Pine Bush’s boys’ swimming team came into the OCIAA meet over the weekend as the reigning champs, and made an opening statement by winning with 200-medley relay and set a meet record in the event with a time of 1:37.17.

Pine Bush's Zane Taylor was 10th in the 200-individual medley.

That time shaved almost two seconds off New Paltz’s meet record in that event, and the Bushmen would not stop and went onto win the meet and remain champs.

Pine Bush would score 402 points, far out in front of Monroe-Woodbury’s 351 points. Valley Central would finish seventh with 147 points.

Pine Bush’s Nick Boncek, who also swam on the 200-medley relay team, would win the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:47.42 and finish second in the 100-butterfly.

Lawrence Virgilio, who also swam in the 200-medley relay, was first in the 100-freestyle and second in the 50-freestyle and followed in third-place by teammate, Eddie Salle.

Colton Roe, also a member of the 200-medley relay team, was first in the 100-backstroke with a time of 53.8, setting a meet record and third in the 100-freestyle. Dennis Daly, the fourth member of the 200-medley relay team, was second in the 100-breaststroke.
Matt Salle was second in the diving competition with 452.20 points. Pine Bush was also second in the 200 and 400 – freestyle relays.

During a 20-minute break before the 500-freestyle marathon, Kevin Blackwell, who coaches Pine Bush, sensed his team was headed for another OCIAA championship.

“We’re on pace,” he said.

And that momentum could also help in the sectional meet this weekend at Valley Central, where the Bushmen hope to repeat again this year.

Valley Central’s Tom Noller was hoping to qualify for the state meet in 100-breastroke, and he needed a time of 102.96 to do so, but he was short by less than a second with a time of 103.61 for a fourth-place finish.

Earlier in the week, Noller set a school record in the event with a time of 103.09 when the Vikings beat Middletown 96-90 at home on senior night.

“I was hoping to go 1:04,” said Noller.

By Bond Brungard
sports@tcnewspapers.com