Sandy Hook’s Golankiewicz Sets State Swim Record In Final Meet

By Andy Hutchison

NEW HAVEN — Sandy Hook resident Andrew Golankiewicz, a senior at Fairfield Prep, completed his final high school swimming campaign and capped off his career by making quite a splash at the State Open at Yale’s Kiphuth Memorial Exhibition Pool on March 20.

Golankiewicz won the 100-yard backstroke event in a time of 51.01, breaking the state record set by Darien’s Danny Diette in 2001. Golankiewicz was also part of Prep’s winning 400 freestyle relay team as the Jesuits placed third among 55 teams at the Open. Prep had 357 points and Pomperaug of Southbury, with 489, won the meet.

Prep had finished second in the Class LL state championships at Wesleyan University in Middletown on March 17. Golankiewicz won the backstroke competition at the Class LL meet as well. The Sandy Hook product also helped the Jesuits win the Southern Connecticut Conference championship earlier in March.

The long swim season began back before Thanksgiving and ended with the conference and state postseason meets, the most exciting time of the year, Golankiewicz notes.

“It’s definitely my favorite part of swimming — championship season,” he said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie with your teammates — it’s especially high at this period.”

At Yale, for the Open, the championship season reaches its pinnacle. All of the top teams from throughout the state compete and race for their best times in front of cheering fans who pack into the steep stands of the massive and historic 1932 pool complex.

“You don’t really see anyplace else like it. It’s real special to take part in,” Golankiewicz said of swimming at the Open at Yale.

Golankiewicz, who has been recruited by the Naval Academy, is deciding where to continue his studies and swimming career.