Minnechaug's Normoyle named high school All American

July 16, 2012


Above: Minnechaug Regional High School's two-time All American swimmer Michael Normoyle competes in a swim meet during the 2012 season. Normoyle was state co-champion in the 100 yard breastroke and finished third at the state championships in the 200 yard individual medley in 2012. Below: Two-time All American Michael Normoyle stands with Minnechaug Regional High School swim team head coach Erik Mandell. Together for four years, Normoyle and Mandell enjoyed four consecutive Western Massachusetts team championships and a second-place team finish at the 2012 state championship meet. During that time, Normoyle set five Western Massachusetts and school records. Reminder Publications submitted photos

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — There's not much Michael Normoyle hasn't achieved in high school swimming.

A member of Minnechaug Regional High School's recent graduating class of 2012, he leaves a legacy as a six-time Western Massachusetts sectional champion, two time state champion, and a five-time Western Massachusetts and school record setter. Now, he's also a two-time All-American.

Normoyle, who was an automatic qualifier for All-America status in the 100 yard breaststroke during his junior year, learned on June 15 that he overcame an adjustment to this year's qualifying standards and received the honor for a second straight season.

Finishing in a virtual tie for first place in the breaststroke with Lincoln-Sudbury High School's Sam Mackie at the Division 1 state championship with a time of 57.36 seconds, he fell 0.17 seconds short of automatically qualifying for the second time, but was eligible for consideration and the waiting game began.

"Senior year my goal was really to try achieve the All American award again knowing the time cuts were harder as the times were made faster to qualify," Normoyle said. "I swam a faster time senior year, but during the season it was All American consideration and I had to wait until June 15 to see if I qualified. It was a great feeling on June 15 when I found out I made it."

Minnechaug head coach Erik Mandell credited Normoyle with having an outstanding work ethic to go along with his immeasurable talent that made him a household name in the swimming community.

"Michael was obviously physically talented, but he complemented that physical talent with the work ethic and desire to be the best," Mandell said. "He was as good as they come in the big race, and was a relentless competitor. This year's state final in the breast was a good example — with two yards to go he was still clearly in second place and he basically willed himself to the wall and another state title."

As Mandell praised him, Normoyle pointed to his coach as the biggest outside influence in his success.

"Coach Mandell has had the biggest impact on my swimming accomplishments. He pushes all of his swimmers harder than any other coach I have had and he has the biggest expectations from every one of his swimmers," he said. "He tells all of his swimmers at the start of every season what times he expects us to get and at the time we don't know how we will get that fast of a time. At the end of the season, almost all of his swimmers achieve the predicted time. Sometimes we even surprise him and exceed his predictions.

"I really thank Coach Mandell. I don't think I would have had such success if it wasn't for him. He has a way of getting the best results from anybody he coaches," he added.

As Normoyle has enjoyed his individual success, the Falcons have enjoyed one of the most dominant runs in Western Massachusetts swimming's recent history.

"In my mind, the most significant thing to note about his career was that it occurred within the context of a special era for the team, with 42 straight dual meet victories, four straight Western Mass team titles, and a state runner up team performance this past year," Mandell said, "That is to say, his career didn't occur in a vacuum and the success of the team and his teammates was obviously important to Michael. He always did what was asked and expected of him from a team perspective."

For Normoyle, the team accomplishments of winning four Western Massachusetts championships and placing second in the 2012 state championships hold a special place in his heart.

"I have so many great memories while swimming at Minnechaug. I am going to miss it. The biggest highlight is winning Western Mass all four years. It is so hard for any team to win a Western Mass title and to have won it every year is big. The team's second place finish at [Division 1] states this year with only seven guys there is unheard of," he said. "I am lucky to have had great teammates who all worked really hard every day and pushed each other. [Four-time individual state champion] Wiktor Karpinski was in my lane every day since freshman year and we are better swimmers because we each pushed each other."

In addition to Karpinski, Normoyle has had another teammate pushing him recently — his younger brother Tommy, who finished second to him in the 100 breaststroke at this year's Western Massachusetts championship.

"My brother Tommy is always in the back of my mind during a race because we have had a few really close races and being that I am older I want to beat him," he said. "Ironically we swim the same events. It's nice having him always there. I look forward to watching him the next two years he has left at Minnechaug."

Along with Tommy, the Falcons will have another Normoyle next season — Jack, who will be a freshman in the fall.

With his high school career now behind him, Normoyle will take on his next challenges at Springfield College where he will compete under another extremely accomplished coach in John Taffe, the 2005 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Men's Coach of the Year who has led 12 teams to top-20 finishes in NCAA Division III swimming over the past 14 seasons.

"I am excited for this fall to be at Springfield College and swim there," Normoyle said. "I definitely want to have continued success under Coach Taffe and my goal will be to qualify for the NCAA Championships in March. I am definitely not done swimming yet."

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