Newsday's All-Long Island boys swimming and diving team 2026
Newsday's 2026 All-Long Island boys swimming and diving team. Back row, from left: Ryan Baldwin, Gavin Buckley, Johnny Macko, Tyler Gallub, Matt Chang and coach Michael Cipollino. Front row, from left: Arthur Palladino, Andrew Koek and Tristan Yang. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Newsday Athlete of the Year: Tristan Yang, Jericho, Sr.
Yang had made it to the top before. This year, it was a matter of getting back.
He won his first 1-meter diving state title as a freshman in 2023 and, since then, the top spot had been elusive. Yang placed third as a sophomore and second as a junior. In the last meet of his high school career, Yang knew he couldn’t fall short again.
He didn't.
Tristan Yang of Jericho. Credit: Bridget M. Reinsko
Yang secured his second state title with a score of 582.6, and has been named Newsday's boys swimming and diving Athlete of the Year.
“The past two years really motivated me to work harder,” Yang said. “I showed up every day and the consistency paid off. I knew this was my last go so I wanted to be my best.”
Next fall, Yang will join his sister, Rachel, in the pool at UPenn, where he will study business. Jericho diving coach DJ Volosevich said the commitment could not be a better fit.
“He made the smartest decision of his life as a 16-year-old,” Volosevich said. “For him to choose to not only dive at a high level, but to study at one of the best business schools there is, is a testament to his maturity. He deserves it and I’m so proud of him.”
Suffolk Athlete of the Year: Tyler Gallub, Smithtown/Hauppauge, Sr.
Tyler Gallub of Smithtown/Hauppauge. Credit: Bridget M. Reinsko
In a program that’s consistently at the top of the rankings, Gallub still manages to stand out.
Gallub helped Smithtown/Hauppauge to a fourth-place team finish at the state championships with a score of 157. Individually, he placed third in the state in the 50-yard freestyle (20.51 seconds) and seventh in the 100-yard freestyle (46.07).
“I left it all in the pool,” Gallub said. “With every single race, I pushed even harder. Knowing this was my last high school race, it was important for me to contribute and leave a legacy behind and I trust my teammates to carry that on.”
Whether he’s competing as an individual or on a team, success follows. Gallub is also a member of Smithtown/Hauppauge’s historic 200-yard freestyle and medley relay teams, both of which finished second in the state.
Gallub will join his brother, Dylan, in the pool at SUNY Geneseo next fall.
“It’ll be my first time ever on a new team and I’m really excited for that new environment,” Gallub said. “I don’t think I’ve swam my best yet so I’m looking forward to continuing my training and getting better.”
FIRST TEAM
Ryan Baldwin, Oceanside, Jr.
Baldwin earned two county titles at the Nassau championships, winning the 100-yard backstroke (51.83) and 100-yard butterfly (49.44). The Navy commit placed fourth in the state in the 100 butterfly with a time of 50.33 and eighth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:38.86.
Gavin Buckley, Chaminade, Sr.
Buckley won the 200-yard freestyle federation title with a time of 1:38.67 and placed second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:28.57. A North Carolina-Wilmington commit, he also anchored his 400 and 200 freestyle relay teams to second (3:06.11) and third (1:24.96), respectively. Buckley won the 200 freestyle (1:39.94) and 500 freestyle (4:29.63) at the CHSAA championships.
Matt Chang, Herricks, Sr.
Chang placed fourth in the state in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.70 and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 45.57. The Binghamton commit also anchored Herricks' 200 freestyle relay team to a sixth-place finish (1:26.74). At the Nassau championships, Chang won the 50 freestyle (20.77) and 100 freestyle (45.96).
Trevor Green, Rocky Point, Sr.
Green placed second in the state in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:51.03 and sixth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 50.96. The Minnesota commit won the 100 butterfly (50.46) and 100 backstroke (51.43) at the Suffolk championships.
Andrew Koek, Manhasset, Sr.
Koek earned the 100-yard breaststroke state and federation title with a personal-best time of 54.64. He also placed 11th in the state in the 200 individual medley (1:53.55) and helped Manhasset to a seventh-place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:36.54). Koek won the 100 breaststroke (55.63) and placed second in the 200 IM (1:53.46) at the Nassau championships.
Johnny Macko, Bellmore-Merrick, Jr.
Macko earned the state and federation title in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:28.31 and the public school state title in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:39.47. At the Nassau championships, Macko earned two titles in the same events, taking the 200 freestyle (1:41.70) and 500 freestyle (4:31.98).
Brendan Miller, Ward Melville, Fr.
Miller placed fifth in the state in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:40.26 and the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 50.24. Miller won the 100 freestyle (45.63) and 200 freestyle (1:40.36) at the Suffolk championships.
Arthur Palladino, Lindenhurst, 7th Grade
Palladino stunned in his varsity debut, winning the 1-meter diving title at the Suffolk championships by nearly 200 points with a score of 544.95, which broke the Stony Brook pool record. The seventh-grader placed sixth in the state with a score of 464.15.
Newsday Coach of the Year: Michael Cipollino, Syosset
Cipollino led Syosset to another historic season, breaking Nassau’s dual meet win streak record with 89 consecutive wins on Nov. 25. Cipollino guided his team to its third-straight Nassau championship and extended the program’s dual meet win streak to 95 at the end of the season.
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
