Four out of four Maroons agree. The 200-yard medley relay is the most anticipated event of the weekend.
And why shouldn't they be excited? The foursome of Pat O'Donovan, Lucas Zelehowsky, Preston Chaffee and Sean McNamara form the top-ranked squad in the event. All four are battle-tested in the state championships. And best of all, their all-American time of 1:36.67 is more than a full second faster than the second-seeded contenders.
“It's really exciting, and where we're positioned makes it really, really exciting,” said Chaffee, a senior co-captain making his second appearance at the state championships. “There's nothing like coming into the meet (having a 1-second lead) on second place. That's really motivated me throughout the past few weeks.”
They'll put their No. 1 ranking on the line beginning Friday in the NYSPHAA Federation Championship at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in Long Island. Auburn will also be represented in five other events: the 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard medley relay. The Maroons, who enter the second relay with a No. 2 seed, know none of the events will be a swim in the park.
“It makes us feel pretty good, but then again, we have that pressure to perform,” said O'Donovan, a junior making his third trip to the state championships. “Plus we're wondering maybe if some teams didn't put in their best times. We can't just settle down, we have to go as fast as we can, still.”
O'Donovan also earned an individual top seed, in the 100 backstroke. He reiterated that seeds are far less important than finishes.
“I'm seeded first right now, but I know there's a couple people that haven't put in their top time that are faster than me,” O'Donovan said.
History would tend to side with O'Donovan's theory.
Though his all-American time of 50.97 was fast enough for the top seed, he'll face off against state record holder Ricky Henahan, of West Irondequoit (Section V). Henehan, seeded third, posted a time last year that was almost a full second faster than O'Donovan's.
“I just want to swim at least as fast or faster than I did at sectionals,” O'Donovan said, adding that he has set a goal to finish in the top three.
Two other Maroons will at least start in the top three in their respective events: Lucas Zelehowsky (second, 200 IM) and Sean McNamara (third, 50 freestyle). Both swimmers are making their second appearance at the state meet, and both agreed it's a lot less nerve-racking the second time around.
“It's kind of nice, because the first year there was a lot of anxiety and nervousness,” said McNamara, the other senior co-captain. “My mind was blown at how fast they were.”
This year the Maroons are looking to be the ones blowing people away. Especially Zelehowsky.
On a list of 72 competitors in the 200 IM, one name stands out for the sophomore: Dan O'Connor. It's not just because he's the only name penciled above Zelehowsky's on the seed sheet. The Section III comrades - O'Connor swims for Westhill - are anxious to one-up each other.
“We're pretty good friends, and we have a little rivalry going on right now,” Zelehowsky said. “In sectionals we had almost the same time, and I look forward to see how we can better ourselves for states.”
Zelehowsky has already earned a time that is all-American consideration, but only needs to shave about a second off his time to earn automatic all-American status.
To make it all happen, the Maroons know they have what it takes to be at the top when the waves settle. It's just a matter of execution.
“Swimming to me has always been a mind thing,” McNamara said. “After you swim 6,000 or 8,000 yards a day, a 50 free is not really that big of a deal. But if you think about one wrong thing, the entire race is gone.”
It also comes down to performing as a team. When asked what it meant for him to rely on his teammates, Chaffee thought. Then he laughed and said, “Let's just say I'm pretty glad I'm with the three guys I'm with.”
Six Maroons swim their way into states
Name Event Time Seed
Preston Chaffee 200 IM 2:04.79 66
Sean McNamara 50 freestyle 21.53^ 3
Sean McNamara 100 freestyle 48.51 18
Pat O'Donovan 100 backstroke 50.97* 1
Pat O'Donovan 100 freestyle 47.56 4
Lucas Zelehowsky 200 IM 1:55.74^ 2
Chaffee/McNamara/
O'Donovan/Zelehowsky 200 medley relay 1:36.67* 1
Chaffee/McNamara/
O'Donovan/Zelehowsky 400 medley relay 3:14.67 2
* All-American automatic time
^ All-American consideration time
“It's really exciting, and where we're positioned makes it really, really exciting,” said Chaffee, a senior co-captain making his second appearance at the state championships. “There's nothing like coming into the meet (having a 1-second lead) on second place. That's really motivated me throughout the past few weeks.”
They'll put their No. 1 ranking on the line beginning Friday in the NYSPHAA Federation Championship at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in Long Island. Auburn will also be represented in five other events: the 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 400-yard medley relay. The Maroons, who enter the second relay with a No. 2 seed, know none of the events will be a swim in the park.
“It makes us feel pretty good, but then again, we have that pressure to perform,” said O'Donovan, a junior making his third trip to the state championships. “Plus we're wondering maybe if some teams didn't put in their best times. We can't just settle down, we have to go as fast as we can, still.”
O'Donovan also earned an individual top seed, in the 100 backstroke. He reiterated that seeds are far less important than finishes.
“I'm seeded first right now, but I know there's a couple people that haven't put in their top time that are faster than me,” O'Donovan said.
History would tend to side with O'Donovan's theory.
Though his all-American time of 50.97 was fast enough for the top seed, he'll face off against state record holder Ricky Henahan, of West Irondequoit (Section V). Henehan, seeded third, posted a time last year that was almost a full second faster than O'Donovan's.
“I just want to swim at least as fast or faster than I did at sectionals,” O'Donovan said, adding that he has set a goal to finish in the top three.
Two other Maroons will at least start in the top three in their respective events: Lucas Zelehowsky (second, 200 IM) and Sean McNamara (third, 50 freestyle). Both swimmers are making their second appearance at the state meet, and both agreed it's a lot less nerve-racking the second time around.
“It's kind of nice, because the first year there was a lot of anxiety and nervousness,” said McNamara, the other senior co-captain. “My mind was blown at how fast they were.”
This year the Maroons are looking to be the ones blowing people away. Especially Zelehowsky.
On a list of 72 competitors in the 200 IM, one name stands out for the sophomore: Dan O'Connor. It's not just because he's the only name penciled above Zelehowsky's on the seed sheet. The Section III comrades - O'Connor swims for Westhill - are anxious to one-up each other.
“We're pretty good friends, and we have a little rivalry going on right now,” Zelehowsky said. “In sectionals we had almost the same time, and I look forward to see how we can better ourselves for states.”
Zelehowsky has already earned a time that is all-American consideration, but only needs to shave about a second off his time to earn automatic all-American status.
To make it all happen, the Maroons know they have what it takes to be at the top when the waves settle. It's just a matter of execution.
“Swimming to me has always been a mind thing,” McNamara said. “After you swim 6,000 or 8,000 yards a day, a 50 free is not really that big of a deal. But if you think about one wrong thing, the entire race is gone.”
It also comes down to performing as a team. When asked what it meant for him to rely on his teammates, Chaffee thought. Then he laughed and said, “Let's just say I'm pretty glad I'm with the three guys I'm with.”
Six Maroons swim their way into states
Name Event Time Seed
Preston Chaffee 200 IM 2:04.79 66
Sean McNamara 50 freestyle 21.53^ 3
Sean McNamara 100 freestyle 48.51 18
Pat O'Donovan 100 backstroke 50.97* 1
Pat O'Donovan 100 freestyle 47.56 4
Lucas Zelehowsky 200 IM 1:55.74^ 2
Chaffee/McNamara/
O'Donovan/Zelehowsky 200 medley relay 1:36.67* 1
Chaffee/McNamara/
O'Donovan/Zelehowsky 400 medley relay 3:14.67 2
* All-American automatic time
^ All-American consideration time
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