Local squads seek postseason glory
Local squads seek postseason glory
La Salle enters the season as the defending PIAA 3A Champs, and led by its senior foursome, the Explorers have a solid chance to do it again.
“Conor Goodyear is a hardworking kid, with sheer determination. Paul Brosky is skilled in every event, smooth through the water,” coach Stephen Duncheskie said. “Dan McBryan is a rare swimmer that can win an IM event or win the sprint events. And Harry Hearn exploded on the state season last year by scoring top 8 in 200 and 500 freestyle. He’s confident.”
North Penn will be a force again in Class 3A and will be out to defend its District One title.
Pennridge, also a member of the Suburban One League Colonial Division with North Penn, is coming along rather nicely.
“I’m very excited to see what this team will do if given the chance to compete,” Rams coach Jenna Anselmo said. “These boys are competitors and want to show just what Pennridge swimming is capable of. I would love to get as many individual district cut times as possible and also have all three relays get a district time as well.”
For the girls, the area is loaded with talent and experience, and Souderton Area looks to be one of the teams bringing it all together this winter.
“Coming off another strong
dual meet season a year ago, as well as several relay appearances at the PIAA meet, Souderton’s girls are geared up for what could be a very successful 2021 campaign,” Big Red coach Lou Williams said.
The Indians will be competing in the stacked Suburban One League Colonial Division, also the home of perennial power North Penn, Pennridge and Central Bucks West.
North Penn and Liberty Division favorite Upper Dublin shared the PIAA3A title last year and should once again be making a push come postseason time.
Boys Swimming Central Bucks West Coach: Vikye Swanson (30th season).
Last year’s record: 6-7.
Key performers lost: Luke Cimakasky, Max Quinn and Cameron Wallace.
Key returners: Holden Petty, distance free/back; Franky Swain, back/fly/free; Sam Shin, breast/IM; Ryan Levant, diving.
Others to watch: Tom Tubinas, Jr., distance free/fly; Kade Cimakasky, So., sprint free; Liam Gannon, Jr., distance free/back; Robert Kreuscher, Jr., sprint free; Kevin Siegfried, Jr., diving.
Coach Swanson says: “We have a great number of swimmers new to the team that have been working hard in the time that we have had together. We are excited to watch them grow as swimmers and divers and we are certain they will make an impact to the team.”
Lansdale Catholic Coach: Bob Birnbrauer (25th season).
Last year’s record: 5-4; District 12-2A Champs.
Key performers lost: Jack Crotty, Kevin Gianoni and Bryce U’Selis. All three were district qualifiers in multiple events and U’Selis was district winner in the 200 free.
Key returners: Six swimmers return who were all district qualifiers: Cody Kulick, John Murphy, Solomon Leo, Ryan O’Rourke, Austin Helmer, John Lee and Kieran O’Donnell. O’Donnell won the one-meter district dive event, John Lee the 100fly and 100free and Ryan O’Rourke the 100 breaststroke.
Others to watch: Matthew Schmidt, So., looks to add to the list of district qualifiers in 2021.
Strengths: Ryan O’Rourke in the 100 breaststroke returns with a district win as does John Lee in the 100free and fly and Kieran O’Donnell in the diving. Other returners will add depth in multiple events.
La Salle
Coach: Stephen Duncheskie.
Key performers lost: Liam Smith, Kevin O’Dare, Patrick Cunningham, Alex Patti.
Key returners: Conor Goodyear; Paul Brosky; Dan McBryan; Harry Hearn.
Methacton
Coach: Sarah Stevens (third season).
Last year’s record: 6-4 in the PAC.
Key returners: Jan PerezBonilla, Sr.; Ryan Valle, Sr.; Dan Chimes, Sr.; Tommy Gibbs, Jr.;
Dylan Phan, Jr.; Christopher Groff, So.
Outlook: The Warriors made major strides a year ago and look to build on that success in the competitive PAC.
North Penn
Coach: Jeff Faikish (ninth season).
Last year’s record: 6-0 SOL Continental; District 1-3A Champs; PIAA-3A Runner-Up.
Key performers lost: Greyson Campbell; Eric Degodny; Sean Faikish; William Klein; Evan Mancini; Bryon Rimmer; Liam Rowland; Luke Schwar; Sage Trautz.
Key returners: Max Bachman, Sr., free; Nick Clark, Sr., free; Matt Harkrader, Sr., free; Aidan Faikish, So., IM; Robert Freece, Jr., IM; Ryan Faikish, Sr., free; Luke Engel, Sr., free; Kyle Stressman, Sr., fly.; Andrew Davis, So., breast.
