2005 Union County Boys Preview

For the past half century the Westfield Boys Swimming Team has considered the Union County Championship as its private domain.
Scotch Plains Fanwood(SPF) is the only team to have interrupted an incredible domination that the Blue Devils have enjoyed when they stopped a run of 42 straight titles with a first place in 1999. The Blue Devils have regained the title the past five years to make the record 47 titles in 48 years and are a solid choice to make it 48 of 49 when the meet is contested Friday February 4 at Dunn Center Elizabeth.

As usual the Blue Devils expect their major competition to come from the Raiders, whom they defeated 94-79 in a dual meet and also outscored
at the Pirate Invitational January 16. Veteran Coach Bruce Johnson, who has won nine Union County titles, thinks his team is peaking at the right time.

“Hopefully the county meet is when the kids' times will start coming around. They've been doing a lot of best times at the Pirate and the Lawrenceville meet, but it gets looked over by most people when you don't win something,” said Johnson.

One Blue Devil that hasn’t been overlooked is junior Pat Daurio, who has emerged as the county’s finest swimmer, and became the first Blue Devil since 1994 to win two individual events at the Pirate Invitational. His victory in the 100 yard breastroke broke the meet record held by 2004 All State swimmer Eric Swenson of St. Joe’s Metuchen, a Scotch Plains resident and teammate of Daurio’s at his club, the Fanwood Scotch Plains YMCA. It was the second fastest time in the storied history of Westfield Swimming.

His winning time in the Individual Medley was the second fastest in the state this year and also the second best in school history. Daurio is a natural for the individual medley, having become the first Westfield swimmer in school history to break the one-minute mark for each of the four individual strokes.

“Pat is a really talented swimmer and a great young man. I think before he's done, he'll go down as one of the best ever at Westfield,” said Johnson.

“He trains really hard and he's a total stroke technician. Anything he does doesn't surprise me.”

In addition to Daurio, Johnson will count on freestylers Luke Baran and Brandon Cuba as well as Dan McGrory in the butterfly and multi talented Dan Chabanov. Freshman Matt Gelmetti may be the most improved swimmer on the team since the season started and versatile sophomore PJ Harley should score in numerous events.

The Raiders led by seniors David Hauptman and Mike Sheffield have the ability to win the meet should the Blue Devils slip. The Raiders also expect scoring from unrelated sophomores Matt and Mike Miller in the distance events and freshman Brian Pesin in the IM and Breaststroke.

“ I am looking forward to the county meet and expect to see great performances out of many of our kids. Our veteran swimmers have been very consistent and the newcomers have been improving steadily week to week despite our packed dual meet schedule,” said Raiders’ Coach Jessica Hulnik.

“Both Scotch Plains and Oratory (of Summit) have some really good kids but Scotch Plains has the most depth of any of the other teams,” said Johnson. One of Oratory’s top swimmers is Grant Moryan from Westfield who could win two events.

“We have been working very hard lately,” said Johnson.
“I’m very encouraged by what I’ve seen. If we don’t get to where we want to this year it won’t be from lack of effort.”