“Splashes of Talent: The Top 25 CIAC CT High School Boys Swimmers Set to Shine in 2024-25”

Here are 25 athletes to monitor in the forthcoming CIAC boys swimming season:

Julian Adu, Notre Dame-West Haven, So.: As a first-year swimmer last season, Adu secured fourth place in the 100 butterfly (51.92) at the State Open. In the Class M Championships, he achieved second place in the 100 butterfly (52.25)

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and eighth in the 100 backstroke (56.42). 

James Auciello, Conard, Sr.: Achieved 10th place overall in the State Open diving event with a total of 401.10, which was the third highest among non-seniors. He secured second place overall in the Class L diving contest with a score of 409.00. 

John Cunningham, Fairfield Prep, So.: During his freshman year last season, he finished third at the State Open in the 50 freestyle (21.32) and was sixth in the 100 freestyle (47.23). At the Class L state meeting, he claimed the gold in the 50 freestyle (21.46) and took second in the 100 freestyle (47.18). He received recognition as a GametimeCT Second Team All-State selection last year. 

Brayden Hale, Sheehan/Lyman Hall, So.: As a freshman last year, Hale secured 10th position in both the 100 breaststroke (1:00.15) and the 200 IM (1:57.52) at the State Open. He finished third in both events during the Class M meet. 

Jack Haley, New Canaan, Sr.: Earned two gold medals at the State Open, triumphing in both the 200 freestyle (1:38.90) and the 500 freestyle (4:33.42). Haley garnered a third gold medal as a member of New Canaan’s 200 medley relay team (1:33.79) and a silver medal in the second place 400 freestyle relay (3:09.63). In the Class L championship, Haley claimed second in both the 200 freestyle (1:39.75) and 500 freestyle (4:36.06). He has been honored as a two-time GametimeCT All-State selection. 

Eric Huang, New Canaan, Sr.: At the State Open last year, he took third in the 100 backstroke (51.60) and participated in both New Canaan’s gold medal 200 medley team and its second place 400 freestyle team. Both relay squads won gold medals at the Class L meet, while Huang individually placed second in the 100 backstroke (51.26). 

Michael Ivanov, Fairfield Coop, Sr.: Achieved second place in the 50 freestyle (21.31) at the State Open and rounded off fifth in the 100 breaststroke (59.36). In the Class L competition, he finished second in the 50 freestyle (21.12) and second in the 100 breaststroke (58.85). He was selected as a GametimeCT Second Team All-State last year. 

Nathan Ivans, Middletown, Sr.: Concluded ninth overall in the State Open diving event with a score of 409.80, the second highest score among non-seniors. In Class M, he secured fourth place (first among non-seniors) with a score of 425.20. 

Timothy King, Fairfield Prep, Sr.: Achieved fifth place individually at the State Open in the 100 butterfly (52.00) and participated in Fairfield Prep’s third place 200 freestyle relay team. In the Class L competition, he finished second in the 100 butterfly (51.67) and secured gold with the 200 freestyle relay team.

Brendan Kirberger, Masuk, Sr.: At the State Open last year, Kirberger placed fifth in the 500 freestyle (4:40.96) and seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:44.50). In the Class M competition, he earned gold medals in both the 200 freestyle (1:44.84) and 500 freestyle (4:41.22). He was recognized as a GametimeCT Second Team All-State selection last year. 

Cody Lonsberry, Enfield/Ellington/Suffield, Sr.: During the State Open last year, he finished second in the 500 freestyle (4:32.46) and fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:42.40). In the Class LL meet, he secured the victory in the 500 freestyle (4:36.06) and finished third in the 200 freestyle (1:42.38). He was a GametimeCT Second Team All-State selection. 

Luke Mendelsohn, Greenwich, Sr.: Achieved second place in the 100 breaststroke (57.35) and fourth in the 200 IM (1:53.45) at the State Open, also obtaining a gold medal as part of Greenwich’s 200 freestyle relay team. In the Class LL championship, he won gold in the 100 breaststroke (57.12), finished third in the 200 IM (1:53.02), and earned additional gold and silver medals in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays, respectively. He was a GametimeCT All-State selection last year. 

