By Derrick Touba Jr.
From January 26-28 2023, The Yonkers Public Schools Boys Swim Team competed at the Section 1 Conference C Divisional Championships. Yonkers scored a large victory scoring 421 points, 56 points ahead of the next closest team to gain Conference honors.
A key contributor was sophomore Miguel Gaviria who contributed a whopping 103 points for Yonkers. Gaviria earned Gold in the 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:07.43, a new school record for the event.
He also earned silver in the 200 Yard IM earning a time of 2:14.25 and contributed to the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay and the 200 Yard Medley Relay with times of 1:56.75 and 1:43.68. Earning silver and bronze respectively.
When asked how it feels to be a conference champ Gaviria said “ being a conference champion was something I put as a goal after last year’s divisionals, where I missed medaling by 0.07 seconds. Throughout that race seeing one of my club teammates cheering for me and seeing them congratulate me after the race really makes this race 10x more special”
The 200 Yard Medley Relay and 200 Yard Freestyle Relay consisted of three other athletes who all severely contributed to Yonkers. Seniors Franklin Lopez and Sean Reardon and 7th grader Justin Soriano.
Standout swimmer Lopez contributed towards 92 points, along with the relay he placed fourth in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 26.05, and 6th in the 100 yard freestyle with 1:00.43.
“Seeing how it was my first season on the swim team, I’m very proud of myself since I haven’t swam in 4 years. I came back strong for this moment and I’ll remember this moment as one of my best. And of course I wasn’t alone, this was a team effort to pull off a conference championship. I’m truly glad to have a supportive team.” Lopez said on the accomplishment.
Additionally, Reardon individually earned a bronze medal in the 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:14.62, and 6th in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 1:07.30. He tallied for 95 points Justin Soriano, despite being in middle school, rose to the occasion adding a bronze medal in the 100 Yard Freestyle finishing with a time of 1:43.68, and earned 5th in the 100 Yard Backstroke with a time of 1:08.00 adding 96 points overall to Yonkers’s total.
Other notable performers include:
● Thomas Letona: fourth place in the 100 Yard Freestyle: 58.14
● Joshua Marroquin: fourth place in the 500 Yard Freestyle: 5:42.24
While the implications of this meet on the teams schedule remain unknown, the team continues to prepare for Sectionals which will take place on February 12-13.
