“Making Waves: The Rise of Horseheads Boys Swimming and Diving in Section 4”

This is part of a series that will continue throughout the 2024-25 academic year highlighting the top high school sports programs in the Elmira-Corning region of the Southern Tier over the past 25 years. This is the inaugural piece in a series focused on leading winter programs.

Recent achievements and historical success intertwine for the Horseheads boys swimming and diving squad.

From 1971 to 1998, during the final year of the old Sullivan Trail Conference, Horseheads was crowned league champion every year, a streak featuring nine straight Section 4 team titles from 1990 to 1998.

Shawn Toffolo (1981), Kevin Nagy (1983), Jeff Johnson (1986), and diver Todd Smith (1993) stood out as individual state champions for the Blue Raiders.

Toffolo secured two state titles during his junior year, excelling in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Johnson’s senior year ended with state titles in the 50-yard freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 400 freestyle relay alongside Mike Van Brunt, Eric Winkky, and Seth Nagy. Four years earlier, Johnson participated in a state championship win in the same relay with Toffolo, Kevin Nagy, and Jeff Kennedy.

Winkky later achieved success as Horseheads’ head coach from 2019 to 2022 after spending seven seasons as an assistant.

Tom Skidmore, arguably the most influential figure in Horseheads athletic history, led Horseheads to 72 victories in his last 74 dual meets before passing the reins to Fred Seither in 1979.

Seither, who initiated the boys swimming program at Watkins Glen, coached the Raiders until 2004. His teams accumulated over 300 dual meet victories and 12 Section 4 team titles, including one in his last season. Seither remains an important presence in Section 4 swimming as an official.

Seither and subsequent contributors to Horseheads swimming have made it a priority to acknowledge feeder programs like the River Rats and Horseheads Thrashers for their role in developing swimmers & divers who have excelled for the Blue Raiders.

The long-serving area diving coach Jack Mathers, who passed away in 2015, was another pivotal contributor to Horseheads’ achievements.

“Any coach’s effectiveness is determined by the athletes he has,” Seither remarked upon announcing his retirement. “We’ve had extraordinary swimmers and divers at Horseheads.”

More: Five decades of excellence for Horseheads volleyball

This legacy has persisted in the 22 years that followed, with another former Blue Raiders star, Chris Bankaitis, now at the helm of the program.

This season’s team boasts a record of 4-1 in dual meets despite graduating numerous key athletes. Horseheads aims for a fourth consecutive Section 4 Class A championship.

They still celebrate state championships and All-Americans at Horseheads. The latest was Cullin Cole, who won Federation and public school titles in the 50 freestyle two years ago. Cole is currently competing at Binghamton University.

Whether individually or as a team, Horseheads’ victories are a united effort.

“What really benefits us is maintaining a strong team environment,” Cole mentioned during his senior year. “In practice, we’re always encouraging each other, ‘Go, push harder.’ Motivating everyone.

“The coaching staff has undoubtedly ingrained this mindset in us to strive for our maximum potential, to improve our speed.”

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also get in touch with him at alegare@gannett.com. To gain unlimited access to the latest updates, please subscribe or activate your digital account today