Mercury-Area Boys Swimming Preview

Boyertown

Head coach: Bill Draves, second season.

Last year’s record: 5-2 PAC, 6-3 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Patrick Lance (free, fly), Rhett Watts (free, back), Oren Fanok (free, breast), Michael Draves (free, IM), Jacob Kiefer (free, breast), Alex Longagre (distance free, IM), Robert Markofski (free), Sean Morris (free, back, fly). Juniors: Josh Boyer (free, back, IM), Mason Kennedy (IM, breast).

Outlook: The Bears lineup is stacked with experienced seniors, including district qualifiers Lance (All-Area First Team, Cleveland State University commit) and Escott (All-Area Second Team, Eastern Illinois University commit) as well as Watts and Longacre. That experience should go a long way, as the Bears will look to nudge their way up the PAC standings, where last season’s conference losses came only against unbeaten Owen J. Roberts and second place Spring-Ford.

Daniel Boone

Head coach: Chris Breedy, first season.

Last year’s record: Not applicable (Blazers competed with ‘time only’ swims to qualify for districts).

Swimmers to watch: Senior: Ryan Henry; Juniors: David Ahakinian, Joe Guiliano, Zac Schnabel; Sophomore: Noah Harris; Freshman: Jacob Santos.

Outlook: This will be the Blazers’ first year swimming as an official team competing in dual meets and working toward becoming part of the Central Penn League. “We’re a great team with a lot of heart and quality swimmers,” said Breedy. “We’re looking for a breakthrough year in dual competition and hoping to continue a tradition of District 3 and PIAA state qualifiers.”

Hill School

Head coach: Amy Agnew, first season

Last year’s record: N/A.

Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Alberto Mestre, Tommy Dunn, Chase Chen; Sophomores: Michael Schiavone, JooYeob Kim.

Outlook: Agnew will have an array of talents in the water as she takes over for Jay Spencer at The Hill. At the top of that list is Mestre, a Stanford University commit who currently holds two school records and is in the running for several others. Mestre also finished last season garnering a pair of individual silver medals at the Eastern Interscholastic Championship.

Methacton

Head coach: John Welsh, fourth season.

Last year’s record: 3-4 PAC, 3-8 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Cameron Sikora (free, back), Ed Park (back, IM), Gerry Liu (free), Josh Brycki (breast, free), Matt Connolly (free); Juniors: Mike Palumbo (free, fly, IM), Sean Manfriedi (free, breast).

Outlook: Even despite the graduation of All-Area First Teamers Gil Price and Austin D’Angelo, the Warriors could be in for a strong season. The roster is peppered with returning upperclassmen, including district qualifiers Palumbo (All-Area Honorable Mention) and Brycki.

Owen J. Roberts

Head coach: Kevin Bott, 17th season.

Last year’s record: 7-0 PAC (won second consecutive conference title), 9-0 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Senior: Ryan Bowker (free, back); Juniors: Logan Baker (free), Simon Crew (free, IM); Hayden Fink (back, free), Jordan Roach (fly, back), Matt Snyder (breast, IM).

Outlook: The Wildcats will look to develop new senior leadership this season following the graduation of All-Area First Teamer Colin Bauer, among several others. OJR returns six district qualifiers including All-Area Second Teamer Fink as well as Honorable Mentions Bowker, Baker, Crew, Roach and Snyder. “The team graduated several talented athletes, some who are competing at the collegiate level, but they also return a few district qualifiers and some athletes who are looking to take the next step in their progression of the sport,” said Bott.”The team, so far, is working well together, supporting each other, and seems excited for the season.”

Perkiomen School

Co-coaches: Erin Davidson Kellogg, Trevor Smith, Lee Hyatt.

Last year’s record: Not applicable.

Swimmers to watch: Juniors: Ooduah Orafidya (free), Henry Dalgleish (free).

Outlook: Following the graduation of standout senior Kristian Olsen, the Panthers will turn to juniors Orafidya and Dalgleish, both of whom gained valuable varsity experience during their sophomore seasons.

