To view photos of last week’s Pennsbury/Council Rock South meet, visit the Photo Gallery.
By Alex Frazier
National Conference
Friday was a big day for both Pennsbury and Council Rock North. Both teams came into the showdown for a league championship with undefeated league records.
Both programs had something to cheer about.
The Pennsbury boys won their meet 104-81, while the Council Rock North girls celebrated with a 123-63 victory.
The Rock girls have not claimed the title yet, as they have meets left with Abington and Council Rock South, but if all goes as it should, they steered past their biggest roadblock.
For the Falcon guys, it was their second consecutive championship.
“I was very pleased,” said coach John Wilson.
The Falcons won all three relays and swept the diving behind the lead of Jimmy Keaster (197.90).
Senior captains Matt Chrzanowski, Scott McHenry, Rich Edwards and Jeff Sloan all contributed to the undefeated league season. Against North, Chrzanowski won the 50 free (22.22) and the 100 butterfly (53.90).
All four have qualified for districts in multiple events: Chrzanowski in the 50 and 100 freestyles and the 100 butterfly; McHenry in the 200 individual medley and breaststroke; Edwards in the 50 and 100 free; and Sloan in the 100 breaststroke among others.
Several underclassmen have also been important contributors. Alex Naglich, who is still only a sophomore, is the defending league champion in the 500 free. He won that event in 4:45.33 and also took the 200 free in 1:50.36.
Junior Pat Griffin, who has qualified for districts in the 200 IM, the 200 free and the backstroke, won the latter event against North with a time of 1:00.10.
The Council Rock North girls used their strength and depth in overpowering the Falcons. They won all but two events.
The Dillione sisters figured in six of Rock’s wins. Maggie won the 50 free (25.92) and the 100 free (55.86), while Kate took the 200 IM (2:12.71) and the butterfly (58.82). The two also swam together on the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Madison Meyer also won a pair of events, capturing the 200 free (1:58.58) and the 50 free (5:11.19).
One very bright spot for Pennsbury has been Emily Howard. The senior diver, who placed eighth at states last year, is undefeated this season. She won Friday’s event with a score of 251.30.
Pennsbury’s other lone winner was Danielle Bukowski, who took the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.70.
“I wasn’t displeased,” said Wilson. “We followed what their team has been doing. They just happen to be better. They not only have some top-notch lead kids, but also have some really good depth.”
Howard is one of six team captains. Senior Catherine Powers has qualified for districts in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events; Nikki Pocetti has made the cut in the 50 and 100 free and senior Sophia Yi will go in the 100 and 500 free.
Two other senior captains Casey Young and Esther Bullard have provided good leadership and depth for the team.
Continental Conference
Long time coach Kip Emig is very pleased with both his boys and girls teams this year.
In fact, he praised his 50-swimmer team as the hardest working team he’s coached.
“I’m excited to see what they will do after they rest,” he said.
He credits senior co-captain Brendan Malone with providing significant leadership, helping to show the youngsters how to train for season goals. Malone has qualified for districts in the 100 butterfly.
The other senior captain, Ryan Calggett also provides a good leadership example with his hard work. Primarily a freestyler, he can swim any event.
Three junior standouts are depended upon to rack up team points. Mike Schaeffer has qualified for districts in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Rick Sutton has made it in the 200 and 500 freestyles as well as the backstroke. And TJ Guminski has qualified in the 200 individual medley, the 100 breaststroke and the 500 free.
Some promising sophomores are Duane Adler, who has qualified for districts in the 100 butterfly and the 100 free and Tim Janyszek and Chris Giorno, who have made the cut in the breaststroke.
Emig said that he had a good core of freshmen, two or three of whom are expected to make a district time after they taper.
And finally, Scott Horner, whose primary sport is soccer, started swimming as a sophomore as something to do in the winter. He is close to several district times.
The Hatter girls’ team is a good mix from top to bottom with seven seniors, five juniors, five sophomores, nine freshmen and four freshmen divers.
“It definitely looks good for the future,” said Emig.
He is particularly excited about the freshman class. One of them, Tory Adlam (the sixth and final Adlam to come through the Hatboro-Horsham program) has already qualified for districts in the breaststroke.
Senior Alyssa Guminski, a returning state qualifier in the breaststroke, has blossomed this year, according to Emig.
Senior captains Devon Cohen and Alex Hitchins have provided the leadership that was lacking last year for the Hatters.
Cohen is close to qualifying for districts in the 50 and 100 free. Hutchins is a distance freestyler.
Senior Lauren Engelhardt has qualified in the 100 breaststroke.
Junior Nicole Rudnitsky has her cut in the backstroke and is only two seconds off in the 500 free.
Two sophomores have already swam their way into districts. Abby Hitchins made it in the breaststroke, while Rachel Riemenschneider will go in the 200 IM and the butterfly.
“Overall it’s a good mix of kids,” Emig said.
American Conference
Upper Merion is in a rebuilding mode this year. The Vikings have some excellent individual swimmers but are plagued by lack of numbers.
“We lost eight girls and five boys, so we’re in sort of a rebuilding year,” said coach Jeff Bugenhagen.
It didn’t help when no freshmen girls came out for the team. It’s the first time in Bugenhagen’s 13 years of coaching that the girls’ squad is smaller than the boys.
With only 10 swimmers and two divers, he can’t fill all the lanes.
“It’s been hurting us,” he said. “The swimmers we have are swimming really well, but I just don’t have the numbers.”
The boys aren’t much bigger with 15, but there are two freshmen, who are doing well and contributing. Kyle Greene has already qualified for districts in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, and Will Stevens has qualified in diving.
Four girls have qualified individually for the Vikings, as well as all three relays.
Senior captain Rachel Karen is going in the breaststroke; junior Courtenay Willcox, a distance freestyler, has made the cut in the 200 and 500 free; and a pair of sophomores have qualified in multiple events.
Taylor Mateja’s best event is the backstroke, but she’s also qualified in the butterfly and the IM. Taylor Jacobs has her times in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
“She’s made a lot of improvement,” said Bugenhagen.
For the boys, senior captain Andrew Wisniewski has his cut in the 50 and 100 free and the backstroke.
Four juniors will join him. Jason Lamoreaux made has time in the 200 and 500 free. Versatile Nick Eppinger qualified in the 100 free, 200 free, the 200 IM, butterfly and backstroke. Zak Elarbi is going in the 500 free, and Peter Soll will compete in the IM, butterfly and breaststroke.
The eighth qualifier is sophomore Kevin Soong, who will compete in the 50 and 100 free and the individual medley.
With one league meet left against Plymouth Whitemarsh Friday, the Viking girls are 3-3 in the SOL and 4-5 overall, while the boys are 2-4 SOL and 3-6 overall.
“They’re working really hard and doing well,” said Bugenhagen, “so I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
At districts, Upper Merion will compete in Class AA.
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