Outlook for the season: The Knights lost some key guys to graduation but should be able to fill some holes with a promising group of returners.
Pennridge
Coach: Jenna Anselmo (third season).
Last year’s record: 2-8.
Key performers lost: Declan Mullen (100backstroke).
Key returners: Joseph Hong, Sr., 200 IM/100 breaststroke; Greg Bashaar, Sr., 100back/200IM/ sprint freestyle; Julian Arteaga, Sr., 50⁄100 free; Brett Mussleman, Jr., 50⁄100 free/butterfly; Darien Rajan, Jr., 100fly/200 IM; Sean Whitehurst, So., 100 fly/100free; Nick Marzuco, Sr., diving.
Others to watch: Zachary Yardley, Sr., free/fly; Nate Lutz, Jr., wildcard, all events; Danny Whalen, Jr., 200⁄500 free; Timur Akman, Fr., freestyle/butterfly.
Coach Anselmo says: “We are very strong in the sprint freestyle events with a lot of depth to be able to put together some great relay combinations. Our districtqualifying medley relay is back again with Bashaar, Hong, Mussleman and Arteaga looking to get a Pennridge boys relay to states for the first time in many years. We are working on building some depth in our distance freestyle events as well as in backstroke and breaststroke.”
Pope John Paul II Coach: Emily Thomas (fourth season).
Last year’s record: 1-8 in the PAC.
Key returners: Henry Phillips, So.; Josh Murtaugh, Sr.; Kevin Bleam, Fr.; Aidan Maiale, Fr.; Nathan DeMedio, Fr.; Michael Fiore, Fr.
Outlook: Experience in the big meets should help the team down the stretch.
Souderton Area
Coach: Lou Williams (third season).
Last year’s record: 5-1 in the SOL Continental, 8-3 overall.
Key performers lost: Austin Graham, Will Leyland, Matt Masciulli, Erik Moyer, Kyle Creachen. Key returners: Robbie Ferlick, So., free/fly; Brien Yaglenski, Sr., back/IM; Drew Stephens, Jr., sprint free; Kristian Stanczewski, Sr., IM/distance free; Paxton Flandro, Sr., diving.
Others to watch: Kyle Krader, Jr., fly; Austin Michalak, So. IM/ distance free; Will Stanczewski, Fr. IM/distance free; Oliver Milles, Jr. diving; Alex Martin, Jr., diving.
Strengths: Sprint freestyle events.
Question marks: Lots of underclassmen
Upper Merion
Coach: Corey Besz.
Last year’s record: 6-3 in the PAC.
Key returners: Andrew Hoy, Sr.; Michael Lemishko, Sr.; Cody Nguyen, Sr.; Jack Larkin, Jr.
Outlook: The Vikings have some postseason experience on their roster and should make a push in the PAC as well.
Wissahickon
Coach: Jonathan Faikish (third season).
Last year’s record: 3-9.
Key performers lost: Anthony Schoppe; Griffin Bowers.
Key returners: Sid Rajesh, Sr., sprint free; Danny Crump, Jr., sprint free; Nathan Valentine, So., freestyle/IM/back; Hudson Bowers, So., IM/breast; Nick Donofrio, So., distance free.
Others to watch: Owen Latchford, Sr., butterfly/distance freestyle; Gabe Decker, Sr., breaststroke; Sam Forde, Sr., breaststroke; Tyler Shilling, So., backstroke/butterfly.
Coach Faikish says: “We have a good blend of older and younger swimmers that have been together for years. All work hard together and that mixture can create something special for this season.”
Girls Swimming
Central Bucks West Coach: Vibeke Swanson (30th season).
Last year’s record: 5-8.
Key performers lost: Natalie Yim, Caroline Stim, Samantha Remmey, Christina Cavalluzzo, Emma Bekes.
Key returners: Jessica Kuo, Sr., breast/IM; Julia Bowe, Sr., fly/breast; Abby Jenkinson, Sr., free/back; Riley Growney, Sr., distance free/IM; Hailey DeFazio, Sr., diving.
Others to watch: Devyn Growney, Jr., distance free/ back; Leah Feldman, So., sprint free/breast; Faith Tomlinson, So., free/back; Audrey Hitchens, Jr.; Juliette Cavalluzzo, Jr., diver. Lansdale Catholic Coach: Bob Birnbrauer (25th season).
Last year’s record: 4-5 in the PCL.
Key performers lost: Mary Picozzi, district and state qualifier; Caroline Primus, district qualifier.
