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02/07/2023 08:29 AMThe Hand boys’ swimming and diving co-op team returns to the pool this winter after a very prosperous postseason push last campaign. While the Tigers sport a small roster, it is long on talent, which is well evident by the boys’ dual-meet run thus far and assembling several key pieces to a potential state championship puzzle.
The Hand squad, which is made up of athletes from Hand, Old Saybrook, and Branford high schools, finished runner-up, with 459 points, at the Class M State Championship to Pomperaug (792.5 points) last March.
Tigers’ Head Coach Scott Butler stated that despite the shrunk roster of nine for competition and 14 total, he knows everything is coming together quite well for Hand to make major strides and splashes once the horn sounds on postseason action.
“The Hand boys’ team, like the girls’ team [from this past fall], is small but mighty,” said Butler. “This squad has a real legitimate shot in the Class M division, as the returning members are all well-versed in championship-caliber swim meets. Even with this small squad, these boys will be a formidable contender again for the Class M title come March.”
One of the more prominent swimmers in the state is right in the Tigers’ backyard, in junior captain Elliot Lee. Lee had arguably the most decorated postseason an athlete could ask for a year ago. He was named the Most Outstanding Performer for the SCC Championship meet, where he took titles in both the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly events. He followed that up by becoming a Class M state champion for the 200 IM and 100 freestyle, plus he was part of the victorious 400 freestyle relay squad.
“Elliot is only becoming a more mature and developed swimmer,” Butler said. “In our first four meets of the season, he has already broken two school records and is on track to hold all of the individual swimming school records at Hand. Typically, in this sport, school records fall at the very end of the season, when swimming athletes hit their prime. But Elliot broke the 200 free record in our very first meet against Sheehan [1:44.19], and then broke the school’s 500 free record on Jan. 16 against Amity [4:44.15].”
Surrounding Lee are some very young and talented and top swimmers in the area, with fellow captain and senior Jonah Kehew, who is looking to improve on his 11th and 4th-place finishes for Class M in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, respectively, from last season. Also, at states, he was an integral part of the two top 8 relay team finishes.
Additional returning athletes after solid postseason showings a year ago are Matt Gentil (12th in the 200 IM and 11th in the 100 breaststroke at states), Justin Li (SCC finalist in the 200 IM), Alex Muenker (swam the 200 free and 100 backstroke at state trials), Adam Signorello (finished 16th for Class M in the 500 free), and Alex Marino (swimming the 50 and 100 free at the SCC Championship qualifier), who all round out a strong 10th-grade support class.
Freshmen newcomers Grant Campbell (free and breaststroke events) and Thomas Starkey (distance free, sprint free, and 200 IM) “bring talented depth to this small squad,” stated Butler.
For the dual meet season, Hand sports a sound mark of 3-4 after an 88-78 loss to Hamden at the Madison Swim and Racquet Club on Jan. 30. Previously, the Tigers bested Sheehan (86-71), Watertown (69-62), and West Haven (93-75) with defeats coming against Shelton (90-77), Amity (95-77), and Fairfield Prep (95-66).
“Two of our three wins were with only eight boys suited up, and both our losses were to teams that were more than double our size,” said Butler. “Unfortunately, all of our races are scored out to fifth place, and it has been a rare event here or there in which all three team entries are in.”
The close-knit club is also comprised of one swimmer from Old Saybrook High School in freshman Brandan Beaudoin, who has already auto-qualified for the Class S State Championship in multiple events, and four swimmers from Branford High School of sophomore Justin Pham (qualifying in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, and 100 backstroke), and freshmen Chase Barone (competing in 100 breaststroke), Alexander Sanchez-Ampudio (swimming in the 200 IM, 200 free), and Emilio Arce (sprint free and backstroke participant).
“These swimmers have been treated like and have been acting as one team so far, all season,” Butler said. “It is very difficult to tell which swimmer is from which school because they are all getting along so well. They have been working really hard at practice and have been motivating one another throughout every practice and every competition. In fact, these boys have been looking stronger and stronger as times continue to drop.”
The Tigers’ complete roster is composed of Hand swimmers in freshman Grant Campbell, sophomore Matthew Gentil, senior captain Jonah Kehew, junior captain Elliot Lee; sophomores Justin Li, Alex Marino, Alex Muenker, Adam Signorello, freshman Thomas Starkey; Old Saybrook freshman Brandan Beaudoin; and Branford athletes of freshmen Emilio Arce, Chase Barone, Alexander Sachez-Ampudio, and sophomore Justin Pham.
Butler is in his first season as head coach for the boys after serving as the squad’s assistant coach for the previous five campaigns. Prior, he was a coach for the Branford girls’ (2007-’21) and boys’ (2001-’12) teams.