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Published: February 09, 2010 10:33 pm

BOYS SWIMMING: GI's Carey keeps sectional title

BUFFALO — Evan Carey didn’t have to swim his very best to be the best.

The Grand Island senior repeated as Section VI champion in the 100-yard freestyle Tuesday at Erie County Community College’s Flickinger Center, though his winning time of 47.69 was eight-tenths of a second slower than his junior-year effort, which earned All-America consideration.

“It was nice to come back and win it again. I thank God for that opportunity,” said Carey, who will swim at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County next year. “I didn’t get the time I wanted, but what are you going to do? I can’t complain. I’ve still got states.”

Carey will also compete in the 200 free at the state meet, after finishing second to Orchard Park’s Phil Aronica with a time of 1:44.24.

“It’s really a blessed feeling,” he said. “I don’t work any harder than the other guys on my team, but I swim this fast. It’s pretty cool. I just want to use my ability as best I can.”

The only other Niagara Frontier League winner was Lockport’s Mark Wallace, who won the 100 back in a school-record time of 54.01.

Starpoint’s Zach Toth had the fastest preliminary time in the 200 IM, and got even lower with a school-record time of 2:01.32 in the finals, but came in second behind Orchard Park’s Declan McLaughlin.

“I would’ve liked to have taken first, but overall I’m happy,” said Toth.

“He accomplished the goal he came in with, qualifying for states,” Spartans coach Tim Menges said.

Starpoint’s Matt Schutt set a school-record in the 100 breast with a state-qualifying preliminary time of 1:02.40. He finished fourth in the finals with a time of 1:02.42.

Two Niagara Falls Wolverines qualified for states: Austin Devlin, who took third in the diving competition with a score of 417.00, and Sam Cale, who came in sixth in the 50 free with a time of 22.46 after touching the wall in 22.42 in the preliminary round.

North Tonawanda’s Scott Farrell placed fifth in the 50 free with a state-qualifying time of 22.39. Farrell finished fourth in the 100 free with a time of 49.08, just ahead of teammate Braden Kozlowski who came in at 49.11. Both were state-qualifying times. Farrell and Kozlowski teamed with Jesse Karcher and Matt Grace to take fifth in the 200 free with a time of 1:31.96. The foursome took fourth in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:21.25.

Undefeated NFL champion Lewiston-Porter did not produce any state qualifying times at the sectional meet Adam Swift set a school record in the 100 free with a preliminary time of 49.78. Eddie Quarantillo had the fourth-best diving score (378.80). The 200 free relay team of Paul Campbell, Swift, Nik Curry and Nick Conde placed fourth with a time of 1:31.19. They qualified for states at the NFL meet.

Niagara-Wheatfield’s 200 medley relay team of Josh Miler, Brad Heberle, Philip Fending and David MacSwan placed fourth with a time of 1:42.39. The Starpoint team of Luke Martinic, Matt Schutt, Zach Toth and Charles Schutt placed fifth with a school-record time (1:42.70).

Lockport’s Corey Petrie took second in the 500 free with a time of 4:55.97, less than a second over the state cut. Starpoint’s Alec toth took fifth with a time of 5:06.91