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By Alex Frazier
National Conference
• After a bleak start to the season, the Council Rock South girls have run off four wins in a row to pull above .500 at 4-3.
Their most recent win came Wednesday over Abington, a team they haven’t beaten in years. And that came on the heels of a non-league win over Spring-Ford, another team that has had the Hawks’ number recently.
“We’re coming on strong in the second half,” said coach Christina Esposito.
Quite a few South swimmers are on the bubble of qualifying for districts.
Senior co-captain Gwen Sesmire is hoping to return to districts in the 50 freestyle and also qualify in the 100 free. She also swims on the 200 medley and 200 free relays.
Another senior co-captain Briana Young is working on the 100 backstroke and the relays.
Junior Amelia Knipmeyer returned to the team after a two-year hiatus in Great Britain. She is close to qualifying in the 100 free and has also been strong in the 200 individual medley.
Also a junior, distance swimmer Chelsea Kozior is close to qualifying in the 200 and 500 freestyles. She also swims on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Sophomore Jane Gringolts competes in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke as well as on the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Senior diver Valerie Smith has already qualified again for districts this year. Classmate Ali Poochigian hopes to accompany her.
“They both have had outstanding improvement,” said Esposito, who was the proud mother of a girl a month ago.
Esposito is hoping all three relays qualify for districts. Right now they’re a scant .20 of a second away.
Next week the win streak could be in jeopardy as the Hawks take on Pennsbury on Wednesday.
• In two consecutive meets, the Council Rock North girls 200 freestyle relay broke the school record. Bizzy Millen, Madison Meyer, Kate Dillione and Maggie Dillione first dropped the old mark of 1:40.70 to 1:40.47 and then to 1:40.20.
The Indians are currently 2-0 in league and 6-0 overall.
Continental Conference
Numbers have dropped off drastically for the Central Bucks West boys this year.
That was no more evident than on the first day of the season when the Bucks took the water at Central Bucks South, where they practice, right after the Titans had finished their training.
“Everybody looked around and each lane had three or four kids, including the girls,” said West coach Rich Reshetar. “It was a rude awakening for them. Everyone realized, ‘Wow, we’re all contributing no matter what, so we need to focus and get in gear and do our best.’ It’s shown in the water and shown on paper.”
With only 10 swimmers on the roster, the Bucks are often called upon to swim events they either aren’t practiced at or don’t like.
“Everybody knows they have to swim back-to-back events once in a while,” said Reshetar. “They aren’t always going to swim the race they want.”
But even though they are often the underdog, they are swimming well.
A case in point was Wednesday’s meet against archrival C.B. South.
No, there was no upset. As expected, South won 106-76.
But Reshetar couldn’t have been more pleased with the performance of his swimmers.
“I saw so many personal bests and in general great swims,” he said. “The teams are motivated by the rivalry. It was nice to see my team do so well against a team that is triple our size.”
While there may not be quantity, there is definitely some quality. That is most notable in the freestyle events, every one of which they won against South.
“That was really nice,” said Reshetar.
Senior Tyler Washington has qualified for districts in the 50 and 100 freestyles as well as the breaststroke. Washington just started swimming the breaststroke at the beginning of January, but he’s already showing promise.
Sophomore Mike Chen has made the district cut in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free as well as the butterfly.
“He’s also got a good shot in the backstroke,” said Reshetar.
Junior Ryan Place qualified in the breaststroke and is hoping to make it in the 200 individual medley.
Finally, Dean Rusciolelli hopes to go to districts again in the backstroke. Right now he is close. At the CB South meet he dropped a full second off his 100 free time.
“He’s our utility swimmer,” said Reshetar. “He’ll go in any race where he’s needed.”
• The Central Bucks West girls had a huge meet against archrival C.B. South Wednesday, nipping the Titans by six points.
“The girls are doing amazing,” said West coach Vibeke Swanson.
The Lady Bucks have already qualified six swimmers for districts in the backstroke and are shooting for one more.
“Normally, if I’m lucky I get a couple of kids here and there,” she said.
Seniors Ali Roth and Angela Stoehr have been setting the tone.
Stoehr has already qualified for districts in the 200 free, 200 IM, backstroke, breaststroke and the 500 freestyle, which she swam particularly well against South.
Primarily a freestyler, Roth, who went to states in the 50 free last year, is swimming well. At the South meet she PR’d in the 200 free. Her events are the 50 and 100 free, the 200 IM, 200 free, 100 fly and anything else Swanson wants to put her in.
Junior Liz Muller just missed districts last year but has already qualified for districts in the 200 IM and the 50 free and is close in the 100 free and the breaststroke.
Sophomore Andie Blaser went to districts last year on relays, but this year will go in the 50 and 100 free and backstroke. She swam a lifetime best 100 free against South.
The Lady Bucks are now 5-3, having lost only to Souderton and North Penn in league competition.
“I’ve been pleased with how they’re doing,” said Swanson. “They’re training hard and seeing the results.”
American Conference
The Wissahickon program this year is the tale of two teams.
The girls, though young, have shown a lot of promise. With 27 swimmers out, they also have good depth.
“We have a lot of really good underclassmen,” said coach Laurie Hug. “It’s going to be a really strong team in the future.”
Against archrival Upper Dublin, the Wissahickon girls were winning the meet by two points before diving. But with no divers and an Upper Dublin surge in the second half, they ended up losing by 30 points.
Among the youngsters, three sophomores stand out.
Lizzie McKenna has qualified for districts in the backstroke, 200 free and 50 free.
Rachel Bohr has qualified in the 50 free.
And Carrie Johnson made it in the butterfly.
All three have qualified on relays.
Two seniors are riding the bubble. Whitney Walsh is just missing in the 50 free and the breaststroke, while Lori Jefferson hopes to make it in one of the freestyle events when she tapers at the end of the season.
The Wissahickon girls are now 6-3.
“I’m pleased with the way they’re going,” said Hug. “Next year should be even better.”
• The Trojan boys are definitely in a rebuilding mode, having lost a third of the team to graduation.
“We lost a great senior class,” said Hug.
Sophomore Chris Ortiz is the lone state qualifier returning to the team. He swam on a relay last year.
He has already qualified for districts in the butterfly, 500 free and 50 free.
“His goal is to try and get as many district cuts as possible,” said Hug. “Then he can decide which events to go in.”
Several other swimmers are getting close to district times.
Junior Carl Krause is fractions of a second away in the backstroke, 500 free and 200 free. He made it in the 200 free last year.
Junior Craig Shapiro is hoping to make it in the 50 free, classmate Brandon Oruch could make it in the fly and/or 500 free, and junior Tom Ruser is another possibility in the 200 free.
And finally, senior Tim Greer has a shot in the breaststroke and senior captain Sean High has a second to go in the backstroke.
The Wissahickon boys are 4-3.
“They do work hard,” said Hug.
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