Congratulations to the Norwich Purple Tornado boys’ swim team on a good 2023-2024 season. Pictured from L to R: Coach Diefenbacher, Sharon Thinagaran, Amon Oliver, Kris Deuel, Nate Shtrauch, and Timothy Guzewich. (Submitted Photo)

ENDWELL – On Feb. 14, the Norwich boys varsity swim team traveled to Maine Endwell for the prelim portion of the Section IV, class B swimming and diving championships.

During the prelims, the team produced nine personal best (PB) times. These times helped to have all four swimmers come back to the top 16 finals on Saturday, February 17, also at ME.

The team came back at finals and reset five of nine PB times made during the prelims. The team finished seventh overall with 95 points. Leading the way for Norwich was Kristopher Deuel with a eighth place in the 200 free in a time of 2:04.11 and a fourth place finish in the 500 free with a 5:32.07. Nate Shtrauch was ninth in the 200 individual medley with a PB of 2:25.25 and came in eighth place in the 100 backstroke with a PB time of 1:04.26. Amon Oliver had a 16th place finish in the 50 free with a 28.57 and a 15th place finish in the 100 backstroke with a 1:14.35.

The boys were joined in the relays by first year swimmer Sharon Thinagaran for the relays. The 200 Medley relay finished in sixth place with a season best time of 2:13.33, in which Sharon had a PB time of 34.12. In the 400 free relay, the team went a season best of 4:17.82, beating their prelim time by four and a half seconds. During the 400 free relay, two swimmers had PB times with Sharon T. going a 1:19.52 and Nate S. doing a 57.99. Also during the prelims of this relay, Kristopher D. had a PB time of 56.17.

The team should be very proud of their seventh place finish at Sectionals as it was a team effort by all. Norwich will also be celebrating its 2023-2024 season with an awards night on Feb 29.

-Information from the Norwich Purple Tornado Swim Team