The Holy Cross boys swimming and diving team put up a strong effort at Thursday’s Class S state meet at Wesleyan University in Middletown.
In the end, Brookfield was too much and claimed the state championship. The Bobcats scored 649 team points to 571 for the Crusaders. Sacred Heart finished sixth with 304 points. Kaynor Tech was 29th with 26 points.
Holy Cross began the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay behind the team of junior Lucas Racevicius, sophomore Ben Bowler, sophomore John Tucker and sophomore Sam Mason. The Crusader relay won the race in 1:39.79. Sacred Heart was fifth in the medley relay.
Holy Cross also claimed first in the 400 freestyle relay behind Racevicius, senior Ryan Hickey, Tucker and junior Chris Fryer. That relay finished the race in 3:21.06.
Sacred Heart junior Daniel Walsh took a state title in the next event, the 200 freestyle, in 1:43.96. Walsh also finished first in the 500 freestyle in 4:44.43.
In the third event of the day, Fryer and Racevicius went 1-2 in the 200 IM. Fryer won the race in 2:00.20, Racevicius was second in 2:00.77.
Tucker and Mason took fourth and fifth in the 50 freestyle.
Kaynor Tech sophomore Matheus Silva took third place in one-meter diving, which took place on March 9. Those were all the points scored for the Panthers.
Sacred Heart senior Ben Gomes contributed some good team points with his fourth place finish in diving. Holy Cross freshman Marcas Racevicius was eighth in diving.
Tucker was second in the 100 butterfly. Fryer and Mason were second and fourth in the 100 freestyle.
Holy Cross took second in the 200 freestyle relay behind Mason, Hickey, sophomore Alex Ford and Fryer. Sacred Heart was fifth with its team of junior William Witkoski, senior Chris Bussey, sophomore Anthony Sagnella and Walsh.
Lucas Racevicius was third in the 100 backstroke while Bowler placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke.