Phil Aronica, a 2010 graduate of Orchard Park High School and sophomore on the University at Buffalo men’s swimming & diving team, qualified for the 2012 Olympic trials in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 57.53 at Senior Nationals in August 2011.

Phil Aronica

Aronica missed the Olympic cut during the 100-meter backstroke event, but redeemed himself during the medley relay, where the first leg of the relay is eligible to qualify for cuts or records.

“I was so upset after my 100 back event because the pool is outdoors and I lost track of where I was in the lane,” said Aronica. “I ran right into the wall and stopped. I had to wait until the last day for the 400 medley relay at finals to swim the backstroke leg again to get my cut. I ended up getting it. I’ve never been to such a low to such an incredible high in my life.”

Aronica qualified for the trials as a member of the 400-meter medley relay that he swam with fellow UB teammates Josh Meints, Matt Schwippert and Matt Hogan.

In his first season with the Bulls Aronica set school records in the 100 backstroke as well as a member of relay-setting teams in the 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay and the 800 Freestyle Relay.

At Orchard Park, Aronica was the 2010 New York State champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke and set Section VI records in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 medley relay. He set school records in four individual events and two relays.

The Olympic Trials will be held in Omaha, Neb., June 25-July 2.

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Orchard Park High School earned a lot of success in the pool throughout both the girls and boys seasons in 2011.

During the 2010-2011 school year, the boys team earned a first place finish at sectionals in the 200-yard medley relay (1:40.24).

Andrew Duszynski

Three Quakers finished among the top six in the 200-yard individual medley, including top finisher junior Andrew Duszynski (1:58.02). Spencer Bray finished fourth (2:04.11) and senior Mike Sutz finished sixth (2:06.42).

Duszynski and Sutz competed in the 100-yard butterfly earning fourth and ninth place, respectively. Bray finished sixth in the 100-yard backstroke (57.07).

Freshman Zach Healy finished ninth (50.13) at sectionals in the 100-yard freestyle event.

At the state meet, the medley relay of Duszynski, Alex Moore, Sutz and Bray finished 19th (1:39.65). Duszynski (1:44.72) and Bray (1:45.17) competed in the 200-yard freestyle event earning 15th place finishes among federation swimmers and 10th and 11th place among NYS public high school swimmers.

Duszynski earned the ninth fastest time in the 100-yard backstroke (52.77) among public high school swimmers and 17th among all swimmers. Bray swam in the 500-yard freestyle earning the 14th best time (4:48.4) among public swimmers and placing 22nd overall.

In the fall of 2011, Lady Quakers sophomore Andrea Ernst, eighth-grader Amanda Ernst, junior Grace Coyle and senior Anna McArdle earned a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay (1:56.76) in the sectional meet. The same group finished fourth (1:41.24) in the 200-yard freestyle relay at the sectional meet and went on to finish 9th in the state meet (1:39.86).

Andrea Ernst

Andrea Ernst finished third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.05) at the sectional meet and 10th at state meet (1:54.87). Ernst also competed in the 100-yard butterfly event earning a second-place finish (57.96) at the sectional meet and a ninth-place finish at the state meet (58.35).

Top 20 Orchard Park Sports Stories from 2011

Anna McArdle

Anna McArdle
OPHS, Senior
Swimming

Dream Job: Fashion Editor
I can’t live without: Swedish Goggles
Hidden Talent: I can sing underwater
Favorite OP Athlete: Andrea Ernst
Favorite Movie Character:
Elle Woods from Legally Blonde
I want to visit: Paris
Last thing I read: Dracula
Favorite Meal: Breakfast for dinner
Pets: Toy poodle, named Lilly
Best advice received: Don’t think, just do.

On Thursday, August 25, I hit a couple practices to check out the OPHS volleyball teams and get some info for previews this coming week.

I was hoping to see the girls tennis team, but the courts still looked damp from rain and I didn’t catch them. I’m really looking forward to another strong season from the team.

In the gym, the girls volleyball team was practicing. They bring a lot of girls back from last season who all seem to be playing with more confidence. They are still very young with just one senior returning – Alyssa Dueringer.

I briefly chatted with Maryellen Devic. She rolled her ankle during the first practice, but should be okay. She’ll be a huge part of the team.

Coach Greg Lardo and I discussed possible rotations for his team. He’s got a few ideas up his sleeve to maximize the use of his strongest hitters. I am definitely looking forward to seeing them in action. The girls will be a part of multi-team scrimmages at the Buffalo Niagara Court Center on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m.