Jake Mercer, Wilton, Sr.: Finished eighth overall in the 50 freestyle (21.79) at the State Open, representing the fourth best among non-seniors. He achieved fourth place in the 50 freestyle (21.80) at the Class M meet and fifth in the 100 freestyle (48.95). 

Aidan Palaj, Bristol Co-op, Jr.: Secured ninth overall in the 500 freestyle (4:44.42) and 12th in the 200 freestyle as a sophomore last year at the State Open. In the Class LL meet, he finished fifth in both the 200 freestyle (1:45.83) and 500 freestyle (4:48.37). 

Benjamin Pope, E.O. Smith-Tolland, Jr.: Claimed victory in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.13 at the State Open. At the Class M championship, Pope finished second in the 50 freestyle (21.23), third in the 100 freestyle (47.99), and third with the 200 freestyle relay team. He was recognized as a GametimeCT All-State selection last year. 

Robert Regan, Pomperaug, Sr.: Was a three-time bronze medalist at the State Open, taking third in the 200 IM (1:53.24), 100 breaststroke (57.76) and as a member of Pomperaug’s 200 medley relay (1:34.97). In the Class M championship, Regan won gold in the 200IM (1:51.57), the 100 breaststroke (56.82), and as part of the 200 medley relay team. He received the GametimeCT All-State selection last year. 

Jake Simon, Darien, Jr,: Secured fifth place at the State Open diving competition with a score of 448.15. He was the highest finishing non-senior at the event last year. He became the Class L diving champion with a score of 428.55. 

Cole Strickland, Middletown, Jr.: At the State Open last season, Strickland concluded eighth
“`overall in the 500 freestyle (4:44.32) and ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:44.63). He secured the second spot in the 200 freestyle (1:45.57) and the third in the 500 freestyle (4:56.98) at the Class M meet.

Owen Tharrington, Fairfield Prep, Sr.: During the State Open a year prior, Tharrington achieved second place in the 100 backstroke (51.12) and fifth in the 200 IM (1:54.29). He claimed victory in both the 100 backstroke (50.93) and 200 IM (1:54.64) at the Class L meet. Last season, he was selected as a GametimeCT Second Team All-State member.

William Trotman, Ridgefield, Sr.: Last season, Trotman secured the 10th position in the 500 freestyle (4:44.86) and the 11th in the 200 freestyle (1:45.15) at the State Open. At the Class L meet, he took fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:46.18) and third in the 500 freestyle (4:48.49).

Owen Vale, Avon, Sr.: Placed seventh overall in the 200 IM (1:55.83) and ninth in the 100 breaststroke (59.85) at last year’s State Open. In the Class M meet, he ranked second in the 200 IM (1:55.97) and fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.42).

Andrew Villani, Northwest Catholic/East Catholic, Sr.: Achieved a gold medal by tying Middletown’s Richard Bailey in the 100 butterfly at the State Opens with a time of 50.75. In the Class S championship, Villani secured first place in the 100 butterfly (51.17) and second place in the 50 freestyle (21.87). He was recognized as a GametimeCT First Team All-State member last year.

Wyatt Vitiello, Norwalk-McMahon, Jr.: A two-time State Open champion in both the 200 IM with a time of 1:51.41 and the 100 backstroke in 50.83. He also achieved a silver medal as part of his team’s second-place finishing 200 medley relay team (1:34.34). During the Class LL championship, he took first in the 200 IM (1:51.20), the 100 backstroke (50.77) and was part of the victorious 200 medley relay squad. He was honored as a GametimeCT All-State member last year.

Hadden Wood, Greenwich, Sr.: At the State Open last year, Wood achieved an eighth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (52.16), which ranked as the fourth best among non-seniors. He also claimed a gold medal as part of Greenwich’s 400 freestyle relay team. At the Class LL meet, he was the runner-up in the 100 butterfly (51.91).

Cyrus Xu, Hall, Sr.: Achieved eighth place at the State Open in the 200 freestyle (1:44.60) and secured 10th in the 100 backstroke (53.98). During the Class L meet, he took third in the 200 freestyle (1:43.91) and third in the 100 backstroke (52.90).