Golankiewicz An All-American And State Swimming Champ

Andrew Golankiewicz, 16, of Sandy Hook and a sophomore member of Fairfield Prep's Swim Team achieved All-American status at the Connecticut State Open Championship Meet, held this past Saturday night at Yale University. He swam the third leg on the fourth-place 400 yard freestyle relay team which finished with an All-American time of 3:10.51. Golankiewicz also placed second in the 100 yard backstroke (53.67), ninth in the 200 yard freestyle (1:45.36) and was the lead-off swimmer for the 200 yard medley relay team which placed fourth (1:39.20). Fairfield Prep finished third overall, just 11.5 points behind winner Pomperaug. Prep had 302 points, runner-up New Canaan had 307.5 and Pomperaug had 313.5.

At the Class LL Championships, held March 11 at Wesleyan University, Fairfield Prep finished second to Greenwich. Golankiewicz collected All-State honors and gold medals in three events. He won the 100 yard backstroke (54.01) and was a member of two winning relays, the 200 yard medley relay (1:40.10) and the 400 yard freestyle relay (3:11.32) which narrowly missed setting a new Class LL state record by only .17 seconds. He also placed fourth in the 200 yard freestyle (1:45.36).

On February 27th, at Southern Connecticut State University, Prep won its fourth consecutive Southern Connecticut Conference title. Golankiewicz earned All-Conference honors and three gold medals: in the 100 yard backstroke (54.77), 200 yard medley relay (1:41.85), and 400 yard freestyle relay (3:16.51). He also placed fifth in the 200 yard freestyle (1:47.73).

Golankiewicz will compete next with his club swim team, the Wilton Y Wahoos, at the YMCA National Swimming and Diving Championships to be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. at the International Swimming Hall of Fame pool April 1-4.