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VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S ATANASOFF HEADLINES SUPER 7 AS 'SWIMMER OF YEAR;' WAVERLY'S STREETER, ATHENS' DEFOREST ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2020-03-17)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY "” Senior Mike Atanasoff capped a brilliant and record-breaking career for the storied Waverly boys swim program with a pair of state medals at the New York Swimming & Diving Championships, and is the 2019-20 Valley Sports Report  boys "Swimmer of the Year."

Waverly senior Gage Streeter has also enjoyed a record-breaking season and is the Valley Sports Report "Diver of the Year," while Athens freshman Chris DeForest, who was a major contributor for the Wildcats during the dual season, is the "Newcomer of the Year," and a Waverly foursome claimed "Relay of the Year" honors.

Atanasoff won the bronze medal in the 50-yard freestyle at States with a school-record and IAC-record time of 21.1 seconds. The third-place finish matches the best place-finish at States in Waverly program history.

He also earned a sixth-place medal at States in the 100-yard freestyle in a new school-record and IAC-record time of 46.61 seconds.

At the Section IV, Class B Championships, Atanasoff finished second in the 50 free in 22.13 seconds, and was sixth in 100-yard backstroke in 1:03.11. He also swam on second- and third-place relays at Class B meet.

Atanasoff was the only four-time winner at the IAC Championships and was named the MVP. He won the 100-yard freestyle in 47.87 seconds, erasing the previous record set in 2000, and won the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:46.61, which ranks second all-time in WHS history. He also swam on a pair of gold-medal winning relays.

During the regular season, Atanasoff was consistently a quad-winner to lead Waverly to another unbeaten dual season and another IAC Duals title.

He was named the MVP at the rugged Wolverine Invitational, after record-breaking performances in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. His time of 21.29 in the 50 free erased O-M's Tom Iorio's long-standing record, which was established in 1985.

He also recorded his 200th career win during the season.

Streeter qualified for States with a record-setting 11-dive score of 454.85 points. He was the first Waverly diver to go to States since 1995.

At IACs, Streeter won the 1-meter diving competition with 411 points.

During the regular season, Streeter consistently earned first-place points in the diving competition, and broke a long-standing school record with a six-dive total of 273.45 points, breaking the record of 252.5 points set in 1995. (He later re-wrote his record with 278.85 points.)

DeForrest finished eighth in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 24.83 seconds, and ninth in the 100-yard freestyle in 54.26 seconds at the District 4 Championships. He also swam on fifth-and sixth-place relays.

At the NTL Championships, DeForest placed second in 50 free, second in 100 free, and was on the winning 200 free relay

Atanasoff teamed with sophomore Kaden Wheeler, junior Ryan Bennett, and freshman Jerrell Sackett to win "Relay of the Year" honors. The foursome finished second at the Section IV, Class B Championships in a time of 1:32.52 - less than a second off the state cut time.

The remainder of the "All Valley Boys Swimming & Diving Super 7" is as follows:

Kaden Wheeler, sophomore, Waverly: During the regular season, Wheeler was consistently a top point-winner for the Wolverines, and recorded his 100th career victory. During the postseason, Wheeler earned four medals - all third-place or better - at both the Section IV, Class B and IAC championships.

Wheeler placed second in 100-yard butterfly in a time of 54.89 seconds, and third in 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:00.07 at the Class B meet, and was also on second- and third-place relays.

At the IACs, Wheeler won the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 54.29 seconds, and was second in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 58.38 seconds. He also swam on a pair of gold-medal winning relays.

Ryan Bennett, junior, Waverly: During the regular season, Bennett was consistently a top point-winner for the Wolverines, and recorded his 100th career victory. During the postseason, Bennett collected four medals at both the Section IV, Class B and IAC Championships.

Bennett finished third in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.93 seconds, and fifth in the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 58.95 seconds. He also swam on second- and third-place relays at Class B meet.

At the IACs, Bennett won the 50 free in 22.78 seconds, and was second in the 100 free in 52.65 seconds, and also swam on a pair of gold-medal winning relays.

Kaden Gorsline, sophomore, Athens: During the regular season, Gorsline consistently earned first-place points in the 1-meter diving competitions, and also earned points as a swimmer.

Gorsline won the diving competition at the NTL Championships with 214.75 points, and was second in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:10.1.
 
Gorsline finished third at District 4 Diving Championships with 352.8 points. He placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke at the D4 Championships in a time of 1:07.08, and was on sixth-place relay.

Collin Keefer, junior, Waverly: Keefer, who was a consistent point-getter for the Wolverines during the regular season, won two medals at the IAC Championships, and one at the Class B Championships.

Keefer placed fifth in 500-yard freestyle in 5:28.62 at the Class B meet, and was 11th in the 200 free in 2:04.23.

At the IACs, Keefer won the 500 free in 5:25.33, and was fourth in the 200-yard IM in 2:17.51.

Oscar Williams, freshman, Waverly: Another consistent point-getter for the Wolverines, Williams won two medals at the IAC Championships, and one at the Class B Championships.

Williams placed fourth in 500-yard freestyle in 5:26.99 at the Class B meet, and was ninth in the 200 free in 2:02.88.

At the IACs, Williams was second in the 500 free in a time of 5:26.21, and was third in the 200-yard IM in 2:16.61.

Chris DeForest, freshman, Athens: See above.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Mike Atanasoff.

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"Swimmer of the Year"
2009-10 - Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly
2010-11 - Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly
2011-12 - Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly
2012-13 - Frank Chen, Athens
2013-14 - Frank Chen, Athens
2014-15 - Josh Mastrantuono, Waverly
2015-16 - Jeff Gao, Athens
2016-17 - Jeff Gao, Athens
2017-18 - Caleb McClelland, Sayre
2018-19 - Josh McClelland, Sayre / Mike Atanasoff, Waverly
2019-20 - Mike Atanasoff, Waverly


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