The Rye/Blind Brook swim team sent a swimmer and a diver to the New York State Swimming Championships February 26 and 27 at upstate Ithaca College.  

By Mitch Silver

he Rye/Blind Brook swim team sent a swimmer and a diver to the New York State Swimming Championships February 26 and 27 at upstate Ithaca College.  They posted impressive performances in each discipline.

Senior Pat MacAulay, down with a cold just a week earlier, splashed to a personal best in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:46.24. It meant a 31st-place finish overall and a top-6 finish among Section 1 strokers. His 4:46.86 in the 500-free B Final placed him 14th in the state, and earned three points for Rye/Blind Brook in the team standings.  

Varsity Coach Lara Vivolo, who made the journey along with diving coach Melanie Dilascio, emphasized something else. “Pat received the Sportsmanship Award out of 60 Section 1 athletes, and it’s very much deserved. His coaches, family, teammates, school, and community are very proud of all his hard work and accomplishments.”

 On the 5-meter board, ninth grader Michael Ackert placed 29th out of 54 divers. Vivolo was positively gushing over his diving. “Michael’s a freshman! What an accomplishment to qualify and place so high in his first appearance at this meet. I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

MacAulay’s future efforts will come in a Providence College swim cap.  Ackert has three more years in Rye/Blind Brook colors. Which makes coaches Vivolo and Dilascio very happy.