North Penn boys, girls enjoy view from the top of District 1
This past weekend marked the first time since 2007 that the North Penn boys and girls swim teams pulled off a sweep of the team titles down at the District 1 Championships at La Salle University.
From the first race to the last, from individual events to the relays, the Knights and Maidens were at their best.
“We have a team full of fast kids that all believe in each other and believe in the system,’ North Penn boys coach Jeff Faikish said. “And that’s just a wonderful thing to be a part of.’
“It’s still setting in,’ Maidens gold medalist Olivia DiStefano said moments after the Maidens emerged from their celebratory plunge into Kirk Pool. “I’m so happy for everyone.’
DiStefano was a driving force for the Maidens.
She got things started on Friday with a tremendous swim in the 50 freestyle. It was an event she swam her freshman year and then went back to this season as a junior.
She found a pretty good home in that event, ultimately winning the district gold medal on Friday with a time of 24.03.
“It’s definitely a big change coming from freshman year and swimming the 50 to getting first place my junior year,’ she said. “We lost our 50 free girl from last year (Eve Kosten), so they definitely looked to me to step up and take that spot. It’s a pleasure swimming it, and I’m proud to be swimming it and representing North Penn in District One.’
DiStefano would go on to win gold as part of the 200 free relay team and she won another gold in the 100 backstroke on Saturday.
Kountroubis, meanwhile, was wearing a lot of the medals for the Knights. He won a pair of silvers in the 200 and 500 free, earned bronze as a member of the 400 free team, and he was a key piece of the gold-medal 200 free squad.
“Thanas – holy cow – had a very good weekend,’ Knights coach Jeff Faikish said. “Our three relays did excellent.’
“You always wanna set your goals high,’ said Kountroubis, who typified North Penn’s work ethic this season, “and you do whatever you can to achieve them.’
Many heroes emerged for North Penn, including freshman Kailyn Evans, who looked like a veteran in all her swims, including her fourth-place finish in the 200 IM.
The Maidens were able to win their second consecutive title and third since 2007.
The Knights had won their 19th straight district crown in 2007 then finished second, fourth and second over the next three seasons.
North Penn captured the district crown in 2011 and then earned runner-up honors the past two years. This group, with its overwhelming performance at La Salle, enjoyed taking its place on the District One throne.
“Greatest feeling in the world,’ Kountroubis said.
“It’s an amazing feeling,’ said Faikish, who guided NP to the title in his second year at the helm. “It’s something that – when I first took over – there was the pressure to do it, but it’s a wonderful pressure to have. Our burdens are wonderful burdens to have. We’ve got kids that we have to choose to put in events. And I believe that this year really stands out for me because so many kids stepped up throughout the whole year. We had so many fast swims.’
Now, it’s onto states, and a trip to Bucknell University next week.
“States should be fun. States is a whole new beast,’ Faikish said. “We’re gonna get these kids right back in the pool, swim out this meet a little bit and then start preparations for states. So it’s hopefully gonna be a continuation of a wonderful season.’
