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Syracuse Today
By the People, for the People
Fayetteville-Manlius boys swimming secures 1st Falwell Cup in program history
Hornets beat New Hartford by 108 points to dethrone the reigning champions
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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The Fayetteville-Manlius boys swimming team captured the first Falwell Cup in program history on Thursday at the Section III state qualifier meet. The Hornets compiled 378 points, beating New Hartford by 108 points and dethroning the Spartans as the reigning Falwell Cup champions.
Why it matters
The Falwell Cup is the illustrious Section III postseason trophy, and the Hornets have long sought to secure it for themselves after the school's girls swim program has won several titles. This victory marks a major milestone for the boys' team.
The details
The Hornets' 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay both won their events, and Ben Prendergast took first in the 100-yard breaststroke. Gallivan noted that all three Hornets relays, along with Jack and Ben Prendergast, qualified for the state championship meet in March.
- On Thursday at Nottingham High School, the Hornets competed in the Section III state qualifier meet.
- The Hornets secured a second consecutive Section III Class A crown on Tuesday.
The players
Tim Gallivan
The head coach of the Fayetteville-Manlius boys swimming team, who was part of a West Genesee squad that captured the Falwell Cup as a senior in 2008-09.
Branden LeRoy
A member of the Hornets' winning 200-yard medley relay.
David Park
A member of the Hornets' winning 200-yard medley relay.
Ben Prendergast
Won the 100-yard breaststroke and was part of the Hornets' winning 400-yard freestyle relay.
Derick Wang
A member of the Hornets' winning 200-yard medley relay.
What they’re saying
“I am incredibly proud of the boys today. This is a goal we set last year after winning sectionals. It's something they have worked toward daily for the past several months. Over the course of sectionals and state qualifiers we had six school records fall. The boys worked very hard for this moment.”
— Tim Gallivan, Head Coach (syracuse.com)
“Seeing these group of athletes work so hard and have it finally come into fruition was amazing. This was a great sectional and state qualifiers' meet. Many of the programs in our section swam and dove excellent and the community on deck is unparalleled.”
— Tim Gallivan, Head Coach (syracuse.com)
What’s next
The New York state championship meet is March 6-7 at Ithaca College, where Gallivan hopes the Hornets can make it into an A final for one of the relays.
The takeaway
This victory marks a major milestone for the Fayetteville-Manlius boys swimming program, which has long sought to capture the prestigious Falwell Cup after the school's girls team has won several titles. The Hornets' hard work and dedication have paid off, and they now have their sights set on making an impact at the state meet.
