Local Swimmers Compete at Wesleyan and Yale

WHS swimmers (L-R) Chris Piccione, Colin Curtin, Adam Clark, Brendan Stewart, Colin Stewart, Rich Bielak, Daniel Camilliere

The Wethersfield boys swim team finished 5th at the Class M Finals meet and had some great relay and individual performances during the daylong event at Wesleyan University.  During the meet, the swimming Eagles finished ahead of 18 other schools and posted good enough times to send five student athletes to compete at the Open Swim Championships at Yale. 
 
Wethersfield seniors Colin Curtin, Daniel Camilliere, Brendan Stewart, and junior Christopher Piccione took home top-honors in the 200-yard Medley Relay at the class finals. That same relay team finished 3rd at the State Open and posted a faster time at the open than they did at the finals.
 
Piccione also finished 2nd in the 100-yard Butterfly and 4th in the 50-yard Freestyle. The powerful junior also teamed with Stewart, Adam Clark, and Charlie Renaud for a 3rd place finish in the 200-yard Freestyle Relay at the class finals. 
 
Wethersfield coach Lee Schwartzman said that Piccione has been very adaptable this season. 
 
“We changed events up on Chris out of necessity for the team.  We had a need him in duel meets this year and we needed him in the 50 {Yard Freestyle},” Schwartzman, who also coaches the high school girls and youth swimming teams in Wethersfield, said. “Chris has worked hard. He’s been great as a junior stepping into the role of being the guy in the sprint events. He’s got his eyes on some records for next year.”
 
The two meets were the last for Curtin, who was a team captain and will be swimming collegiately this time next year. During both events he was limited due to an injury, but it didn’t stop the team’s inspirational leader from competing.    
 
“Colin is a captain and a fantastic leader.  As a captain he showed his real character,” Schwartzman said. “He’s a seasoned swimmer and a Type A personality. He’s the first guy in the water.” 
 
“Colin really learned how to train. Between his sophomore and junior years he really stepped it up in terms of training,” His coach said while reflecting on his time with Curtin, “The way that Colin has carried himself was very mature and every year he gotten better and better.  I think he realized how good he can be.”
 
The veteran coach now turns his attention to next season, where the team will be looking to win their ninth straight conference title. 
 
“We’ll be even a smaller team next year, but every year kids step up and fill in the holes. They take pride in keeping the conference streak alive,” Schwartzman said, “The conference streak is very important to us. We take it for granted a little bit, but it is something that needs to be a staple of the program.  No matter what happens, we need to win the conference.”   
 
Junior Max Walter represented the Eagles diving team and finished in the top two-thirds of divers at the finals competition.
 
Rocky Hill finished 10th overall at the Class S Finals and also sent swimmers to the Open Championships at Yale.
 
Jack Malespoini finished off his sensational senior season with a bang.  He took home 1st place in the 50-yard Freestyle and finished 2nd in the 100-yard Freestyle at the class finals. He capped off his high school campaign by finishing 3rd and 5th in the respective events at the Open Championship.      
 
Malespoini along with Wyatt Gentenbein, Kevin MacDonald, and Clayton Parrotta are the four Rocky Hill seniors that will be graduating this year. Next season, the Terriers will have several swimmers returning led by sophomore Matt Callahan, who placed 13th and 16th at the 200-yard Freestyle and the 50-yard Freestyle at the class finals.  

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