AQUABOMBERS TRIUMPH AT MASON INVITATIONAL
In a prelim/final format on Saturday, December 6, St. X brought home the championship hardware.  The very young squad of 13 (only 4 upper classmen) captured gold in four events:

100 IM    Alex Serafin [SR]
200 Free Relay (Serafin, Gus Leder [JR], Jacob Morris [SO], Henry Hoelle [JR])
100 Back Hansen Rodger [FR]
400 Free Relay (Rodger, J. T. Schibi [SO], Grant Schibi [SO], Leder)

The medal count reflected 4 Golds, 6 Silver and 5 Bronze.  Every swim placed in the championship heat.
16 teams completed with the top 3 team scores –
   St. Xavier        488.5
Mason             267
   Troy                190.5
 
The victory marked the 15^th consecutive for the Long Blue Lane.  Mason's inaugural meet was in 2004 and is a highlight of the early season.  The AquaBombers stepped up from start to finish, climaxing in a scintillating 400 Free Relay, as the "Men in Blue" battled to a touch out win.  The final leg swim by Gus Leder put an exclamation point on a full day of focused racing.
 

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS – 

Five events faster than last yearAll 3 relays would have qualified for District last year
Class Act – Senior (1), Juniors (3), Sophomores (7), Freshmen (2)
85% Season Bests (STP's) in Prelims – 67% Finals (100% had multiples)
85% of the team had at least one Lifetime Bests (BLT's)

 

"Coach Normile set the tone for the event during the chapel session held on Friday.  And the guys responded incredibly well.  The athletes and coaches worked in a collaborative manner and results reflect it.  Mark Sullivan and the crew at Mason run a great meet.  We were gratified to be a part of it," commented assistant head coach Tom Keefe.
 
"I have been coaching at this meet for many years.  Each of our swimmers stayed focused throughout a long day.  We learned a lot, while achieving some significant results," reflected coach Jim Counts.
 
"Nothing like an exciting finish to a great day of racing.  Event after event our guys stepped up under the  bright lights and got better.  Truly a wonderful experience from our perspective," summarized coach Matt Normile.