CLARENCE - Jordan Powers accomplished a pair of impressive feats on Saturday afternoon at the Section 6 Swimming and Diving Championships.
"He's the only (swimmer) in all of Section 6 that qualified for states in three individual events," Southwestern coach Glenn Shoup said, "and he's also the only swimmer from the (Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association) to make the state meet."
As he has been his custom this season, Powers, a junior, churned his way to a victory in the 200 individual medley, qualifying for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships by hitting the wall first in 2:00.47. Later, competing in the 200 butterfly, he took second place with a time of 54.26.
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Southwestern’s Jordan Powers turned in another outstanding swimming performance in Saturday’s Section 6 championships.
P-J?file photo by Scott Reagle
Already qualified to compete at states in the 50 and 100 freestyles by virtue of his performances earlier this season, Shoup noted that Powers has opted to narrow his focus to two events: the 200 individual medley and the 100 freestyle.
Powers, making his second trip to states, will attempt to bring back to the area its second state swimming title in as many years, matching former Jamestown standout Andrew Marsh.
The NYSPHSAA state swimming and diving championships will be held on March 1-2 at Webster-Schroeder High School in Rochester.
The Southwestern 200 freestyle relay squad - made up of Harry Troche, Powers, Skye Smith and Jacob Cotter - placed 12th with a time of 1:49.20 while the 200 freestyle relay (Cotter, Smith, Carl Shoup and Powers) placed 10th with a time of 1:34.95.
Also competing at the event was Jamestown.
Allan Smith earned the best finish amongst his Red Raider teammates when he took seventh in the 200 freestyle. His time of 1:53.01 was a personal best. Smith also placed 12th in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 58.06.
Matt Caldwell was 12th and Andrew Caldwell 13th in the 200 individual medley. Matt finished in 2:13.09 while Andrew was right behind with a 2:13.50.
Andrew Caldwell was 10th in the 100 backstroke (59.55).
The Red Raiders' 200 medley relay unit of Andrew Caldwell, Matt Caldwell, Smith and Rishi Gupta was 11th when it finished in 1:48, while the 400 freestyle relay group of Gupta, Matt and Andrew Caldwell and Smith recorded a personal-best time of 3:34.92 for a 14th-place finish.