Swimmers from Council Rock North, Central Bucks East and Upper Merion are featured in this week’s notebook. To view photos of the district meet, please visit the Photo Gallery.
National Conference
Mitchell bound for states - Lauren Mitchell is doing what a lot of first-year high school swimmers want to do.
She’s going to the PIAA Class AAA competition.
Mitchell, a freshman at Council Rock North, punched her ticket for the state meet along with teammates Samantha Park, Madison Meyer and Tommie Dillione.
The foursome finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:37.80 on the first day of the District One meet, held Thursday and Friday at La Salle University’s Kirk Natatorium.
The top four finishers in Class AAA automatically qualify for the state meet, so Mitchell, who led off the relay, is on her way to Bucknell.
“I’m really looking forward to states,” she said. “This is what I wanted, to go to the state meet and I’m so excited to be going.”
Mitchell qualified for the district meet in every individual swimming event. Swimmers may only compete in two, so she had to decide which ones she wanted to swim.
“I talked with Ted (coach Schueller) and we looked at where I would be seeded and also what events I wanted to swim, and we came up with the 100 and 200 freestyles,” she said.
She was 21st in the 200 freestyle (1:59.23) and 22nd in the 100 freestyle (54.52).
“I had never been to this meet before, even as a spectator, so I didn’t know what to expect,” Mitchell said. “It’s really big. I know states will be even bigger and I can’t wait.
“Everyone on my team who’s been to it before says it’s so much fun so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Continental Conference
Weber finishing strong - Riley Weber always wanted to go to a military academy.
His dream will come true, as the Central Bucks East senior has committed to the United States Naval Academy.
He is looking to major in either engineering or computer science.
“I’m very excited,” he said. It’s definitely a good fit for me, swimming-wise. I can’t wait to get there.
“I always was thinking about the military and going to an academy. I applied to a couple of schools but the minute I got my acceptance to Navy it was all over.”
Now that his college plans are made, he can concentrate on his final few swims for CB East.
“Now I’m really looking forward to getting back to states and seeing what I can do there,” he said. “This is my last year so I’m really hoping to swim well. I want to finish out strong.”
At districts, he finished third in the 50 freestyle 21.32 and third in the 100 freestyle (46.25)
Last year at states, he garnered a medal in the 50 freestyle, taking eighth (21.28). He made the consolation heat of the 100 freestyle, taking 10th (45.84).
The time has flown by for Weber.
“It’s been really emotional because Clay (Clemens) and Ty (Kooser) are like my family and it’s hard to believe that I’m only going to be swimming with them for a couple more weeks,” he said.
In addition to his two individual races, Weber anchored CB East’s eighth place 200 medley relay for Patrick Zalesky, Clemens and Kooser (1:38.81) and anchored the 400 freestyle relay for Zalesky, Clemens and Kevin Jongeneel (3:15.72).
American Conference
Greene excels at districts - Kyle Greene couldn’t be happier with his performance at the District One Class AA competition.
The Upper Merion junior earned a medal in an individual event for the first time, and did it not once but twice.
Greene took sixth in both the 100-yard butterfly with his time of 56.83 and the 100 freestyle, clocking in at 51.07.
“It was my goal to get on the podium,” he said. “I wanted to take third (in the 100) but I’ll take sixth any day. This was my best time.
“I still have next year to try to improve my times. This is my highest finish in an individual event but I’d gotten medals before on relays.”
Greene was also on the third place 200 freestyle relay with Francis Valocchi, Vitaliy Mykytiouk and Kevin Soong (1:35.46) and led off the 400 freestyle relay for Valocchi, Brian Rhindress and Soong, which finished fifth (3:34.61).
Next year, the Vikings move up from Class AA to Class AAA, leaving Upper Moreland as the lone Class AA team in the conference.
“Swimming well here gives me confidence for next year,” Greene said. “My time beat the Class AAA cut (52.00) so that makes me feel that I can swim in that class.
“I can’t wait to see what happens and how we do.”
Greene gave up water polo and crew to focus on swimming.
“Swimming is so demanding, so I really wanted to give it all my attention,” he said.
Greene was third in the 100 butterfly at the conference championships, held at Upper Dublin, with his time of 57.11. He was also fifth in the 50 freestyle (23.32).
He was on the fifth place 200 freestyle relay with Valocchi, Rhindress and Soong (1:36.35) and anchored the fifth place 400 freestyle relay for Soong, Rhindress and Valocchi (3:37.56).
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