The Cavaliers senior captured gold and set meet records in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke at the Les Richards Swimming Championships. In the 200 IM, he finished in 1:57.42, which broke the previous meet record of 1:57.99 set in 2016 by Scranton Prep’s Nico Lastauskas. In the 100 backstroke, Iannone finished in 52.60, breaking the meet and pool record of 53.12 set in 2020 by former PIAA Class 2A champion Peter Kawash of Lakeland.

Family: Mom, Trish; dad, John; brother, Alex.

Coach: Colin Manley

What was it like trying to compete when you weren’t feeling well? Did you have any changes in preparation: I woke up that morning, noticed I was feeling not 100%, and I was kind of worried about it. I did my normal routine, I went through my stretching and then we went to the University of Scranton to warm up and as I was walking in I just remined myself that I train all the time while sick, I still lift while sick. So, I just told myself it’s the same as that. Just focus, count my strokes, count my kicks underwater, don’t really overthink anything, let my body just do what it does. I tried to stay off my feet a lot of the time, tried to get some good calories in me and I took an Advil or something. That’s pretty much all I did for that.

Why are the Les Richards Championships so important to you: Growing up with my brother, he was always three years older than me, I was always looking up to him a lot in the swim world and this was one of my favorite meets to watch him at even before I was in high school. Then, when we had that one year together where he was a senior and I was a freshman, he told me to make it a special meet for the both of us and that’s what we did. Every year that meet happens, I just continue to make it a tradition of performing our best and representing Scranton Prep.

You’ve had a great season, setting school records. What do you think of the way you’re performed this season: I did everything I’ve hoped to and more. I’ve always wanted to write my name in the record books of Scranton Prep and this is the year to do it, and I’m not done yet either. I still have districts and states, so I’m excited to see what that holds, but breaking a record of Clint Cornell was a big goal, and I got to do that. And lowered my record in the IM at states last year, so it just feels really good to do that.

In the 200 IM, you beat West Scranton’s Roy Ayala by .25 seconds. What do you think about the competition when it comes to this area: This area has a lot of talent. It’s a big concentration of just a lot of great swimmers, and I love going up against all those fast guys that really push me. A lot of them train together on a club team and I don’t really. I’m kind of separate from them, so I love training at practice and then getting to race them and see where I’m at. It’s just fun to race them.

What do you think of the way the team has performed this season: They’re going incredible. On our women’s side, they just won the league title. Especially Rebecca Oakes, she had a great meet yesterday. I love training with her at practice. She’s one of my favorite training partners. She pushes me every day. I feel like I push her, so that’s one great thing I love about that. Our women are great. You have Ben Kessler on our men’s side who’s one of my lane partners. We train against each other, so it’s just a great training environment.

What’s preparation for districts and states like? Does it differ at all from the regular season: Districts are in a little less than two weeks, so we’re probably going to start tapering just a little bit. My main focus is states, but I’d like to have a fast meet at districts. So, just come down a little bit in the yardage, try to get more sleep. Focus on the minute details in my stroke and kind of refine things and just have a great two meets.

You’re committed to College of the Holy Cross. Why did you pick that school: I had a busy summer, I was traveling to a lot of schools visiting and Holy Cross was my first official visit, so that’s where you stay in a dorm with one of the swimmers and for two days you just live a life of a Holy Cross athlete. As soon as I was there, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Everything just kind of lined up. The team was great, the coach was great, the school is great and I love the location, too. So, everything just aligned, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be there.

Do you play any other sports at the school: I don’t. I’m actually doing theater this year for the first time. I want to do as much as I can senior year before I leave.

Three people you’d like to have dinner with: Michael Phelps, Kanye West and Mark Ruffalo.

Athletes you admire: No. 1 Cody Miller, he’s a breaststroke swimmer. I love him a lot, he inspires me. He’s inspired me since I was little. No. 2 LeBron James. He’s the GOAT. No. 3 Noah Lyles. He’s a track star and I love watching him perform. He’s great, and he puts on a show every time.

Superstitions or rituals before a meet: I always go through the same stretching routine. I feel like that’s a big part for me. And then I eat the same breakfast every morning, eggs, toast, oatmeal and orange juice. And then I do the same meet warmup every time. Nothing really changes. I’ve always done the same warmup.

Favorite food: Chicken parm.

Favorite sports teams: Philadelphia Eagles, New York Yankees, Philadelphia 76ers.

Favorite movie: “Whiplash”

Favorite TV show: “Breaking Bad”

Favorite musical artist: Stevie Wonder.