Lardo continues to wear a Yankees hat. Boo!

The girls finished up and in walked Coaches Walt Stefani and Matt Lexner of the boys teams. The two have co-coached varsity for several years and will split the duties of coaching the JV team this season.

Walt brought coffee for himself and Lex, who came to the gym with his own. Lardo got a free coffee.

After interviewing Lardo, I met the new girls swimming coach, Linda Sherry. Apparently, there are a lot of girls trying out to swim this season.

Madi Sherry, Linda’s daughter and 2009 OPHS graduate, was at practice. She’s recovering from knee surgery before she returns to Ithaca College. She holds the OPHS record for the 100 breast stroke, but the record board still reads: “M. Sherri”. A lack of respect there.

Madi Sherry, not Sherri

After checking out the boys volleyball team for a bit, I came to realize that volleyball is one of the toughest sports to shoot. It’s difficult to anticipate where the ball is going. Sometimes it’s better to focus on one player and hope the ball gets hit to him/her. The best go-to shot is to get a photo of a setter from the stands (due to the higher angle) or get an outside or middle hitter swinging.

Tyler Eagleton is working some nice flow.

Be sure to check out my previews of both volleyball teams this Friday in the Orchard Park Press.

Alex Moore

Alex Moore
Senior, Orchard Park HS
Football, Swimming

Dream job: Buffalo Bills GM
Favorite sports team: Houston Rockets
Favorite band: Bun B
Favorite OP athlete:
Spencer “Two Pack” Bray
I would like to have dinner with: Maddie Gerber
Hobbies other than sports: Gaming
Fondest sports memory: Qualifying for states in medley relay
I am looking forward to: Growing my flow
Favorite teacher: Mr. Aungst
I admire Jeff Bridges because: he is old and still has the best flow anyone has ever seen.

SECTION CHAMPS... Orchard Park's medley relay team of (left to right) Spencer Bray, Andrew Duszynski, Mike Sutz and Alex Moore celebrates the team's section championship at Clarence on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Orchard Park’s boys swim team saw impressive results at the Section VI Championships at Clarence on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The team lead off the event with a win in the medley relay with a time of 1:40.24; just 0.01 seconds ahead of second-place East Aurora.

Andrew Duszynski won the 200 individual medley event (1:58.02) with Spencer Bray and Mike Sutz finishing fourth and sixth, respectively.

The 400-yard free style team of Zach Healy, Bray, Duszynski and Sutz finished second behind Clarence with a time of 3:18.09.

Phil Aronica, a 2010 graduate of OPHS and freshman on the University at Buffalo swim team, was in attendance to show support of his alma mater's swim team at the sectional championships.

Alex Moore

Check out photos of Orchard Park’s swim meet versus Clarence from Friday, Jan. 28.

Here is a link to some photos I shot of girls swimming.

Cassie Kaczmarek

Fallon Harrigan

Fallon Harrigan
Senior, Orchard Park High School
Swimming

Dream job: Psychiatrist
Favorite OP hangout:
Any restaurant
Favorite book: The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
Favorite movie character:
Edward Cullen from Twilight
Talent I’d like to have:
Ice skating
Favorite sport other than what I play: Tennis
Favorite Orchard Park athlete: Phil Aronica
Favorite sports team: Buffalo Bills
Favorite meal: Anything from Subway
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Lullo

University at Buffalo Athletics Press Release

2010 OP graduate Phil Aronica

University at Buffalo freshman Phil Aronica has been named the Mid-American Conference’s Men’s Swimmer of the Week. The league announced the award from its Cleveland headquarters late Wednesday.

Aronica was key to UB’s 165-135 win over Miami (OH) on Saturday, November 6. Aronica won two individual events and was part of a pair of winning relay squads as the Bulls defeated the RedHawks for the first time at Miami’s Corwin Nixon Aquatic Center. Aronica won the 100-yard backstroke in 51.02 and then posted a season-best mark with his victory in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:52.98.

Aronica also swam the opening legs of both of UB’s winning relays. In the meet’s opening event, the 200-yard medley relay, Aronica swam the backstroke portion of the medley as he combined with Christian Muller, Matt Schwippert and Jared Heine to post a season-best time of 1:32.46. He also combined with Heine, Mike Dugan and Matt Hogan to a victory in the final event of the meet, the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:06.56) to secure UB’s overall victory.

Madi Sherry

Madi Sherry, a freshman on the Ithaca College women’s swim team and 2009 Orchard Park graduate, helped the Bombers win their 11th consecutive Empire Eight Conference title and beat out 16 other schools to capture a third straight Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association championship at Nottingham High School in Syracuse on February 20.