Perkiomen Valley

Head coach: Brian Zeigler, third season.

Last year’s record: 4-3 PAC, 7-7 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Jacob Gamble (fly, sprint free), Killian McColgan (diving), Logan Newman (free, breast), Michael Yannantuono (free) Juniors: Giles Lewis (free), Matt Marsh (back, sprint free), Tommy Santangelo (breast, IM) Sophomores: Cameron Barrie (diving), Andrew Derrick (distance free), Ryan Keenan (sprint free, back), Ryan Kenney (back, breast).

Outlook: The Vikings boasted an in-conference winning record last season despite having a much smaller team as compared to recent seasons. A large influx of newcomers mixed with veterans have PV set to improve and make a splash in this year’s standings. “With the addition of three new divers and 12 new swimmers, the PV boys have been practicing at a high level as the veteran leadership is passing on the tradition of hard work and dedication to their new teammates,” said Zeigler. “Veterans Gamble, Marsh, Newman and Yannantuono are looking forward to teaming with Derrick, Keenan and Ethan Hinz for a strong dual meet front line.”

Phoenixville

Head coach: Daniel Weinstein, fifth season

Last year’s record: 2-5 PAC; 2-9 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Josh Hayward (back, fly), Matt LoPolito (free, breast); Junior: Zach Kleppe (sprint free); Sophomores: Will Carnevale (back, breast, distance free), Kyler Lewis (distance free), Mitchell Schwartz (distance free), Dominic Sposato (back, breast, sprint free).

Outlook: The Phantoms graduated senior captain Jack Thompson and Josh Guevin, but will look to create a new identity this season. Since bumping up from AA to AAA competition, the Phoenixville boys have yet to send a representative to districts. For Weinstein and his swimmers, that’s the main goal. “We are a young team looking to improve on our win total from last year,” he added.

Pottsgrove

Head coach: Alex Diehl, second season.

Last year’s record: 1-6 PAC, 2-7 overall

Swimmers to watch: Senior: Mikey Prior (back, free, IM). Junior: Patrick Agnew (free, breast).

Outlook: Diehl’s first season at the Falcon helm was quite successful to say the least. Pottsgrove sent a school-record six representatives to the PIAA-AA Championships and he was eventually named Coach of the Year. That task won’t be as easy this season. Gone is Mercury All-Area Swimmer of the Year Kevin Basch, but returning is All-Area First Teamer Mike Prior sporting his district gold medal from a season ago. “We lost some great, experienced swimmers since last year but we have also gained some good young talent,” said Diehl. “After finishing last season with huge time drops and fantastic performances at districts and states, the team is excited and motivated to work hard towards the same goal this year.”

Spring-Ford

Head coach: Mark Agnew, fourth season.

Last year’s record: 6-1 PAC, 8-1 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Senior: Noah Cancro; Juniors: Carson Hilliard, Carson Huff.

Outlook: Although the Rams were unable to send any representatives to the PIAA-AAA Championships last season, they can take plenty of solace this season. Three of their four district qualifiers – Cancro, Huff and Hilliard – all return with another season of experience.

Upper Perkiomen

Head coach: Brien Kalnoski, fourth season.

Last year’s record: 0-7 PAC; 1-9 overall.

Swimmers to watch: Senior: Kevin Himmelwright (free, back); Juniors: Cameron Junk (free, IM), Joel Williams (fly, back); Dan Miller (free, back); Sophomore: Kyle Kovalenko (breast, free, IM).

Outlook: Though their dual meet record may suggest otherwise, the Tribe had plenty to cheer about last season when all seven members of the boys team qualified for districts. Best believe Kalnoski and UP have similar sights set this season. “Our goal is to get the boys qualified in two individual events each for districts and three relays as well,” he said. “With key losses to graduation of Mitch Cairns and Tyler Reed, we return a small team of eight boys.”