Scholastic Sports

LEHY swimmers put in impressive performances at Y Long Course Nationals

Sunday, 29 August 2010 22:22 Bill Doak

The Laurel East Hartford YMCA Swim Team (LEHY), saw another successful season with eighteen swimmers attending the 2010 Long Course National Championships at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD.

In a competition that hosts over 1000 swimmers, from YMCA programs across the nation, LEHY swimmers stood out as some of the best of the best. They represented LEHY and the town of East Hartford with class, as they swam fast, supported their teammates, and honored one of their own.

"The team unity this group of young people displayed was amazing," say Kaeley Steinnagel, head senior coach for the program. "We did not have a swimmer who did not feel the support of their teammates."

Unknown to their coach, the team made the decision to honor Nikki Giampolo, a LEHY swimmer who passed away from osteosarcoma (bone cancer), almost ten years ago. During the opening ceremonies they wore purple shirts, purple being Nikki's favorite color. The girls placed a beautiful quote on the back of their shirts which ended with: "Although we wish it (referring to a butterfly and Nikki's spirit) could have stayed, we are so thankful to have seen her at all." The boys' shirts stated in bold letters: "We Swim for Nikki".

Steinnagel says, "I have spoken of Nikki many times. She remains an inspiration to many of the LEHY swimmers even though they never had the opportunity to know her. It was very emotional to see a group of teens be so selfless and dedicate the night to someone else, to Nikki. It was wonderful. I am so proud of each of them, and I know Nikki is too."

In the pool, the LEHY swimmers continued to make Steinnagel smile. "Each relay was more fun to watch than the last. I am always dumbfounded at what kids can do in a relay." To say the swimmers stepped up for the relays is an understatement. For the first time in the teams' history, the sprint relays made finals, and three relays overall put up times that qualified them for a night time swim. The men's 200 medley relay of Nick Purrington, Zach Auclair, Jon Burr and Joey Lacus stunned the heat with a heat winning performance, and a 9th place finish. The men's 200 freestyle relay of Joey Lacus, Jon Burr, Nick Purrington and Connor Beaulieu blazed to a 14th place finish, and the final relay of the meet, the men's 400 medley relay, saw Nick Purrington, Zachary Auclair, Jon Burr and Connor Beaulieu show some outside smoke, moving up from their 15th place morning seed to finish 12th.

Individually the swimmers also made their mark. Zach Auclair swam the perfect race in the 50 meter breaststroke to earn a 2nd place finish (national runner-up), only .5 seconds behind the winner. He followed that up with a 9th place finish in the 100 meter breaststroke. Joey Lacus also made finals in the 50 meter breaststroke finishing 15th. In addition, he added a night swim in the 50 meter freestyle finishing 24th. Teammate Connor Beaulieu placed 19th in the 200 meter individual medley and 23rd in the 100 meter breaststroke, while Nick Purrington finished 24th in the 50 meter backstroke. For the ladies, Courtney Flynn showed a strong performance placing 19th in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Someone looking from the outside may think that a swim meet is only about the swims and beating the clock, but it is so much more. The meet hold the YMCA values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty in high regard which can be seen in each one of the swimmers on the pool deck. "I would like thank everyone who helped make this trip possible. The East Hartford YMCA, all the parents, our head coach Ed Steinnagel, Wayne Brusseau (my assistant coach on the trip), Rob Ensling, Marcy MacDonald, Juan Rivera and most especially my swimmers."

This year LEHY is sending seven members of the National Team off to college where they all have intentions of continuing their swimming careers: Zachary Auclair (Stony Brook University), Connor Beaulieu (Amherst College), Kelsey Boucher (South Dakota State University), Cat Coppler (Mount St. Mary's University, MD), Alex Garneau (Wheaton College), Joey Lacus (Seton Hall), Erin McVeigh (Sacred Heart University)."They have made the LEHY family proud for many years, and will always have a home wherever LEHY is."

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 September 2010 14:24 )

Fabio's path to Pebble Beach

Sunday, 29 August 2010 22:20 By Amy Grigitis

During his freshman year at East Hartford High School, Fabio Colon was a great student with a competitive nature and an interest in athletics. However, the fourteen-year-old had never picked up a golf club until one of the high school's teachers gave him a nudge in the right direction.

"My girlfriend's English teacher was the assistant coach of the golf team, and asked me to try out," said Colon. "I said I'd give it a shot, and I really liked it."

Despite his newfound love for golf, Colon said that the sport can sometimes be difficult to afford. That's when the teacher, Nate Quesnel, again stepped in and urged Colon to apply for The First Tee of Connecticut. First Tee is a program that uses golf as its vehicle to develop character and life skills in Connecticut's youth. The program helps fund the sport for students who may not have access to the game, while also focusing on core values such as sportsmanship, integrity and respect.

Equipped with a love of the game and the support of his family, coaches and the First Tee program, Colon took to the links and began practicing his swing three to four times a day.
"To be honest, I wasn't very good at first, but I am pretty competitive, and took it upon myself to get better," said Colon. The good thing about golf is that a player can be competitive with himself, needing no other players to practice with, unlike football, Colon said.
Now, four short years after beginning the sport, and at least 300 to 400 visits to East Hartford's Long Hill Country Club for practice, 18-year-old Colon will travel to California this Labor Day weekend to participate in the First Tee program's largest tournament of the year, The Home Care & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

Sponsored by the National Association for Homecare, the tournament is an official Champions Tour event, and serves as a showcase for the First Tee program. 245 junior golfers applied to participate in this year's tournament, and 78 were chosen, based on their involvement within community and First Tee programs, academic standing, and playing ability.

The 78 junior golfers will compete at Pebble Beach Sept. 3-5, playing alongside professional golfers like Gary Player, Loren Roberts, and Tom Watson.

As a model member of the First Tee program and also a mentor to younger players, Colon said, "There's a lot to look forward to. I'll be playing on a great course, with a lot of prestigious players. To be part of a tournament with anyone of that stature is pretty exciting."

Colon, who will play on Post University's golf team when he enters college this year, credits hard work, perseverance, and lots of practice to his talent and handicap of 4.3.

"I'm probably one of the hardest working players that ever lived," he laughed. "I can remember my friends playing football on Thanksgiving, and there I was hitting golf balls in the snow."
Along with the prestige that comes with being selected to play in the tournament, Colon is also happy to represent his home state.

"Connecticut is a fairly small state, not a lot of superstars come out of it," said Colon, who is the only competitor that lives in the Northeast region.

Of course, Colon is also looking forward to making his family proud, and will be traveling to California with his mother, Lidia.

"They've seen all the hard work I put in, all the hardship," Colon said of his family. "Everyone's proud that I'm giving the family a good name, and the city of East Hartford."

The Home Care & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach will air on the Golf Channel on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3-4 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5. The tournament is an official Champions Tour event, showcasing the skills of 78 junior players as they play alongside professional golfers.

Last Updated ( Monday, 30 August 2010 10:53 )

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