The Upper Dublin girls’ swim team captured the PIAA 3A State championship. (Article/photos provided courtesy of Upper Dublin swimming.
The Upper Dublin Girls’ Swimming and Diving Team won only one event at last weekend’s PIAA AAA State Championships at Bucknell University when junior breastroker Sophia Sileo-Magliari grabbed gold in the final individual event of the meet. But the UD Swomen dominated the meet, winning the team championship by 73 points over second place Wilson, courtesy of eleven state qualifiers who had a total of 21 swims/dives, with 18 of those 21 scoring points by making finals, the most of any team in the meet. In a historic effort, the Lady Cards scored points in EVERY event of the meet, the only boys’ or girls’ team in the meet to do that. The girls eventually collected 11 medals over the two days, including one gold, two silver and three bronze.
The Upper Dublin Girls’ team, which finished eight points out of a state title in second place last year, has a strong states legacy, winning its first championship since being co-champions in 2020. Upper Dublin also was co-champion in 1994 and won titles outright in 1993, 1977, and 1976.
“It’s definitely different coming from the disappointment of losing by only eight (points) last year and winning so emphatically this year,” head coach Brandon Pierce said. “It’s two different feelings. Something we’ve been working towards since the day we returned from States last year. I’ve never coached a team so locked in, so focused. Upper Dublin has a legacy of great swimming, but this group elevated it to another level. Their dedication and passion set them apart, and they proved they belong among the best in Pennsylvania.”
“It’s unbelievable. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.” said Sileo-Magliari, who won the 100 breaststroke in a personal-best time of 1:02.04, which was also a new school record.
Though there was only one senior amongst the contingent, this squad had a strong veteran feel with seven of the eleven ladies having competed at states before. That maturity showed up when the team was only leading Wilson by one point after Day One of the competition.
“The girls didn’t panic. We knew our second day lineup was our stronger one, and the girls came through,” said Pierce. 
The Lady Cards outdistanced the field on that second day by 72 points by having multiple finalists in three of the four individual events. “We had three in the 100 free, two in the backstroke and three in the breaststroke. That depth is unheard of at this level.”
In fact, the Upper Dublin team's total of 261 points was the highest team score since the record-setting Hershey squad of 2015 scored 262 a decade ago.
With a fourth place on the boys’ side, combining the girls’ and boys’ teams scores adds up to 404, the most of ANY AAA program in the state. The boys’ added some luster of their own with gold medals in the 200 Medley Relay and Toby Herzog’s win in the 100 breaststroke.
“Our boys went from 46th in the state two years ago to fourth this year. The boys spent the majority of this meet in second place. Their resurgence was amazing!” added Pierce.
When asked for final thoughts, Coach Pierce said: “This team – I can’t even put into words what this run has been. To go undefeated in the league season, to win Suburbans, to win Districts and now States….I’m just so proud of them. We knew coming into the season that this team had the potential to do something historic. They embraced every challenge, supported each other, and left everything in the pool. Swimming and diving may be individual events, but this victory was about the strength of our team. Every athlete pushed themselves to their limits and together they made this championship possible. This championship means the world to them and to our entire program.”
They said:
“We’ve been dreaming about this moment for so long, and to finally achieve it is surreal. Every practice, every set, every early morning paid off, and we couldn’t have done it without each other.” - Coach Pierce
Favorite (most memorable moment) from the meet:
“When I won the B final in the 100 free and saw my teammates cheering.” – Junior sprinter Alicia Taylor
“I will definitely remember getting out of the pool after finals and coming back to my team jumping up and down and supporting me.” – Junior butterflyer Jessie Motelson
“My favorite moment from the meet was on the second night of finals when my teammates and I were so excited and cheering for each other. This was also when I had the realization that we were ACTUALLY going to win.” – junior breaststroker Maddie Shapiro
“My favorite moment was being able to hold the winning trophy with all of the girls. It was just such a sweet moment because we all have worked so hard for it.” – senior captain Arina Vorobyeva
After this long season, how would you describe this team and what it has accomplished?
