Cassell Wins Suffolk Swimming Crown
Gunther Cassell is heading back to the state swimming championships in Rochester where the Huntington High School sophomore will attempt to win his second consecutive 100-yard breaststroke crown.
The teenager won the Suffolk breaststroke title last week, touching first in 57.80 seconds. It was a swift time, but slightly off his county record of 57.20. Cassell has also qualified for the state championships in the 50-yard freestyle.
Cassell's father is a two-time state swimming champion. Geoff Cassell won his crowns for West Islip. He was in the arena in Buffalo to see his son become the first Blue Devil state swimming champion ever last winter.
Joining Cassell at the state finals will be teammate Thomas Scott, who finished second in the Suffolk championships in the 200-yard IM (1:59.31) and 500-yard freestyle (4:50.36). The senior's times were both well within the state qualifying standards.
Cassell and Scott will be in the pool for the state finals on Friday-Saturday, March 1-2 at the Webster Aquatic Center located on the grounds of Webster Schroeder High School in suburban Rochester. Longtime Blue Devil head coach Gilbert Smith is looking forward to what his two stars can do in the state meet.
Huntington finished ninth in the team scoring at the Suffolk swimming and diving championships. The Blue Devils scored 123 points in the 24-team competition. Half Hollow Hills finished in first place with 307 points and Smithtown was second with 279 points.
In other Blue Devil action at the county meet:
• The 200-yard medley relay team of Thomas Scott, Todd Colvin, Gunther Cassell and Daniel McCartney finished eighth in a time of 1:45.82.
• The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Daniel McCartney, Spencer Young, Todd Colvin and Ryan Dyckes finished 14th in a time of 1:43.37.
• The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Thomas Scott, Ryan Dyckes, Daniel McCartney and Gunther Cassell finished seventh in a time of 3:31.09.
• Daniel McCartney finished 19th in the 100-yard freestyle in 53.32 seconds.