“It was awesome that we all came together as a team and worked so hard all year,” Sherry said in a recent interview.

At the event, Sherry placed second in the 100-yard breast stroke with a time of 1:05.29, which is the third fastest in Ithaca College history. The finish was almost a full second faster than her personal best – and school record – at Orchard Park (1:06.15).

“I have never trained so hard and felt so close to a team in my whole life,” Sherry said of the support she has received from college teammates and coaches. “It was awesome being pushed so hard by everyone.”

Sherry placed sixth in the 200-yard breast stroke with a time of 2:26.89. She swam the breast stroke leg for the 200-yard medley relay team, which finished second with a time of 1:46.67. Sherry swam the 50-yard breast portion of the relay in just 29.1 seconds.

“I went my personal best time,” she said. “I never dreamed of doing 29.1.”

Sherry swam a number of other events at the championships, including the 800-yard free relay, 200-yard free relay, 400-yard medley relay and the 200-yard individual medley where she finished 15th with a time of 2:17.06.

Her efforts in the 100-yard breast stroke and the 200-yard medley relay earned her a spot on the All-Empire Eight Conference second team.

Sherry was a national qualifier in the 100-yard breast stroke. She joined six of her teammates at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships on March 17-20 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Senior Phil Aronica won the 50 free and 100 back events at the New York State swimming championships Saturday afternoon.

At the New York State high school swimming championships at Erie Community College in downtown Buffalo this afternoon, senior Phil Aronica took first place in the 50 yard free style (20.85 seconds) and 100 back stroke (49.52 seconds) events. Both times are new Section VI records.

The 200 yard medley relay team of Aronica, Brian Dansa, Mike Sutz and Dan Hodson finished third with a time of 1:34.71. Their time would have beaten the state record had it not been for the time of Section IX’s Pine Brush, which finished at 1:34.26.

Orchard Park’s time bested its sectional mark of 1:37.31 set earlier this season.

The Quakers’ 200 yard free relay team of Aronica, Declan McLaughlin, Andrew Duszynski and Hodson placed second with a time of 1:25.31, which beat the old state record of 1:25.80. Clarence won the event.

OP freshman Declan McLaughlin won the section title in the 200 yard individual medley.

The Orchard Park boys swimming team placed first five times in eleven events at this year’s Section VI championships at the Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo Tuesday night.

To start the evening, the 200 yard medley relay team of Collin McArdle (back), Declan McLaughlin (breast), Mike Sutz (fly) and Dan Hodson (free) grabbed first place with a time of 1:39.00.

Phil Aronica followed up with first place finishes in the 200 free and 100 butterfly events.

Freshman Declan McLaughlin won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:00.94.

Orchard Park finished the event by capturing the 400 relay title by edging Clarence. Spencer Bray, Andrew Duszynski, Brian Dansa and Phil Aronica finished with a time of 3:18.02.

OP swimmers used the power of their monkey mascot Tuesday evening.

Phil Aronica won the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley.

The Orchard Park boys swimming & diving team trounced the competition at the ECIC championships held at Sweet Home Tuesday afternoon.

The Quakers took first place in seven of twelve events en route to capturing first place among large schools.

The foursome of Phil Aronica, Brian Dansa, Michael Sutz ad Declan McLaughlin captured first in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:39.29.

Aronica won the 200 individual medley (1:56.67) and the 100 butterfly (52.16). Daniel Hodson won the 100 free with a time of 48.51 seconds. McLaughlin bested all others swimmers in the 100 breast with a time of 1:02.94.

The 400 yard free relay team of Aronica, Hodson, Andrew Duszynski and Spencer Bray won with a time of 3:17.60.

Aaron Ellison won the diving event.

Spencer Bray

Orchard Park swimmers outscored Clarence and Canisius to win this past Saturday’s Clarence invitational, 753-731-610.

The 200-yard medley relay team comprised of Phil Aronica, Brian Dansa, Dave Janca and Daniel Hodson broke the sectional mark set last year by OP with a time of 1:37.31.

Aaron Ellison and Pat Ring finished first and second in diving.

Aronica captured first place in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 50.94 seconds, a pool record and personal-best.

The 200-yard free-style relay team of Declan McLaughlin, Hodson, Andrew Duszynski and Aronica, as well as the 400-yard free-style relay of Spencer Bray, Aronica, Hodson and Duszynski broke pool records.