The Division II CYO swim team champions from St. William the Abbott were defeated on Jan. 16 by Farmingdale's St. Kilian's CYO swim team by a large margin.

Most of the current 80 swimmers ranging in age from six to 16 participated in the victory, and almost all of them received a ribbon.

One of the most exciting races was the 100 yard 10-year-old girls free relay. St. Kilian's Alexandra Trypuc started from the block with her smooth and steady stroke and kept a consistent pace with St. William's swimmer all the way to the wall. The next swimmer was Courtney Dowell. St. William's challenger executed a superb racing dive and pulled way ahead of Courtney. Courtney didn't surrender, but pulled up to her competitor at about 12 yards out. But then, St. William's swimmer got a second wind and started again to pull ahead. All eyes were glued on Courtney's bright yellow cap as the two rivals approached the wall. The onlooking St. Kilian girls then started a cheerleading chant and, to St. Kilian's ecstasy, the little yellow cap bounced up first, giving Julia Weiden a head start off the block. Julia's unassailable stroke kept the lead all the way to the other side. Now with just a slight lead, it was up to Allison. But Allison dug in. The team spirit was dynamic, as the chant of the St. Kilian girls now reached a roar. The crowd went wild. Even the "macho" St. Kilian boys were up now cheering. The two opponents swam neck and neck down the lane, neither one wasting a breath or a look. The last five feet made the difference, when Allison displayed her strong powerful last stroke, and pulled ahead, touching the wall first - winning the race with the final time of 1.19.7 to 1.19.4 What a race! These girls are just one example of the unity and dedication of the St. Kilian swim team.

St. Kilian's did an outstanding job taking first place in every medley relay event. This is one of their proudest achievements.

The first place medley winners (in the order of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle) are as follows:

100 yd 10-yr-old girls: Melissa Boo, Sara Koumou, Allison Mead, Jennifer Walsh

100 yd 10-yr-old boys: Tommy Burke, Brian Malone, Timmy Smits, Travis Burke

100 yd 12-yr-old girls: Alexandria Trypuc, Jennifer Walsh, Kristine Macaluso, Kelly Malone

100 yd 12-yr-old boys: Timmy Smits, Matthew Russo, Nicolas Orofino, Andrew Reyes

200 yd 17-yr-old girls: Jessica Maddalena, Joanne Brooks, Allison Cain, Natalia Casino

200 yd 17-yr-old boys: James Ferrentino, Daniel Ferrentino, Daniel Curiale, Brian Smits

St. Kilian's took first place in many individual events:

25 yd Freestyle 8-yr-old girl event - Melissa Boo with a time of 20.22

25 yd Freestyle 10-yr-old boy event - Matthew Russo with a time of 17.19

50 yd Freestyle 12-yr-old girl event - Kristine Macaluso with a time of 32.13

50 yd Freestyle 12-yr-old boy event - Nicolas Orofino with a time of 32.81

50 yd Freestyle 14-yr-old boy event - Daniel Curiale with a time of 28.53

50 yd Freestyle 17-yr-old girl event - Allison Cain with a time of 28.37

25 yd Backstroke 10-yr-old girl event - Julia Weiden with a time of 20.28

25 yd Backstroke 10-yr-old boy event - Timmy Smits with a time of 20.53

25 yd Backstroke 12-yr-old girl event - Kelly Malone with a time of 41.50

25 yd Backstroke 12-yr-old boy event - Andrew Reyes with a time of 37.10

25 yd Backstroke 14-yr-old boy event - James Ferrentino with a time of 44.04

25 yd Backstroke 17-yr-old girl event - Allison Cain with a time of 37.94

25 yd Backstroke 17-yr-old boy event - Daniel Curiale with a time of 38.35

Although St. William was strong in their 8-year-old and 17-year-old freestyle relay events, St. Kilian won all the 10- and 12-year-old freestyle relays:

100 yd 10-yr-old girls: Julia Weiden, Alexandria Trypuc, Allison Mead, Courtney Dowell

100 yd 10-yr-old boys: Joe McLoughlin, Matthew Russo, Michael Corrado, Adam DeVito

100 yd 12-yr-old girls: Jackie Archila, Natalia Casino, Kristine Macaluso, Kelly Malone

100 yd 12-yr-old boys: Nicolas Orofino, Andrew Reyes, James Williams, Brian Smits

St. Kilian's staff is made up of volunteers, whose help and dedication to the children is greatly appreciated. The staff look forward to a fun year in which the children can learn values, self-discipline, a sense of fair play along with the swimming stroke mechanics. Timers and administrative helpers include: Mrs. Reyes, Mr. Koumou, Mr. Ferrentino, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Mead, Mrs. Graci, Mrs. Dowell, Mrs. Milton and Mrs. Pino. The coaches are Damien Orofino, Mike Malone, Haydee Casino, Craig Orofino, Kevin Boo and head coach Cathy Orofino.