When the Greenwich High School boys swimming squad won the team title at the FCIAC Championships back in the 1970-71 season, it began a dynasty that has been unmatched by any team in any sport in the state, or probably the nation, for that matter.

High School sports historians will be hard pressed to find a dynasty that has matched the success the Greenwich High School boys swimming team has enjoyed since the early 1970s.

The Cardinals have dominated the FCIAC Swimming Championships under the leadership of legendary coach Terry Lowe for numerous decades, long before cell phones, iPads and the internet were developed.

On March 6, the Cardinals continued their long-standing legacy with another excellent performance at the FCIAC championship meet before a large, cheering crowd at Greenwich High.

Displaying its superior depth, Greenwich amassed 521 points, winning the team title at the FCIAC Swimming Championships for an astounding 54^th time in 55 seasons.

Norwalk/McMahon placed second in the 11-team championship meet, totaling 305 team points and Wilton was third (277). Ridgefield (215 points) and New Canaan (213) rounded out the top-five finishing teams at the fast and competitive meet held at GHS on March 6. Greenwich won three events in the meet yet was sparked by the number of top eight finishes it posted, enabling it to consistently rack up points with each event.

“We thought that tonight was going to be our night,” Lowe said. “We took it very conservatively on Tuesday at the trials. We said we were going to have our final on Thursday and we really did have our final.”

Champion Greenwich, which went undefeated during the regular season, set the tone quickly by winning the meet’s opening race – the 200-yard medley relay. Junior William McCarthy, senior Luke Mendelsohn, senior Jake Melley and freshman Carl Johnson combined for a winning time of 1:35.72 for the Cardinals.

New Canaan placed second (1:36.07), followed by Wilton (1:37.98). Winning the 200-yard medley relay gave Greenwich 40 important points toward its championship team total.

“We started off strong with the 200 medley relay,” Melley said. “We came in as the fifth seed and coach told us to risk it. Our starts were good and we came out with a win. That was electric, everyone was hyped up. I think that was the highlight of the meet, to start it off with a bang like that.”

Lowe also emphasized the significance of beginning the FCIAC Championships with a victory in the 200 medley relay.

“It started with the 200 medley relay with winning the relay,” Lowe said. “We continued to be consistent all through the meet with great times and great performances.”

New Canaan senior Jack Haley claimed the gold medal in the 200-yard freestyle, posting a time of 1:39.37. Freshman Noland Barrett of the Cardinals finished second in 1:43.40, followed by teammate Colin Bucaria, a junior (1:45.19) and Norwalk/McMahon junior Sebastian Camille (1:46.87). Haley of the Rams was named the Swimmer of the Meet.

Greenwich senior Hadden Wood had a fifth-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:48.51) and teammate Hunter Bodey, a sophomore, was ninth (1:48.01).

The 500-yard freestyle race saw Haley capture the first-place medal, clocking in at 4:30.44. Barrett (4:49.12) and junior Jack Smith (4:49.46), were second and third, respectively in the 500 for the Cards. Matthew Bergner, a GHS freshman, also sparked the Cardinals in the 500 freestyle, finishing fifth in 4:54.77.

“The 500 is a battle of swimming your own race and not letting anyone else dictate how you race,” said Haley, the Swimmer of the Meet. “The guys next to me, they really pushed me to do my best. I’m really happy with my time there, if I go the same time I will really be happy at states and Opens (the State Open Championships). There are a few other guys swimming that will give me a good push, but I’m looking forward to racing them.”

Junior Wyatt Vitiello, representing Norwalk/McMahon, won the FCIAC title in both the 200 individual medley (1:51.46) and the 100 backstroke (51.05). Mendelsohn finished second in the 200 IM (1:51.71) and Wilton’s Hirsh Iyer second in the backstroke (53.78). Bergner posted a sixth-place finish for the Cards in the 200 IM, clocking in at 2:00.88.

McCarthy was sixth for GHS in the 100-yard backstroke, registering a time of 55.38 seconds, while teammates Hunter Bodey, a sophomore (54.95) and William Hanna, a junior, (56.36), were ninth and 11th, respectively.

