Mercury-Area Boys Swimming Preview
Boyertown
Coach >> Bill Draves, first season.
Last year’s record >> 3-4 PAC-10; 3-6 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Juniors Patrick Lance (free, fly, district qualifier), Rhett Watts (free, back, district qualifier), Oren Fanok (free, breast), Michael Draves (free, IM), Jacob Kiefer (free, breast), Alex Longacre (distance free, IM), Robert Markofski (free), Sean Morris (free, back, fly). Sophomores Josh Boyer (free, back, IM), Mason Kennedy (IM, breast).
Outlook >> Typical to years past, the Bears will boast a small team consisting of talented swimmers. This time it will be under first year head coach Bill Draves after longtime coach Linda Jones retired. Bears will need to replace Seth Wrigley and Jeremy Glasner, both district qualifiers lost to graduation. Boyertown returns a slew of juniors including Mercury-Area First Teamer Patrick Lance, who qualified for the PIAA-AAA Championship last year in the 100 fly. Watts swam the second leg in the Bears’ 200 and 400 free relay at the District 1-AAA Championships last season. With another year of experience gained, the Bears look to be in position to compete among the PAC-10.
Daniel Boone
Coach >> Angela Owens, fourth year.
Last year’s record >> Not applicable (Blazers compete with ‘time only’ swims to qualify for districts).
Swimmers to watch >> Senior Eric Dietrich (fly).
Outlook >> As opposed to years past, both Blazer teams (boys/girls) will have a chance to compete alongside one another when they face off against Twin Valley. Being a non-pool school, swimmers often were split up and sent as guests to different meets based on events. “We have a large number of swimmers this year and are looking forward to swimming at meets together,” said Owens. “Our members are all members of club teams where they’ve been training, including the Boyertown YMCA, Pottstown YMCA, Reading YMCA and Albright Aquatic Club.”
Hill School
Coach >> Jay Spencer, sixth year.
Last year’s record >> 3-5 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Youngmoo Kim (diving); Chris Schiavone (sprint free). Juniors Chase Chen (IM, breast); Christian DeVol (diving); Tommy Dunn (fly, distance free); Alberto Mestre (free). Sophomore Matt Spencer (back).
Outlook >> Spencer admits, the Blues may not repeat as fifth place finishers at the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championships like last season, where Schiavone and Mestre were a part of the Blues’ school record-breaking 200 and 400 free relays. But there is still plenty to look forward to with an influx of freshmen joining the program. “Nearly all of the boys have been together through the water polo season, so there is a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork,” he said. “This is the strongest freshmen class we’ve had, so that bodes well for years to come.”
Methacton
Coach >> John Welsh, third year.
Last year’s record >> 5-1-1 PAC-10, 6-1-1 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Gil Price (sprint free); Austin D’Angelo (breast, IM); Cameron McAnally (back, IM); Paul McGlynn (free). Juniors Cameron Sikora (free, back); Ed Park (back, IM); Gerry Liu (free); Josh Brycki (breast, free); Matt Connolly (free). Sophomores Mike Palumbo (free, Fly, IM); Sean Manfriedi (free, breast).
Outlook >> The Warriors will look to replace Schulz, a Mercury-Area First Teamer and PIAA-AAA qualifier, among several other seniors lost to graduation this season. They’ll turn to state qualifier Price among other seniors to take the lead. Price and D’Angelo were part of the Warriors’ 200 medley relay which took sixth at the District 1-AAA Championships.
Owen J. Roberts
Co-coaches >> Kevin Bott, 16th year; Jeni Umstead, fourth year.
Last year’s record >> 9-0-1 PAC-10; 6-0-1 overall; defending PAC-10 champions; 11th place at District 1-AAA Championships.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Colin Bauer (all strokes); Alec Schneider (free, back); Andrew Kull (breast, sprint free); Matt Dinnocenti (diving); Chris DiGuiseppe (free). Juniors Ryan Bowker (free, back); Adam Gorrell (middle distance). Sophomores Simon Crew (free, IM); Matt Snyder (breast, IM); Dan DiMarino (breast, IM); Logan Baker (free, fly); Hayden Fink (back, free); Ryan King (back, free).
Outlook >> Weston Lickfeld is the main loss from the Wildcats’ 2014 PAC-10 Championship squad as the team returns the brunt of its talent. Bauer (Mercury-Area First Team honoree) will return for his senior season while Schneider, Bauer and Crew were a part of OJR’s 200 medley that qualified for states. OJR will look to fill the void in that relay with the loss of Lickfeld. Wildcats also added six freshmen with hopes of filling in any voids. “The team has some returning talent, and looks at this point to be relatively deep overall,” said Bott. “The key to their success will be overall focus with each individual wanting to go to a new level. Most are off to a solid start.”
Perkiomen School
Co-coaches >> Erin Davidson Kellogg, Trevor Smith, Lee Hyatt.
