Masuk High diver Jake Ryan, pictured above, set a school record with a first-place score of 238.65 and teammate Jude Mathien earned third with a score of 136.65 when Masuk’s swim and dive team hosted Brookfield on Wednesday.
“We are so proud of him,” said Masuk Coach Michael Shortell who, along with Head Coach Jenna Manion and Dive Coach Noah Duncan, are a part of program history that very well could be reset by Ryan in the years to come.
“This is a great accomplishment, especially as a sophomore, and we look forward to seeing him continue to succeed the rest of this season and in the rest of his time at Masuk High,” Shortell said.
Ryan beat the school record of 225.35 set by Kenny Pancoast in 2009. He also broke his personal best by over 25 points. His highest scored dive was his forwards 2 1/2 summersault tuck, receiving scores of 6, 6.5, and 7 from the judges.
“Jake is a sophomore but in his first year of diving, and has shown a strong work ethic and ability to do difficult dives and has been improving greatly over the past few months,” Duncan said. “We are looking forward to SWCs next week and States the week after with aspersions of getting onto the podium for both.”
Masuk’s divers have made a big impression on the coaching staff.
As for the rest of the meet, a shorthanded Masuk squad lost 93-81 but, in addition to the big diving results, recorded some impressive swims. The Panthers were without five team members out with illness, but hung in there until late in the meet.
Masuk’s 200 Yard Medley Relay team of Will Hardy, Mason Eannotti, Jack McHugh, and Matthew Buzinaro was first in a time of 1:47:39.
In the 100 Yard Butterfly Masuk took second and third place. Eannotti was second with a time of 56:18. William Rodriguez earned third place with a time of 1:07:06.
In the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay the Panthers again placed second and third. The second place Masuk relay team had a time of 1:38:73 and this relay consisted of Matthew Buzinaro, McHugh, Hardy and Eannotti.
The third place Masuk relay team timed in at 1:53:97 and this relay consisted of Aidan Cammarano, Thomas Rodriguez, Akkie Yerragudi and Aiden Rodas.
In the 100 Yard Backstroke Hardy took first place with a time of 58:07. Brookfield went exhibition after this event. In the 100 Yard Breaststroke Eannotti was first in 1:07:94 and Cammarano came in third with a time of 1:12:32.
“We are hoping to have a full and healthy team soon,” said Shortell, whose Panthers stand at 5-4 heading into a Friday, Feb. 20, visit to Newtown High at 6 p.m.
The Panthers will host the South-West Conference swim championships Thursday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. The SWC diving finals are at Pomperaug of Southbury Wednesday (Feb. 25) at 5:30.
“The SWC meet, states and opens are just around the corner,” Shortell said. “We are very excited to see some good swims and see our boys perform well in the next few weeks. We are beginning the most exciting part of the season.”
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