VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S SACKETT, KITTLE HEADLINE SUPER 7 AS 'SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR;' ATHENS CHREESNOWSKY, WAVERLY'S VanDYKE, AND WOLVERINE RELAY ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2023-03-17)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Waverly senior Jerrell Sackett took the swimming world by storm, winning seven state medals in two years, including three this season. He repeats as the Valley Sports Report “Boys Swimmer of the Year.”

Freshman Mira Kittle also announced her presence on the state stage in the fall, finishing in the top-30 in two events. She is the 2022-23 Valley Sports Report 2022-23 “Girls Swimmer of the Year.”

Sackett, who was not a full-time swimmer until his sophomore season (the Covid spring of 2020), not only dominated in individual events this season, but his lead leg in the finals of the 200-yard freestyle relay at New York State Championships established established a new school record of 20.45 seconds, and led the Wolverine foursome to a state gold medal.

Waverly’s 200-yard free relay quartet of Sackett, fellow seniors Oscar Williams and Ryan Clark, and junior Liam Wright is the “Relay of the Year.”

The Waverly foursome swam all three relays, and did not lose a race this season until finishing second by 0.02 seconds in the 200-yard medley relay at the Section IV Championships.

Athens’ freshman Olivia Cheresnowsky made an immediate impact on the Lady Wildcats this season and is the 2022-23 “Newcomer of the Year,” while Waverly senior Josie VanDyke repeats as “Diver of the Year.”

(NOTE: Because there are only two Valley schools with swim programs, the Super 7 is a co-ed team.)

Sackett not only lowered his own school records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle sprints on several occasions this season, but broke Mike Atanasoff’s school record in the 100-yard butterfly by more than a second. He won the breaststroke at the Section IV Championships.

After swimming the fastest times in the 50 free and 100 free — both in school-record times — in the preliminaries at Day 1 of the State meet, Sackett earned fourth-place medals in both sprints on Day 2.

Kittle finished 23rd in the 50 free at States in a time of 24.72 seconds, and was 30th in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:01.31.

During the regular season, Kittle established new school records in the 50 free at 24.53 seconds, and in the 100-yard backstroke at 59.92 seconds.

Kittle won the backstroke at the Section IV meet to qualify for States. She also swam legs on the record-setting 200-yard medley, and 200-yard freestyle relays for the Lady Wolverines, both of which finished second at the Section IV Championships.

A consistent points-winner all season, Cheresnowsky won three medals at the District 4 Championships, including a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. She finished sixth in the 100-yard freestyle.

Cheresnowsky swam on the Athens 400-yard freestyle relay that finished second at the District 4 Championships, setting a new school record in its final swim. She also swam on the 200-yard freestyle relay that placed third at the D4 meet in a school-record time.

VanDyke, who consistently earned first-place points in duals this season for the Lady Wolverines, placed 10th at the Section IV, Class B Championships.

The 2022-23 All-Valley Swimming Super 7:

Oscar Williams, senior, Waverly: Williams punched his ticket to States in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke by hitting the state standard during the season.

He finished third in the 100 free at the Section IV Championships, and was 38th at States. He placed 35th in the 100 back.

During the season, Williams broke a 22-year-old school record in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking in at 54.71 seconds.

Ryan Clark, senior, Waverly: Clark finished third in the 50 free at the Section IV Championships, and hit the state standard during the season in the event. He placed 23rd at States in 21.93 seconds.

Like Williams, Clark was a strong leg on all three of the Wolverine relays, which only had two losses the entire season.

Chris DeForest, senior, Athens: DeForest won the 50-yard freestyle at the District 4, Class AA Championships in 23.05 seconds. He placed second in the 100-yard free.

DeForest also swam the anchor on the 400-yard freestyle relay that won a District 4 gold medal. The 200 free relay finished second.

His four top-two finishes helped the Wildcats to a second-place finish at the D4 Championships.

DeForest finished 31st at States, and the 400 free relay team finished 26th.

Taegan Williams, senior, Athens: Williams, who consistently led the Lady Wildcats during the regular season, won four medals to lead Athens to a second-place finish at the District 4, Class AA Championships.

Williams finished third in the 200-yard freestyle, and fourth in the 500-yard freestyle in her individual events.

Williams swam on the Athens 400-yard freestyle relay that finished second at the District 4 Championships, setting a new school record in its final swim. She also swam on the 200-yard freestyle relay that placed third at the D4 meet in a school-record time.

Liam Wright, junior Waverly: With Sackett, Williams, and Clark returning from last year’s record-setting relays that all qualified for States, the pressure was on Wright to replace Kaden Wheeler in all three relays.

Wright came through as all three relays established new school records, with two qualifying for States, and the 200-yard medley relay missing out by 0.02 seconds.

Wright, who improved his times throughout the season, finished eighth in the 100-yard freestyle at the Section IV Championships in a time of 53.2 seconds.

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BOYS “SWIMMER OF THE YEAR”
2022-23 — Jerrell Sackett, Waverly
2021-22 — Jerrell Sackett, Waverly
2020-21 — Oscar Williams, Waverly
2019-20 — Mike Atanasoff, Waverly
2018-19 — Josh McClelland, Sayre / Mike Atanasoff, Waverly
2017-18 — Caleb McClelland, Sayre
2016-17 — Jeff Gao, Athens
2015-16 — Jeff Gao, Athens
2014-15 — Josh Mastrantuono, Waverly
2013-14 - Frank Chen, Athens
2012-13 - Frank Chen, Athens
2011-12 - Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly
2010-11 - Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly
2009-10 - Jeff Mastrantuono, Waverly

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GIRLS “SWIMMER OF THE YEAR”
2022-23 — Mira Kittle, Waverly
2021-22 — Taegan Williams, Athens
2020-21 — Taegan Williams, Athens
2019-20 — Taegan Williams, Athens
2018-19 — Kennedy Wheeler, Waverly
2017-18 — Kennedy Wheeler, Waverly
2016-17 — Taylor Lane, Athens
2015-16 — Taylor Lane, Athens
2014-15 — Daylen Smith, Waverly
2013-14 — Katherine Porter, Sayre
2012-13 — Katherine Porter, Sayre
2011-12 — Katherine Porter, Sayre
2010-11 — Katherine Porter, Sayre
2009-10 — Hannah Harvey-Sampson, Athens