Both local swim teams will be jockeying for high placement in this weekend's Section III competition at Nottingham High School.
In Class B, Weedsport's mixed team is sending all 16 members to qualify, while Auburn will bring a group of 20 to compete in Class A - including three independent swimmers from Skaneateles.
Just two seasons removed from winning a sectional title, the Maroons finished last season with several huge individual successes.
Senior standout Pat O'Donovan earned the Section III Swimmer of the Year after taking the sectional record - as well as the title - in the 100 backstroke.
He was also a champion in the 100 freestyle, as well as swimming legs in the Maroons' winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
This season, O'Donovan is one of three Maroons that will be competing in four events, though his competitors in the 100 freestyle will breathe a sigh of relief this year.
To give him some extra time between events, O'Donovan will swim the 50 free instead of the 100 - along with the relays and the backstroke.
Auburn won six events in the pool last season, and even without graduated champions Sean McNamara and Preston Chaffee, it's likely the team can repeat its feat.
The Maroons are sending at least three swimmers in every individual event.
Junior Lucas Zelehowsky has a great shot to defend his Class A titles in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly - he will also be competing in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Junior Justin Sawran will also be swimming four events - the 200 medley and 200 freestyle, along with 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.
Freshman Adam Zelehowsky, Brian Roe and Matt Warner will each spend time in three events, while John Tehan, Gary Leader, Greg Rifanburg, Sean Doyle, Kieran Cotter and Ian Molloy will each swim two. Patrick Stephens, Jeremy Best, Adam Cadwallader and Clay Murray will all compete in one event.
Skaneateles students Brian Stokes-Cawley, Matt Leverich and Reid Swartz will each swim two events, though they won't count towards any team score. Swartz will try his hand in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM, while Leverich will compete in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle with Stokes-Cawley, who will also swim the 50 freestyle.
With deep teams such as West Genesee, Mexico, Jamesville-Dewitt/Christian Brothers Academy and Liverpool, both Auburn and Weedsport will have tough times winning class or overall titles, but both squads will be near the top. Class B figures to be taken by Mexico, but the Warriors will compete with New Hartford, Holland Patent and Indian River for second place.
Individually, Nathan Earl, who was last season's team MVP, will look to improve his position in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, where he is seeded third and second respectively - the highest seeds on the team.
Earl will also swim the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Mike Reese and Logan Thompson will also swim two relays, as well as the 50 and 500 freestyle races for Thompson and 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle for Reese. Matt Crowley and Sean Wignall round out the four event Warriors athletes - both in two relays. Crowley will also take on the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, while Wignall will swim the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
The swimming competitions are slated to begin at 10 a.m. today, and the top 16 finishers in each class will move on to the George Falwell Meet on Saturday, which will merge the classes in the sectional finals.
Just two seasons removed from winning a sectional title, the Maroons finished last season with several huge individual successes.
Senior standout Pat O'Donovan earned the Section III Swimmer of the Year after taking the sectional record - as well as the title - in the 100 backstroke.
He was also a champion in the 100 freestyle, as well as swimming legs in the Maroons' winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
This season, O'Donovan is one of three Maroons that will be competing in four events, though his competitors in the 100 freestyle will breathe a sigh of relief this year.
To give him some extra time between events, O'Donovan will swim the 50 free instead of the 100 - along with the relays and the backstroke.
Auburn won six events in the pool last season, and even without graduated champions Sean McNamara and Preston Chaffee, it's likely the team can repeat its feat.
The Maroons are sending at least three swimmers in every individual event.
Junior Lucas Zelehowsky has a great shot to defend his Class A titles in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly - he will also be competing in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Junior Justin Sawran will also be swimming four events - the 200 medley and 200 freestyle, along with 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.
Freshman Adam Zelehowsky, Brian Roe and Matt Warner will each spend time in three events, while John Tehan, Gary Leader, Greg Rifanburg, Sean Doyle, Kieran Cotter and Ian Molloy will each swim two. Patrick Stephens, Jeremy Best, Adam Cadwallader and Clay Murray will all compete in one event.
Skaneateles students Brian Stokes-Cawley, Matt Leverich and Reid Swartz will each swim two events, though they won't count towards any team score. Swartz will try his hand in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM, while Leverich will compete in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle with Stokes-Cawley, who will also swim the 50 freestyle.
With deep teams such as West Genesee, Mexico, Jamesville-Dewitt/Christian Brothers Academy and Liverpool, both Auburn and Weedsport will have tough times winning class or overall titles, but both squads will be near the top. Class B figures to be taken by Mexico, but the Warriors will compete with New Hartford, Holland Patent and Indian River for second place.
Individually, Nathan Earl, who was last season's team MVP, will look to improve his position in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, where he is seeded third and second respectively - the highest seeds on the team.
Earl will also swim the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Mike Reese and Logan Thompson will also swim two relays, as well as the 50 and 500 freestyle races for Thompson and 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle for Reese. Matt Crowley and Sean Wignall round out the four event Warriors athletes - both in two relays. Crowley will also take on the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, while Wignall will swim the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
The swimming competitions are slated to begin at 10 a.m. today, and the top 16 finishers in each class will move on to the George Falwell Meet on Saturday, which will merge the classes in the sectional finals.