Key returners: Six swimmers return who were all district qualifiers: Emily Mc Govern, Faith Morrisey, Jordan Morrisey, Grace Picozzi, Brielle U’Selis and Brynne U’Selis. Brynne U’Selis was a district (12-2A) winner in both the 50and 100free events.
Others to watch: Elizabeth Conroy, Fr., Isabella Greco, Fr., Lauren Grello, Sr., and Madeleine McGovern, Jr., all look to be district qualifiers in 2021.
Strengths: Relay teams with three of four returnees could be strong. Brynne U’Selis returns with 50and 100district wins from last year.
Methacton
Coach: Stephanie Saucy (seventh season).
Last year’s record: 5-5 in the PAC.
Key returners: Alex Ferrance, Sr.; Emma Ginther, Sr.; Amanda Tsai, So.
Outlook: Ferrance brings districts experience and Ginther and Tsai look like they could join her there in 2021.
North Penn
Coach: Jeff Faikish (fifth season).
Last year’s record: 6-0 SOL Continental; District 1-3A Champs; PIAA-3A Co-Champs.
Key performers lost: Lizi Bakradze; Abigail Broadhead; Caroline Dunigan; Sophia Franco; Brigid Huebner; Grace McLaughlin;
Abby Peters; Meghan Wenzel; Madalyn Freece; Nicole Chiappa; Olivia Toussaint.
Key returners: Charlotte Thamm, Sr.; Maddie Fritz, Sr.; Kaelan Daly, Sr.
Outlook: The Knights lost a ton to graduation but have some key pieces to be a threat once again in District 1-3A.
Pennridge
Coach: Jacob Grant (sixth season).
Key returners: Lauren Scott, Sr., 100-200free; Adi Garges, Jr., 50-100free/100fly; Emily Myers, Jr., 100breast/200IM; Lea Preston, Sr., 50free/100fly.
Outlook: The Rams have some emerging swimmers that should build a decent roster for districts.
Pope John Paul II Coach: Emily Thomas (fourth season).
Last year’s record: 0-10 PAC.
Key returners: Maggie Sullivan, Sr.; Haley Lindenmuth, Fr.; Maria Sounder, Fr., Victoria Sills, Fr. Outlook: The Panthers should be an improved squad in 2021, with some young swimmers to build around.
Souderton Area
Coach: Lou Williams (third season).
Last year’s record: SOL Continental 5-1; Overall 8-2-1.
Key performers lost: Hailey Freed, Frankie Ferlick, Kayla Pike.
Key returners: Ellie Hiestand, Sr. Back/Breast; Ally Beldham, Sr. Diving; Abby Burns, Jr., Fly/ IM; Alexis Krebs, Sr., Fly/Back.
Others to watch: Kelsey Donatelli, Jr., Distance Free; Amy Masciulli, So., Fly; Jess Burns, Fr., Breast.
Strengths: Depth in all events. Question marks: How will a group of club-team-experienced freshman swimmers acclimate to high school swimming?
Upper Dublin
Coach: Patrick Redican (eighth season).
Last year: SOL American Champs; District 1-3A RunnerUps; PIAA-3A Co-Champs. Key performers lost: Elle Braun, distance freestyle; Aly Breslin, IM/breaststroke; Grace Brennan, free; Sami Coccia, free.
Key returners: Molly Braun, Sr., fly/sprint free; Korinna Pesti, Jr., sprint free; Meghan DiMartile, Jr.; Erin Andrews, Sr., distance free/ fly; Lexi Brown, Sr., diving.
Outlook: It was a landmark season for the Cardinals a year ago, and even though they lost some instrumental performers to graduation, they should again be a force in District 1-3A.
Upper Merion
Coach: Carson Bowes (third season).
Last year’s record: 4-7in the PAC.
Key returners: Kaitlyn Miller, Jr.; Lindsay Yuen, Jr.
Outlook: The Vikings have some postseason experience on their roster and should also be competitive in the PAC race.
Wissahickon
Coach: Laurie Hug (13th season).
Key performers lost: Katie Sapozhnikov, 100 fly/200 IM/500 free; Julia Weiss, free; Karis Kim, 200IM/free; Jaclyn Staub, 50⁄100 free; Tess Klugherz, diving; Lauren Donofrio, 200IM/100breast.
Key returners: Maddy Johnson, Jr., IM/100free/100breast; Julia Ronca, Sr., 100breast/50-100 free/200IM; Eunice Fu, Sr., 200 IM/100fly/100breast; Becca Valentine, Sr., free; Kayla Hartzell, Sr., free.
Outlook: The Trojans have a balanced roster and should be wellrepresented come districts.