“Family and inspiring is how I would describe this team. We have not only accomplished the state title for triple A. We also accomplished success within ourselves, tapping into a portion of all the potential we have as a team to do next year as well.” – junior Alicia Taylor
“We are a family, and I am so happy to be a part of its history.” — freshman distance swimmer Maeve Kivlehan
“This team is just special. There's an instilled work ethic in all of the girls, and they do what it takes to be the best. That atmosphere created is what makes the team be able to accomplish what we did. We are all so closely knit and it's really like a family.” – senior captain Arina Vorobyeva
“I would describe this team as something more than just a high school swim team. We are so bonded inside and outside of the pool. The reason that we can do so well and win is that we are all there for each other through everything.” – junior Maddie Shapiro
“This team is very dedicated and puts in a lot of work. I’m glad all our training and early practices paid off.” – sophomore breaststroker Alyssa Auwarter
“The team has never been closer and more supportive of each other. None of this would have been possible without the joy in others’ accomplishments.” – junior Jessie Motelson
Some other Suburban One Liberty Division highlights:
The individual standout was Hatboro-Horsham senior Annie Jia. Signed with California, Jia won the 200 individual medley in a time of 1:58.44 to repeat in that event. She later became a four-time champion in the 100 butterfly, winning in a state-record time of 50.65, breaking her old record of 51.26 set last year. Jia also swam leadoff on Hatboro Horsham’s winning teams in the 200 free and 400 free relays, setting a state record in each leadoff leg: 22.23 in the 50 free and 48.27 in the 100 free. Jia was selected Swimmer of the Meet. The Hatters 200 free relay team won in a time of 1:32.99. Megan Luddecke, Emmy Erikson and Sarah Parker were the other team members and in the 400 free relay, the same quartet combined for gold with a time of 3:23.29.
More SOL gold came from Wissahickon senior Nora Weber, an Auburn signee, who repeated as champion in the 500 Freestyle in a personal best time of 4:49.24.
All told, the SOL Liberty Division swimmers won six of the meet’s twelve events.
The Upper Dublin States Medalists:
- Second Place in Girls 200-yard Medley Relay: Vikki Williams, Sophia Sileo-Magliari, Olivia Auwarter, Maddie Shapiro
- Third Place in Girls' 200-yard Freestyle Relay: Alicia Taylor, Maddie Shapiro, Sophia Sileo-Magliari, Arina Vorobyeva
- Second Place for the girls' 400-yard Freestyle Relay: Alicia Taylor, Vikki Williams, Olivia Auwarter, Arina Vorobyeva
- First Place for the boys’ 200 yard Medley relay: Franco Ciccarone, Toby Herzog, Will Matthews, Brady Manser - State Champions
- Seventh Place for the boys’ 200 Freestyle Relay: Will Matthews, Nicolas Medvedev, Ezra Holmlund and Brady Manser
- First Place for Toby Herzog in the 100-yd Breaststroke - State Champion
- First Place for Sophia Sileo-Magliari in the 100-yd Breaststroke - State Champion
- Third Place for Olivia Auwarter in the 200 yd Individual Medley and Seventh Place in the 100 yd Backstroke
- Third Place for Vikki Williams in 100 yd Backstroke and Sixth Place in the 100 yd Freestyle
- Fifth Place for Arina Vorobyeva in the 200 and 100 yd Freestyles
- Fifth Place for Alicia Taylor in the 50 yd Freestyle
- Sixth Place for Brady Manser in the 50 yd Freestyle and Seventh Place in the 100 yd Freestyle
- Seventh Place for Franco Ciccarone in the 100 yd Butterfly
Girls’ Team Standings — Top 5
1. Upper Dublin 261
2. Wilson 188
3. Hatboro-Horsham 180
4. North Allegheny 171
5. State College 143
Boys’ Team Standings — Top 5
1. North Allegheny 215
2. LaSalle College 162
3. North Penn 156
4. Upper Dublin 143
5. Upper St. Clair 137
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