Berlin Swimmers Win First

Berlin won its first meet of the year, beating Bulkeley in the pool on Feb. 10.

"We earned our first win of the season and we were so excited," Berlin coach Eileen Thurston said. "The team swam extremely well. They logged in 38 best times and some were tremendous drops. We knew that they had a chance if they all stepped up to perform that day."

First place finishers were Dan Klotz in the 50 and 100 free, Ryan Marquis in the 200 and 500 free, Wojtek Kajzer in the 200 IM and the 100 Back, Brian Kennure in the 100 fly, and Luke Switzer in the 100 breast stroke. 

All three relays took first place as well. It was the second through fifth place points that were accumulated that helped Berlin accomplish the goal of a victory.

Brendan McLarty came from behind in the 100 breast stroke, to take second and then got out and swam in the very next event as the anchor of our 400 free relay, where he again came from behind to overtake the Bulkeley relay to earn third place. McLarty had four best times in the meet. 

Other great performences were from Brian Kennure in the 200 free (2nd) and 100 fly (1st), Tom Drozdzowski in the 100 fly (2nd), Ahmad Hassan in the 100 fly(4th), Chris VonAchen in the 200 IM and the 500 free and many more according to Thurston.

In an earlier meet against Avon, Berlin swam well in an exciting loss.

"Although we lost the meet it was a very exciting one, the team earned 31 best times and Dan Klotz smashed two school records in absolutely amazing swims," Thurston said. "He broke the 2009 record in the 200 free finishing with a time of 1:45.93, two full seconds below the old record. He then proceeded to break his own 100 free record that he set last year with a new time of 47.78."

Other great swims were accomplished by Ryan Marquis, Brendan McLarty, Tom Drozdzowski and Luke Switzer.

Berlin's final dual meet is on Friday vs Lyman Hall at Sheehan High School.