Avon High Swims Past Granby Memorial 110-70

The swim meet between Avon High and at the on Tuesday evening revealed programs in two different stages of development.

Indeed, Avon High, which defeated Granby Memorial High 110-70, is in rebuilding mode after having graduated 17 swimmers from last year’s squad.

As such, head coach Diana Cesaro used the meet, just the team’s second this season, as an opportunity to change things up a bit.

“Today was interesting because everybody swam a little bit differently, not their normal events, and they swam some very good times,” said Cesaro.

Granby Memorial, in just it’s third varsity year, is simply in building mode with 33 swimmers (with just three seniors), it’s largest team yet, but still a far cry from the 53-member Falcons squad.

Head coach Rich Gadoury was thrilled with his team’s performance in just its second meet.

“They did phenomenal,” head coach Gadoury said. “They stepped up and went above and beyond my expectations. This is the best team athletically I’ve ever had. They really need to just stay focused.”

One of the issues, Gadoury said, was the sheer size of Avon’s team.

“That’s the problem with a young team,” Gadoury said. “They get psyched out. They see 53 swimmers come in and they say, ‘Oh my God, we can’t compete with them.’ But we absolutely can. We were up after the medley relay and we had a chance to win the 200 free relay. We had a chance to keep Avon on their toes.”

Indeed, Granby Memorial’s team of Jamie Moffa, Kaylee Jerman, Jillian Petraitis and Anna Fede won the 200 medley relay in 1:54.38, while John Budlong won the 50 free (24.35) and 100 back (1:01.22); Canton High’s Connor Bowman, swimming for Granby Memorial, won the 100 fly (1:03.50) and freshman Tucker Bowman, Connor’s brother, just touched out Avon’s Kelly Culkin in the 500 free (5:35.90 to 5:35.92), gaining some measure of revenge for Culkin edging Tucker Bowman in the 200 free (2:03.37 to 2:03.63).

“John Budlong stepped up and won both of his races,” Gadoury said. “Our freshman, Tucker Bowman, he swam strong. … He did great and he stayed competitive.”

Granby Memorial’s Erin Walsh and Aiden Wolf finished first and second, respectively, in the diving event.

But the Bears had trouble keeping up with Avon’s depth and experience.

Avon High’s Zac Cesaro, Erin Hartigan and Rachel Rosow finished first, second and third, respectively, in the 200 individual medley, while Cesaro barely touched out Connor Bowman in the 100 breast stroke (1:10.78 to 1:10.98). Charlie Anderson placed first in the 100 free, and he teamed with Michael Van Dusen, Maurice Cintra and Jordan Alter to win the 200 free relay (1:45.14). Hartigan, Cesaro, Culkin and Tara Toppazzino combined to win the 400 free relay.

In all, both coaches were pleased with the performances of their respective teams, though they have different hopes going forward.

Diana Cesaro, for her part, said that she hopes to have a .500 team.

“I would love to go to the winning side,” she said. “We lost 17 seniors from last year. We have 19 seniors this year, but we’re trying to rebuild with the younger ones. This [meet] was excellent because everyone got to swim.”

Gadoury said that he hopes to have a team as strong as Avon’s one day, so that having a .500 year is considered a rebuilding one. His team is on its way, as last year's girls squad placed second to Avon at last year's Splash Classic - the de facto state meet for girls who compete on co-ed squads during the winter.

“My goal is to have 53 swimmers Granby; it’s going to happen someday,” Gadoury said. “I’m going to take Granby to where they’re going to be competing across the state with the Cheshires and Greenwiches.”

Granby Memorial will face Windsor on the road on Friday at 3:45 p.m., while Avon High will face Conard at Cornerstone Aquatic Center in West Hartford next Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 3:30 p.m.