The Hall High School boys swim team defeated crosstown West Hartford rival Conard, 96-87, Wednesday night at Cornerstone Aquatics Center.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Savannah Cote. Photos by Scott Sulkazi

In one of the most competitive dual meets of the season for the West Hartford teams, the Hall Titans edged the Conard Red Wolves, 96-87, in a back-and-forth battle that wasn’t decided until the final relay.

Hall set the tone immediately in the 200-yard Medley Relay. The Titans’ quartet of Zach Fay, Jack Ackerman, Max Volenec, and Quinn O’Neill delivered a statement swim, touching first in 1:44.20. Conard’s team of Phin Izikson, Luke Scheinfeldt, Connor Faga, and Matthew Krol was right behind them at 1:44.28 – a razor-thin margin of eight-hundredths of a second that previewed just how tight the meet would be.

Hall carried that momentum into the 200-yard Freestyle, securing another first-place finish before continuing its surge in the 200-yard Individual Medley. The Titans captured gold in 2:03.47, while Conard stayed within striking distance at 2:07.05. A third-place finish at 2:14.92 ensured the scoring margin remained narrow.

The sprint events delivered some of the night’s most electric moments. In the 50-yard Freestyle, Conard surged to first in 23.09, with Hall finishing close behind at 23.84. Less than a second separated the top three swimmers. The 100-yard Butterfly produced another dramatic wall touch, as Conard edged Hall 54.28 to 54.35 in one of the closest races of the evening.

The 100-yard Freestyle was just as tight. Conard claimed first in 51.68, but Hall swimmers were right on their shoulder at 51.89 and 52.01 – a three-way finish separated by just 0.33 seconds.

Hall’s depth in the distance events proved pivotal. In the 500-yard Freestyle, the Titans secured a key victory in 5:08.80, gaining valuable points in the team standings. Conard battled fiercely for the remaining placements, with second and third separated by a mere 0.12 seconds (6:01.64 and 6:01.76).

Relay strength continued to define the meet. Hall captured the 200-yard Freestyle Relay in 1:37.20, adding another critical win. Conard answered in the 100-yard Breaststroke with a first-place finish in 1:12.15, while Hall picked up important points in the 100-yard Backstroke, winning in 1:00.33.

The meet came down to the 400-yard Freestyle Relay. Conard delivered a powerful performance, winning in 3:26.30 and narrowly defeating Hall’s 3:26.95 squad in a thrilling finish separated by just 0.65 seconds. The victory brought the crowd to its feet, but the Titans’ earlier consistency across events ultimately proved decisive.

When the final points were totaled, Hall emerged with a hard-fought 96-87 win over their crosstown West Hartford rivals. Defined by razor-thin finishes, elite relay exchanges, and momentum swings throughout, the meet showcased the competitive edge and depth of both programs – with Hall making just enough winning touches to secure the victory.

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