“It’s part of our goal, we have a lot more to accomplish,” Mendelsohn said of being part of another FCIAC championship squad. “It felt good, FCIACs is always good competition, it’s a great atmosphere with everyone so close to the pool, you don’t get that at the later championship meets. It’s a lot of fun and very exciting.”

Senior Eric Huang from New Canaan Huang was the FCIAC 50 freestyle champion (21.20) and 100 butterfly winner (50.53).

“The 50 freestyle, it’s a pretty short race, it’s only about 20 seconds, 21 seconds, so I knew I had to get a good start and that’s what my strategy was centered on,” Huang said.

Fairfield Ludlowe/Warde’s Michael Ivanov placed second in the 50 freestyle (21.39) and Norwalk/McMahon’s David Delong took third (21.81).

Wilton senior Jake Mercer took fourth in the 50 freestyle (21.90), while Melley gave Greenwich a fifth-place finishing, touching the wall in 21.99 seconds. Freshman Carl Johnson (seventh place, 22.54), senior Luke Merrill (22.70) and senior Matthew Rogliano (11th place, 23.05) also paced the Cards in the 50-yard freestyle.

Melley placed second for GHS in the 100 butterfly (51.65), while senior Berke Ceken of Westhill/Stamford finished third (51.84).

“The 100 I was proud of, I came in as the sixth seed and went to back to second,” Melley noted. “That was my fastest 50 split.”

Wood earned a seventh place finish in the 100 butterfly, recording a time of 52.92 for the Cardinals. Rogliano was 10th in the event for GHS, clocking in at 55.46.

Winning the FCIAC 100-yard freestyle title was Fairfield Ludlowe/Warde senior Michael Ivanov, who touched the wall in 46.75 seconds. Norwalk/McMahon junior Alex Sharpe was the runner-up in 47.17 and Greenwich junior Colin Bucaria placed fourth in 48.12.

McCarthy took seventh for GHS in the 100 freestyle (49.83), while Merrill (50.29) and senior Calvin Donat (50.50) were ninth and 11th, respectively.

Donat reflected on Greenwich’s standout start to the meet, specifically, winning the 200 medley relay race.

“We were a seeded behind a little bit, but we came out swinging and a good start with that 2-medley relay really showed we are going to swim,” Donat noted. “I’m really excited about how well we did in this meet, we’re hoping to continue the path upward and get really good times.”

Mendelson captured the gold medal in the 100-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 57.19 seconds, giving GHS 20 more points to its team total. Berke Ceken of Westhill/Stamford, a senior, was second (58.33) and New Canaan junior Oliver Carr took third in 1:00.74.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Mendelsohn, Wood, Barrett and Melley gave the Cardinals a victory, teaming up for a championship time of 1:26.49. The Rams were the runner-up (1:27.02), followed by Ridgefield (1:31.98).

The FCIAC championship meet ended with Norwalk/McMahon winning the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Alex Sharpe, Sebastian Camille, David Delong and Vitiello combining for a 3:08.44 finish. Greenwich’s Bucaria, Donat, Wood and Barrett were second (3:13.80). Wilton placed third (3:16.76).

With another FCIAC title to its collection, Greenwich now turns its attention to the upcoming CIAC Class LL Championships and the CIAC State Open Championships.

The Class LL Championships is scheduled to take place at Cornerstone Aquatics Center in West Hartford on March 18 at 1 p.m. The State Open Championships will take place at Yale University on March 22, also with a 1 p.m. starting time.

Greenwich has won an unprecedented 38 State Open titles. The Cardinals have also captured the Class LL championship 38 times.

“It’s definitely an honor to carry on that legacy of the teams that came before us,” Mendelsohn said. “Some of them are keeping track of us and how we’re doing.”

“It’s truly an honor to be on a team that’s as decorated as this,” Wood said. “The show out today was more than we could have possibly imagined. Regardless of where we went in prelims, everybody showed up, everybody was doing season-best times. I’m so proud of the team and so proud of how hard we worked.”

Photos by Kara Mendelsohn: To the left, Hunter Bodey of GHS competes in the 100-yard backstroke at the FCIAC swimming finals at Greenwich High School. To the right, Greenwich’s Carl Johnson in action.