Mongillo and Han Compile Key Points In The Pool
January 23, 2010 by Greg Lederer
The Cheshire High School boys’ swim and dive program is aware of the challenge they face. Turnover has created for a smaller roster than in previous years, making it imperative that swimmers fulfill more than one responsibility.
“We have a smaller team. But, there is a saying ‘don’t judge your team by size, you judge on ability,’” explained junior Dan Mongillo.
The Jan. 15 meet with North Haven/North Branford was another example of Cheshire’s ability to do more with less. Mongillo (100-yard butterfly, 59.77; 500-yard freestyle, 5:17.88) and freshman Greg Han (500-yard freestyle, 5:16.81; 200-yard individual medley, 2:07.25) each won an event and secured a second place finish, respectively. They also contributed to the victorious 200-yard medley (sophomores Ray Chen, Brendan Smalec; 1:52.24) and freestyle (seniors Ethan Medling, Miguel Rodriguez Lapman; 1:40.99) relays, as Cheshire (6-3 record) earned a 96.5-78.5 victory.
Han and Mongillo represent the top scorers this winter. Mongillo excels in distance freestyle, but he has worked hard to expand his repertoire.
“We could see this coming. He is consistently one of our top workers,” stated Cheshire Head Coach Fran Connolly. “Swimmers make progress in practice and then display that in the meets. Being a young and small team, getting good and consistent practices is very important.”
The 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly are events where he has made progress. Mongillo hadn’t cracked a minute in the butterfly until last week.
“That was great. I’ve always wanted to do it,” recalled Mongillo, who clocked 1:00.26 three days earlier at Hamden. “My friend told me to not concentrate on it during school and I think it really helped my performance.”
A top breaststroker, Han has shown the ability to push distance swimmers like Mongillo and senior Jackson Getchell (fourth, 5:52.07). Han is an immediate contributor, while adjusting to change from the YMCA (Cheshire Sea Dogs) level.
“It’s been up and down on my times. My 200-yard yard IM (individual medley) has dropped so far,” explained Han. “The events are a little different. I don’t get to do two of my best events in 200 breaststroke and 400 IM in high school. Back in Sea Dogs, I swim a couple relays, but here I’m needed for more of them.”
“There is a lot of potential there,” added Connolly, of Han.
The majority of Cheshire’s senior swim experience is in sprinting. Medling (23.77) and Rodriguez Lapman (24.81) swam to the top two spots of the 50-yard freestyle on Jan. 15. Sophomore Ray Chen (56.14), along with Rodriguez Lapman (56.28) and Medling (tie at 56.5), finished second to fourth place in the 100-yard freestyle.
“They are coming around,” Connolly said. “They (Medling, Rodriguez Lapman) didn’t swim during the fall and started Nov. 30. So we are lucky they have time to peak at the state meet.”
Senior sprinter Dan Sweeney hopes to be back for the Southern Connecticut Conference Finals, to be held March 3 at Yale University. He underwent shoulder surgery this month.
“Surgery went very well,” recalled Sweeney, a captain with classmate Jordan Attwood. “I’m feeling pretty good and getting back into the swing of it. I do some low body workouts (at the pool) and then go over to the gym for cardio work. It should be less than six weeks.”
Attwood, conversely, has returned to the lineup. He missed action, following an diving accident. At full strength, diving is a key asset under first-year coach Kelly Mohr. Attwood (228.45), senior Michael Topitzer (219.45), and junior Matt Annenberg (190.43) swept against North Haven/Branford.
“We have three upperclassmen, so I think that will be big in some tight SCC meets,” explained Connolly.
The growth of the sophomore class will be key, as well. Erin Williams (second, 2:01.8; third, 1:04.89) and Andrew Davison (third, 2:02.31; fourth, 1:07.34) swam the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly on Jan. 15. Smalec was third (2:18.27) for the 200-yard individual medley.
Fairfield Prep, the State Open runner-up, defeated visiting Cheshire 99-81 on Jan. 18. Chen captured the 100-meter backstroke (1:06.87) and added another first place with the 400-meter freestyle relay (Smalec, Davison, Mongillo; 4:19.09). Han won the 100-meter breaststroke (1:13.61).