Hatters Excel at CB East Relay Carnival

Hatboro-Horsham had a big day at the Central Bucks East Relay Carnival. To view photos of the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.

The 41st annual Central Bucks East relay carnival, the annual kickoff to the swim season, was quite an evening for Hatboro-Horsham.

The Hatters won six relays,the most of any school at the event, which included host Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, Central Bucks South, which hail from the SOL Continental Conference along with Hatboro-Horsham, William Tennent from the SOL National Conference, Radnor from the Central League, Archbishop Wood from the Philadelphia Catholic League, Lower Moreland, which swims as an independent, and newcomer Villa Joseph Marie of the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies.

Perie Sumner, Katie Moore, Grace Riemenschneider and Barb Schmele won the girls 400-yard medley relay in 4:21.44 for Hatboro.

Haley Sutton, Maddy Wawrzyniak, Sumner and Nicole Pellecchiawon the 200 medley relay (1:53.43), Sutton, Elyse Bedics, Sophie Stasio and Schmele won the 200 backstroke relay (2:00.06) and Katie Moore, Sam Schmitt, Schmele and Wawrzyniak won the 200 breaststroke relay (2:11.27).

“This is a great meet and we’re always happy to be here,” said Wawrzyniak, a senior captain. “This is our first meet of the year and it’s always a nice meet because there’s a little bit of pressure to do well but it allows you to see what you’re doing wrong so you can work on it.   

“We’re not swimming to win here; that’s not the point of this meet. We’re here to have fun and hopefully swim well.

“Our breaststroke relay was about a second off the record (2:10.43 , set in 1997 by Souderton’s Laura Cleary, Dianne Moyer, Lauren Campbell and Colleen Wasson), but no one was upset because we didn’t get it. Everyone was happy with how well we all swam.”

For the boys, Jeremy Brosius, Nick Bannon, Curtis Sumner and Mike Thomas won the 400 individual medley relay in 3:53.78, just missing the meet record of 3:53.67,set in 2011 by Hatboro-Horsham’s Bobby Lenahan, Thomas, Duane Adler and Tim Janyszek.

The Hatters also won the boys 500 crescendo relay in 4:14.75. Tom Fisher led off with a 50 freestyle, Sean Claggett followed with a100, Thomas then swam a 200, Sumner swam a 100 and Tim Reilly anchored with a 50 freestyle.

“Everyone’s hyped up for this meet,” said Sumner, a senior. “Everyone is cheering for every relay and that doesn’t happen during dual meets. There’s a lot of enthusiasm in the air at this meet.

“I think we made a statement here. We got several first place finishes, which I’m very proud of, and a number of second and third place finishes as well so I think we made a very good showing.

“Over the years we’ve done well at this meet, but that isn’t always an indicator of how the season is going to go so we won’t read too much into it, but it’s really nice to start off the season swimming well here.”  

The William Tennent tandem of Ian Forlini and Luke Sullivan won diving, posting a score of 436.35 points.

“This is the first time I’ve won this one so I’m very glad to get this,” said Forlini, a senior. “I was excited. It’s a great way to start off the season and it was fun to do this with my partner Luke. He’s new to diving so this was a great experience for him.  

“I was happy overall with how I dove but there are some things I could have done better.”

Forlini’s individual score of 326.30 was just shy of the pool record of 326.60 established in 1999 by Anthony Perry of Central Bucks West.

Forlini also earned a trophy anchoring the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.19). Brennen Bastian, Ryan Leneghan and Tom Del Conte rounded out the relay for the Panthers.  

The Central Bucks East girls won two races.

Hannah Wittman, Jess Jozefiak, Erin Lengel and Kristen Mortimer won the 200 butterfly relay (1:52.95) and Lengel, Mortimer, Wittman, Luise Huuki and Jozefiak won the 500 crescendo relay (4:42.57).

CB West’s tandem of Kelly Magri and Cara Wergner won girls diving (390.75 points).

The CB South boys foursome of Pat Brogen, Ryan Zaborowski, Alex Bower and Mike Szczesniak won the 200 breaststroke relay (1:59.56).

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