State qualifiers lead Long Beach

Long Beach had a solid performance in the Nassau County boys’ swimming championships, finishing first among Division C schools and fifth overall thanks in part to state qualifiers Nicholas Stoski and Max Willard.

Stoski, a senior, placed third in the 100 breaststroke while nearly breaking his own school record in the event, while Willard was runner-up in the 500 freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle. The Marines, who finished behind Garden City, Great Neck South, Jericho and Farmingdale, took third in the 200-yard Medley Relay.

“We just missed fourth by a point, but finishing in the Top 5 with a young team is pretty good,” Long Beach coach Woody David said. “Considering the way the season started, with so many kids displaced after the storm, I don’t think we could have hoped for a better finish.”

Stoski stood out for Long Beach all season and is headed back to the state meet this Friday and Saturday in Rochester after completing the 100 breaststroke in 59.55 seconds at the Aquatic Center earlier this month. It was just off his school record of 59.47. He also placed fifth in the 200 Individual Medley (2:05.19) and was part of the 200 Medley Relay (1:42.98) that just missed qualifying for the state meet.

“The competition in the 100 breast was keen this season,” said Davis, who lauded the work of assistant coach John Skudin. “Breaking a minute is usually good enough to win. Nick’s had a great career here and now we’ll see if he can top his record at the state meet.”

Willard continues to dazzle as the top underclassmen in the program. He’ll swim both the 200 and 500 freestyle events at the state meet. In the county championships, he broke Long Beach’s longest-standing record when he completed the 200 freestyle in 1:45.83. The previous mark of 1:46.18 was set in 1985 by John Farrell. Willard swam the 500 in 4:43.46.

“It’s awesome we’ve got him for two more years,” Davis said of Willard, who also anchored the 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relays at times during the regular season “To qualify for states in two individual events is rare for a sophomore and quite a job.”

David Mejia enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign as well. He consistently scored well in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle, and anchored the 200 Medley Relay. 

Another key performer was Michael McCarthy, a freshman who hit the board in the 100 butterfly (eight place in 57.18 seconds) and 200 IM, and also contributed in the 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relays. 

Senior Mark Stegman ignited the 200 Medley Relay from the leadoff spot and also scored in the county meet in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while seventh-grader Troy Morris was the team’s top finisher in the county in diving.