Neshaminy, CB South and Wissahickon are highlighted in this week's notebook.
National Conference
Business as usual for ‘Skins – The Neshaminy Federation of Teachers went on strike on Monday, Jan. 9, but it was business as usual for the swim teams.
Swimming was the first sport contested after the strike. The Redskins played host to Council Rock South on Tuesday, Jan. 10, in a conference double dual meet.
Neshaminy won the boys meet, 88-82, and CR South prevailed in the girls meet, 105-65.
“The only thing that’s really impacted us is that we don’t have all of our coaches here,” said Neshaminy’s Danielle Robinson. “We would love to have them back on the deck.”
The Redskins are without head coach Brian Suter and assistant Dana Puskas, both science teachers at the high school.
Assistant coach Chris Richards, who is a graduate student at Temple, is running the team with help from administrators.
“That meet didn’t run quite as smoothly as most meets and we didn’t have electronic timing, but everyone worked really hard and got the job done,” said Robinson, a junior.
The girls team is smaller than the boys this year, an unusual turn of events at Neshaminy.
“Usually we have a lot of girls and not so many boys so it’s been rough,” Robinson said. “We lost some seniors from last year and a lot of the girls are newer but they’re staying tough and working through the practices.
“Some of the newer people don’t have any swimming experience so we’re trying to do the best with what we’ve got.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the girls make their goal times and see who makes districts. Hopefully we’ll get some girls to improve enough to make it.”
Her personal goal is to make the District One Class AAA meet in the 100-yard breaststroke.
“Last year I missed it by .08 so I’m trying to get back down to that time and make it,” she said.
Continental Conference
Brogan zeroing in on goal - Patrick Brogan has a clear goal this season.
“I want to break 5:00 in the 500 freestyle,” said the Central Bucks South sophomore. “I’m getting there. I just did a 5:05.”
He posted a 5:05.01 to be precise, in Thursday’s non-league double dual home meet against William Tennent. His time was good enough for second place, behind Tennent’s Connor Forlini, who clocked in a 4:49.10.
He has qualified for the District One Class AAA meet in both of his individual events, the 200 and 500 freestyle, and as the leadoff of the 400 freestyle relay, along with Dan Bromley, JJ Cataldi and Brian Ross.
He did not qualify last year as a freshman, but he attended the meet as a spectator.
“I went last year just to watch my teammates and it was a great meet to see,” Brogan said. “Just watching it was a good experience. I know what to expect, even though I didn’t swim last year.
“I got to see the top people and what they can do and watching it last year really motivated me to try to be in the meet this year.”
Other than getting that 500 freestyle time down under the 5:00 mark, his expectations for himself are not sky high.
“This year I’m just hoping to swim well there,” he said. “If I do my best times I’ll be happy, especially if the 500 time is where I want it to be.
“I’m only a sophomore so I still feel like I have time left. I don’t have any big ideas that I’ll make states or anything but next year I’ll see where my times are and what I think I can do.”
American Conference
Trojans sweep Golden Bears - Wissahickon swept Upper Moreland in a conference double deal meet at Upper Moreland on Wednesday.
For the Trojan boys, Greg Beyer qualified for the District One Class AAA meet in the 200-yard freestyle with his time of 1:52.84, making this his third district cut time.
For the Wissahickon girls, Liz McKenna made the district cut in the 200 individual medley with her time of 2:22.93. It was her fourth district cut time of the season.
Also, Carrie Johnson make the district cut in the 500 freestyle, clocking in at 5:37.63. This is her third district cut of the year.
The Trojans host Central Bucks West on Friday in a non-league double dual meet.
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