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Hawks out-pace rest of field for 28th state title

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 2/24/15

Bishop Hendricken has had some outstanding swimmers over the years. The proof is in the record book, which shows that the Hawks have now won 28 state championships.

But over the years, head coach …

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Hawks out-pace rest of field for 28th state title

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Before the season started, the Bishop Hendricken swim team was more focused than ever to win a state championship.

The Hawks were coming off of a season in which they didn’t hoist the championship trophy for the first time in 25 years.

On Saturday, the Hawks put the field in their rearview early, en route to winning their 28th state championship in school history.

After it was all said and done, it felt good to be back on top of the state once again.

“It feels good, it feels very good,” Hendricken head coach Dave Hanson said. “All three of my relays won today and earned All-State. I just couldn’t be happier.”

Saturday’s win at Brown University was the epitome of a team effort, as Hendricken’s tremendous depth showed among the state’s best swimmers.

The Hawks’ 200 medley relay gave the Division I champs a boost of confidence early – confidence that they would maintain throughout the meet.

The relay team of Lucas Stencel, Max Miranda, Marc Andrews and Owen Schriber placed first in a time of 1:41.89.

Miranda continued to shine, this time individually, in the next event.

The sophomore broke his own state record in the 200 free with a time of 1:39.16, blowing away the rest of the field. The time qualified Miranda for All-America honors.

But although the Hawks were sparked by Miranda, they needed contributions in a number of areas if they wanted to regain the state title – and they got just that.

Hendricken placed three swimmers in the 500 free – Dillane Wehbe placed fourth, Brendan Crowe seventh and Alex Vessella eighth.

“That’s why they call it a team,” Hanson said. “Max Miranda was unbelievable, Marc Andrews swam phenomenal and pulled it out in the 200 free relay, Brendan Crowe and Dillane Wehbe, a freshman, swam great. Our three seniors too – Evan Kortick, Gian Paterno and Anthony Vessella – they were all great.”

Miranda went on to win the 100 butterfly in a time of 50.68, before Troy Pina placed seventh in the 100 free with a time of 51.07.

South Kingstown’s Asher Kiely won the 100 free in a time of 46.29 – a new state record.

The Hawks didn’t let any other school enjoy the top of the podium for too long, though.

Hendricken’s 200 free relay team of Pina, Paterno, Schriber and Andrews placed first in a time of 1:33.23.

Stencel then placed fifth in the 100 backstroke, before the Hawks’ 400 free relay team of Pina, Wehbe, Crowe and Miranda edged out the competition to end the meet the way that Hendricken started it – with a relay victory.

The Hawks trailed early in the race, but Pina and Miranda were quickly able to turn Hendricken’s deficit into a comfortable lead.

The Hawks totaled 383 points in the win, with Barrington coming in a distant second with 218 points. Cumberland came in third with 181 points, while last year’s champion, Smithfield, came in fourth at 165.

Hansen continued to echo how pleased he was regarding the variety of contributions that allowed for such a convincing win.

“The win really speaks for itself,” Hansen said. “Everyone contributed – seniors, juniors and everyone else. The good thing is that, basically, the whole team will be coming back.”

The bad news for the rest of the state is that the Hawks will only graduate three seniors, as many of the Hawks’ top contributors in the state championship were freshmen and sophomores. Miranda, who already owns three state records in the 200 free, 200 individual medley and 500 free, is just a sophomore and has already cemented himself as the best swimmer in the state.

Hendricken will enjoy this championship for now, but this could be the start of another lengthy streak of titles for the Hawks.

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