Last year’s record >> Not applicable.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Kristian Olsen (fly, back). Sophomores Ooduah Orafidya (free), Henry Dalgleish (free).
Outlook >> The Panthers will look for new senior leadership after top swimmer Connor Bade graduated last year. They’ll turn to Olsen, Orafidya and Dalgleish, who all gained valuable varsity experience last season. Olsen swam as part of a school-record 200 free relay which placed 18th and was a part of the Panthers’ 200 medley relay which also took 18th.
Perkiomen Valley
Coach >> Brian Zeigler, second year.
Last year’s record >> 6-1 PAC-10; 12-2 overall; last year’s PAC-10 runner-up; sixth place at District 1-AAA Championships.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors David Moran (distance free, back) Luke Waite (distance free, IM). Juniors Jacob Gamble (fly), Killian McColgan (diving), Logan Newman (free, fly); Michael Yannantuono (free); Sophomores Ben Lewis (free), Giles Lewis (free), Matthew Marsh (back, free).
Outlook >> Brian Zeigler didn’t disappoint in his first year at the helm of the Vikings squad leading them to runner-up, even if PV missed out on the PAC-10 title for the first time in five seasons. He’ll have his work cut out for him this season as PV graduated several seniors including all four of 200 free and 400 free relay state qualifiers. Key losses include Mercury-Area Boys Swimmer of the Year Kyle Dix along with First Teamer Logan Thorneloe and Honorable Mentions Bryce Groshardt and Michael Melissen. “Every season is different … and this year we look forward to seeing what some of our former role players now turned team leaders can do,” said Zeigler. “There will be a big opportunity for both returning members and newcomers to significantly contribute.”
Phoenixville
Coach >> Dan Weinstein, fourth year.
Last year’s record >> 1-7 PAC-10, 2-8 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Josh Guevin (distance); Jack Thompson (distance, back). Juniors Joey Graeff (breast); Josh Hayward (fly, back); Matt Tweedie (breast, IM). Sophomore Zach Kleppe (free).
Outlook >> The Phantoms lost their best swimmers and best leaders in Jan Aclan and Josh Ziev after they graduated in the spring. Now, they’ll turn to their incoming freshmen class to fill in as well as their upperclassmen for leadership. After having no district qualifiers last season, the Phantoms have plenty of goals heading into this year. “(We have) a new spirited and capable group of freshmen looking to fill the gaps and make an immediate impact,” Weinstein said.”
Pottsgrove
Coach >> Alex Diehl, first year.
Last year’s record >> 2-5 PAC-10, 3-7 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Jacob Harvey (fly); Kevin Basch (back); Sean Orrison (breast). Juniors Michael Prior (fly); Dustin Schreiber. Sophomores Patrick Agnew; Aaron Giraud; Gavin Glinecke.
Outlook >> Falcons return brunt of their roster as former Pottstown head coach Alex Diehl takes over for Karen Youtzy. Basch returns after taking eighth in the 500 free at PIAA-AA Championships last season and second at District 1-AA (also took bronze in the 200 free). Prior took second in the 100 back at District 1-AA and third in the 200 IM. “We have lost several swimmers,” said Diehl, “however, there are strong swimmers that are ready to lead this team and there are young swimmers that are ready to make an impact. We also think we’ll be able to put together some strong relays.”
Spring-Ford
Coach >> Mark Agnew, second year.
Last year’s record >> 4-3 PAC-10; 4-6 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Eric Jordan (sprints); Nicholas Pompizzi (IM); Cameron Hilliard (distance). Junior Noah Cancro (free).
Outlook >> The Rams will look to have a quick turn around after graduating district qualifiers Ethan D’Arcangelo and Channing Ryan from last year’s squad. Jordan and Hilliard both qualified for District 1-AAA Championship last season. With another year of experience, Agnew says the program is headed in the right direction. “We have a great turnout this year,” he said. “Last year’s strong freshman class continues to impress as sophomores.”
Upper Perkiomen
Coach >> Brien Kalnoski, third year.
Last year’s record >> 0-7 PAC-10; 1-11 overall.
Swimmers to watch >> Seniors Mitch Cairns (free); Tyler Reed (fly, free). Junior Kevin Hommelwright (free). Sophomores Joel Williams (fly, back, free); Cameron Junk (free); Dan Miller back, breast). Freshman Kyle Kovalenko (breast).
Outlook >> The Tribe will be looking to replace Mercury-Area First Teamer and Honorable Mention Brandon Umstead and Ryan Mercando, both lost to graduation. UP will turn to Cairns and Reed for senior leadership with Williams turning in a solid freshman season. Reed and Cairns were part of the Tribe’s 200 free relay that took fourth at last year’s District 1-AA Championships. “We have a relatively small boys’ team,” said Kalnoski. “We have the exact number of boys as we did on last year’s team.”
