Gabe Russell-Webster '27 Of Amherst won the 100-yard backstroke in an all-time outstanding performance as he lowered his school record in an All-American consideration time of 49.57 seconds at Saturday's state Federation championships in Ithaca.

The Federation meet brings together the best in the state from the public, private and Catholic schools as well as the champions from New York City to determine the overall state champions. 

Russell-Webster was the 10th and final qualifier in the backstroke after he swam a 51.87 in Friday's preliminaries, putting him on the very outside in Lane 10, but he put forth one of the best performances in CHS Swimming history to win the title.  

Russell-Webster is CHS Swimming's first Federation champion since the 2018 200 freestyle relay of Christian Balkin '18 (who is the current CHS coach), Mac Granto '18, Jake Ruffolo '18 and Dan Bowen '19; he is the first individual Federation champion since 2014 when Jack Boyd '14 won the 200 freestyle.

It was an outstanding meet for Canisius, which had six top-eight finishes to become the fifth-highest scoring team (146 points) from among 131 schools at the meet. 

The 200 medley relay of Russell-Webster (backstroke), Atticus Young '26 of Buffalo (breaststroke), Andre Charlier '27 of the Town of Tonawanda (butterfly) and Luca Alessi '29 of Clarence (freestyle) set a school record by a second in taking third place in 1:34.01. 

Russell-Webster also took fifth in the 100 butterfly with a 50.13.

Young took sixth in the 100 breaststroke with a 56.97 and was eighth in the 200 individual medley with a 1:54.00.

Canisius was seventh in the 400 free relay in 3:13.17 behind Russell-Webster, Young, Charlier and Duke Neal '28 of Youngstown.

"We knew from the start of the season that this group had the skill to pull off something amazing," said coach Christian Balkin '18. "With that in mind I saw a relentless drive take hold of each of them – there was no holding back. 

"This team is special – this weekend, they showed us why."

Students and families interested in CHS Swimming and the excellence only found in a Jesuit education at Canisius – ranked as the Buffalo area's "Best Catholic School" by Niche.com – can learn more by scheduling an on-campus experience at cansiushigh.org/visit

This place is special. Let us show you why.

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