leg and hold the lead until the final leg. Dominick Mahonski and Gabe Snyder kept the Indians within striking range during the second and third legs, respectively.

Jacob Krassin gave the Indians a win in the 100 backstroke, posting a time of 1:32.41.

Gabe Snyder returned to diving this season and placed second off the springboard with 155.25 points, trailing CF's Jonathan Hozempa by 6.25 points.

"Gabe Snyder, he's going to do good things this year I think, even with low training," Lounsberry said. "He's taken up diving again and he's done really well with it. He busted out a couple of good times in the 50 and the 100, so I'm really happy with the way he performed."

Owego's other runner-up was Christian Hodges in the breast with a 1:34.21.

Third-place finishers for the home team were Snyder in the 50 free, the 200 medley relay of Hodges, Kyle Riegel Mahonski and Krassin, and the 200 free relay of Gault, Snyder, Riegel and Theal.

Full results can be found at www.section4swim.com.

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IN PHOTO 1: Owego's Adam Gault (bottom) is about to overtake a Chenango Forks competitor for a victory in the 400-yard freestyle at Friday's season opener. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.