Family-fueled win in PAC swimming
The Phoenixville swimming team gives off quite the family atmosphere.
And that’s not only because there are 12 sets of siblings listed on the team’s varsity roster.
Constant cheers, a got-your-back mentality and a desire to push one another led the Phantom girls and boys teams each to a 9773 win over visiting Methacton on Tuesday afternoon inside the Phoenixville YMCA.
Senior Maddie Cooke — older sister of sophomore Hannah Cooke — led the meet with four top times. The Penn State University commit took first place in the 50 free (27.43) and the 100 free (1:00.53), and also swam legs in the Phantoms’ first-place 200medley relay (2:06.61) and the 200 free relay (1:56.89).
A four-year standout with the program, Cooke explains that there is hardly a distinction between each grade.
“We’re all so close because we’ve pretty much all grown up around each other,” she said. “I’m close with my sister’s classmates and she’s close with all of mine. That’s really helped our team to develop really good chemistry.”
In line right behind Cooke, seniors Emily Fabius and Kathryn Bland along with sophomore Katya-Hayward had a hand in both top-finishing relays. Individually, Fabius took first in the 100 fly with a time of 1:10.61.
“It’s definitely a family affair,” said Phoenixville head coach Dan Weinstein shortly after he rattled off each set of siblings with a little help from his lineup sheet. “They all grow up swimming with one another, so even if they aren’t blood siblings, there’s definitely a family component to the team. They’ve truly
been a village growing up together.”
“We wouldn’t be a team without each other,” added Cooke. “By now, everyone motivates each other and knows what it takes to get everyone ready for a meet.”
Methacton senior Emily Sykes— a-University of-Tennessee commit— and sophomore Victoria Zang each came up with three wins. Zang swam the first leg in the 400 free relay (4:21.17) after touching first in the 100 back (1:10.24) and the 200 free (2:17.69). Sykes swam-second leg in the 400 free relay and also claimed individual firsts in the 200 IM (2:30.94) and the 100 breast (1:17.59).
“This was definitely going to be one of our toughest meets, we knew that coming in,” Sykes said. “Everyone is always a little bit tired coming off Christmas break, but hey, so are all the other teams as well.
“We put up some good times, but hopefully this gives us an idea of where we want (our times) to get to later in the season.”
*** Entering the season, Weinstein admits, he generally knew what to expect from his girls team, which boasts 14 experienced seniors. What he may not have fully antic- ipated, though, was his boys team. Led by just four seniors, the Phantoms accomplished one of their first goals of the season — a win over Methacton.
“It’s a testament to the early work they’ve put in,” said Weinstein. “They set out to achieve this one, and they came out and did it. I’m definitely proud of them for that.”
Sophomore Dominic Sposato led the way with three top finishes, swimming the second leg of both the 200 medley and (1:59.80) and the 200 freestyle (1:51.61) relays along with an individual finish in the 100 breast (1:16.11).
Seniors Josh Hayward and Matt LoPolito were also both part of the firstplace relay contingents.
For Methacton, Steven Zeng and Mike Palumbo led the way with three top times apiece. Both part of the 400 free relay (4:03.01), Zeng took top honors in the 200 free (2:11.22) and the 100 back (1:08.53). Palumbo claimed the 200 IM at 2:26.98 and the 400 free (4:34.73).
Name of the Game
Of all the members of Phoenixville’s swimming lineup, perhaps the easiest to remember are the Hihi sisters. Pronounced Heehee, both Julia and Enola Hihi both constantly wear a smile that almost perfectly represents their last name.