Parkland boys, girls stay undefeated
The list of undefeated teams in EPC boys swimming fell to just one Wednesday as Parkland (7-0) downed Nazareth (5-1) 114-69 at Nazareth Middle School.
The girls conference standings still have Parkland (7-0) and Easton (5-0) left with unblemished league records after the Trojans beat Nazareth 114-72.
Earlier in the season, Parkland set three pool records in a meet at Northampton and the Trojans did the same thing against Nazareth. Sophia Cerimele set a pool mark in the 200-yard IM when she finished with a time of 2:09.22, besting the record set last season by Moravian Academy’s Pepper Ritchey.
The second pool record time fell in the 100-yard breaststroke as Kelsey McPeek finished with a time of 1:06.29 to top former Parkland swimmer Ali Lin’s time of 1:07.75 set in 2016.
Parkland grabbed its third pool record at Nazareth with a time of 3:45.46 in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Cerimele, McPeek, Sydney LaBaugh and Milla Hahn made up the team for both the 400-freestyle relay and for the 200-yard medley relay, which did not set any pool records, but did win their event.
“I have been working on my times in the 100-breaststroke,” McPeek said. “My goal is to get the Parkland record in the 100-breaststroke and I’m about two seconds off the current mark. I’m also working to get better times in the 100-yard freestyle, and I really want to help get my relay teams to states.”
Cerimele was also the top finisher in the 100-yard butterfly and McPeek won the 100-yard freestyle. LaBaugh joined the pair with four wins on the night when she took the top spot in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard freestyle.
Ava Palochik was the lone Nazareth swimmer to win an individual girls event when she won the 50-yard freestyle. Palochik formed a foursome with Cameron Alvino, Kyla Spengler and Vivian Werner to win the 200-yard free relay.
Dominic Faenza was the story for the Parkland boys as he took individual first places in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle and was a member of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that took first place and also included Dannik Khais, Jacob Piccini, and Pedro Teran.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Pierce Brundage, Eric Friday, Gabe Krizel, and Khais finished with the best time, but Nazareth prevented a relay sweep with a win in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Ian Barrey, Cole Coffman,
Patrick Leach and Leo Quaranta won that event for the Blue Eagles.
Nazareth took the boys EPC championship last season and finished second as a team at districts to Parkland. Coming into the season, Coffman was not sure what to expect from the team and how they would respond.
“We were feeling pretty good about ourselves after last season and we could have come in this year and crumbled or at least had a bit of a drop off, but we held strong and we have all worked hard,” Coffman said. “I think we all want us to just keep this team growing and we have a great competitive spirit and want to be the fastest in every event and in every meet.”
In diving, Parkland girls took the top two spots with Johanna Cook posting a 197.75 and Sam Schultz just behind at 189.00, followed by Nazareth’s Sophia Gorman at 160.20.
Nazareth did not compete in boys diving, leaving Parkland’s Bradley Kunz, Harry Epstein, and Charlie Epstein to take the top three spots.
“I’m really happy with both teams and how they came in here ready to go and ready to win this one tonight,” Parkland coach Allison McPeek said. “We had a number of really good swims, and I was glad to see that the change in schedules because of the weather didn’t throw us off very much. Our kids just took it all in stride and came out ready to go against a tough team.”
Nazareth coach Seth Urffer was also pleased with his team and sees the Parkland meet as being the end of one approach to the season and the beginning of another.
“We came in with the pre-Parkland part of the schedule and the post-Parkland part of the schedule,” Urffer said. “Here on out, it’s more about speed, consistency and challenging each other to be what we want to be at the end of the season.”
Chuck Hixson is a freelance writer.
It has been a tough season for one of the area’s perennial powers and McClary, who entered the season with a 91-38 coaching record over the previous five seasons at Becahi but was down three key players — Marcus Drysdale, Josh Brown and Isaiah Hodges — due to serious knee injuries even before the official start of practice.
McClary’s said his team has played championship-caliber defense most of the season and did a good job with its zone against Emmaus. It kept the hosts in the game longer than most expected, but the Hawks still came up short.
“Losing is hard, but these guys keep showing up every day and they invest so much and care so much,” McClary said. “They want to be coached. They are trying to get it. It starts with our seniors because they don’t have a future to play here after this season, so they just have to love the game and love their brothers. They’re getting better. I just hope for them that we get some results down the stretch for what they’re putting in.”
While disappointed his team didn’t win, McClary was happy for Barber, who he said came to his basketball camp at a young age.
“Will Barber walked into the gym at Muhlenberg College for my McHoops Camp and I remember him whole-heartedly because my son, Riley, was on his team and they lost at the buzzer,” McClary said. “I think Will was 5 years old at the time and I think I spent the next 27 minutes trying to counsel him because he was so upset and tearing up. I think you knew at that point he was going to be one heck of a competitor and athlete. I think his career has played out that way.
“I am so proud of him and glad I got to talk to him after the game. I know Will well and he’s a great player, but an even better person. I didn’t want it to happen on our court and while we’re competing in a game, but I love to see the success he’s having.”