Gunther Cassell Captures All-American Honors

Huntington High School junior Gunther Cassell has captured All-American honors in the 100-yard breaststroke. The teenager’s time of 56.24 seconds surpassed the standard set by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association and was 38th fastest in the United States during the 2012/13 school year.

With two years of eligibility remaining, Cassell can already lay claim to being the greatest Blue Devil boys’ swimmer ever, with two state titles under his belt. The teenager turned in another sensational season as a sophomore. In dual meet competition, he won 15-of-16 possible events and had one second place finish in his “off-event,” the 100-yard backstroke.

“He’s one of only three swimmers in Blue Devil history to go ‘sub-minute’ in the 100-yard events: 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly,” Huntington swimming coach Gilbert Smith told the Huntington School Board, which honored Cassell and his teammate, Thomas Scott.

In the 2013 league championships, Cassell touched first in the 100-freestyle and 100-breaststroke and was a member of the winning 200-medley relay team. At the Suffolk championships, the Huntington star won the 100-breaststroke and was second in the 50-freestyle, qualifying for the state finals in both events.

At the state championships in Webster, outside of Rochester, Casseel was once again brilliant, finishing first in the 100-breaststroke (he was 16th in the 50-freestyle) and setting a new Suffolk, Long Island and New York State record. The time earned him NISCA/Speedo All-American honors for the second consecutive year.

Cassell holds the Huntington High School records in the 100-breaststroke and 50-freestyle and has the second fastest time ever in the 100-fly; third fastest ever in the 100-freestyle and fourth fastest ever in the 100-backstroke.

“The Huntington community, your parents and coaches are proud of your efforts and we look forward to your continued success in your junior and senior years,” Smith told Cassell as the Huntington School Board and community members in the audience looked on.

Thomas Scott Honored

Trustees also honored Thomas Scott, a member of Huntington’s Class of 2013 and the co-captain of the 2012/13 Blue Devil swim team. The teenager is headed to Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania,

Scott enjoyed a fabulous senior season, winning countless races. He set new school records in the 200-meter individual medley and the 400-meter freestyle and garnered All-County honors for the second consecutive year. He owns some of the fastest times in Huntington swimming history.

In the league championships, Scott won the 500-freestyle and took second in the 200-individual medley. He also swam on the winning 200-medley relay team. At the Suffolk championships, the teenager was second in both the 200-individual medley and 500-freestyle, qualifying for the state finals in each of the events and notching personal best times.

Scott finished 18th in the 200-individual medley and 23rd in the 500-freestyle at the state championships. Suffolk swimming coaches chose him as the recipient of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Sportsmanship Award at the state championships. 

Smith congratulated Scott for an “outstanding Blue Devil swimming career” and “especially for a superb season this year.”

Trustees and audience members gave Cassell and Scott and Smith and his longtime assistant coach Meg McConnell a hearty round of applause.