South Side-Lynbrook swimming successful at states

In just its third season, the combined South Side-Lynbrook (South Brook) swim team floated on to tremendous success at the NYSPHSAA Section VIII swimming and diving championships on March 2 and 3 at the Long Island Aquatic Center in Eisenhower Park.
Lynbrook High School senior Timothy Marski added to his already impressive season by taking first place in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard fly, and being named Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet along with Christian Sztolcman (Chaminade) and Jason Louser (Shoreham-Wading River). The University of Florida-bound Marski took first and became an automatic All-American in the 50-yard free (20.53) and set a new county record and became an All-American in the 100-yard fly (48.53).
Coming off of an impressive meet in the county championships, the states were another strong meet for South Brook under the tutelage of coaches Jason Melecio and Ryan Clark. It finished with a meet-leading 124 combined points, seventh overall in the state and 11th in the federation, which includes Catholic schools.
“The weekend was nothing short of a coach’s dream, I have never been more proud to be a coach,” Melecio said. “To be the highest-scoring team in Nassau County in the State meet, is something I will strive for, for the rest of my career. It has been a privilege to be a part of team with such tough and hardworking athletes.”
Straight off of setting a county record at the county finals, the team’s highly decorated 200 medley relay team — comprised of Marski, Ryan Davidoff, Kyle Bergin and Daniel Dalrymple — finished with a time of 1:35.09. The mark set a county record, was an All-American consideration time, and placed South Brook third in the state and fifth in the federation.
The team’s 200 freestyle relay unit finished with a time of 1:27.09, clinching fifth in the state and 11th in the federation.
“The real important thing that I am proud of is how close the boys from South Side and Lynbrook have become,” said Lynbrook Athletic Director Tom Graham. “They developed into a real team that cares for one another. Winning will come and go but the relationships the coaches developed for these boys will last for a lifetime.”