Alden High School is sending two standout athletes to their respective state championships after impressive performances in their sports.
At the State Qualifier Swim Meet, Liam Farrell secured his place at the New York State Swim Championship in Ithaca, New York. He will compete in the 100-yard breaststroke from March 6th to 8th alongside other top swimmers from Section 6.
“Mainly, I went to practice every day, all throughout the fall and even the summer before that,” Farrell said. “I really tried working harder this season. I tried eating better, working out more, and stretching after practice, and I really think that’s helped me.”
Farrell’s dedication paid off in a dramatic way—he hit the state qualifying time exactly, making it by just a hundredth of a second. “I was pretty shocked,” he admitted. “Once I realized I was actually going to states, it was just pure happiness.”
Meanwhile, Addy Washburn has also earned a trip to states after placing fifth in the Section 6 standings and securing another fifth-place finish at sectionals in the offhand position. She will compete as an all-star for Section 6 at the state invitational in Orchard Park on March 8th. This marks her second consecutive year qualifying.
Washburn competes in air rifle, a sport with two distinct halves. “The first half of the season, we do three targets all standing, and in the second half, we do prone, standing, and kneeling,” she explained.
This year, Washburn will compete in the 30-offhand event, which requires all shots to be taken from a standing position. Last year, she qualified for states in the 3P (three-position) event.
“States is a two-day event, so the day before, we have a practice with the Section 6 team and then a banquet dinner with all the sections together,” she said. “I’m hoping to do better than I did at sectionals, but I feel like I’ll probably be in the same kind of boat I was in all season.”
Both athletes have worked tirelessly to reach this point and will proudly represent Alden at the state level. Best of luck to Liam and Addy as they compete!
Watch their interviews here!
