Mercury-Area Girls Swimming Preview
Boyertown
Head coach: Bill Draves, second season.
Last year’s record: 3-4 PAC, 3-6 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors Cara Megill (free, back); Catherine Coates (all events); Delanie Davis (sprint free, back); Paige Campbell (fly, free); Paige Wrigley (free); Hannah Moser (IM, fly). Juniors: Josephine Benner (diving); Teresa Draves (IM, free); Julianna Glasner (fly, back); Jess Long (back); Emily Neeld (back, breast); Samantha Moser (free, back); Jessica Whittlemore (free, breast); Lauren Schmidt (free, back); Jordan Petscheldt (free, IM).
Outlook: The Bears graduated Mercury All-Area Honorable Mention Olivia Savino, but return Second Team selection Megill (University of Rhode Island commit), both of whom qualified for districts last season. Numbers won’t be an issue, as Boyertown should fill the blocks and boast experience in every heat.
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: Seniors: Marissa Stevenson, Mackenzie Myer. Juniors: Regina McCarter, Carlie Owens, Bella Pizzo. Sophomores: Olivia Fiorani, Madi Griffin, Shanyn Kirk, Claire LeBlanc, Mary McClelland, NoElle Sprenkle, Rachel Woomer. Freshmen: Alicia Ahakinian, Victoria Pastor, Erin Powers, Cora Schnabel.
Outlook: This will be the Blazers’ first season competing as an official team in dual meets as part of the Central Penn League. “We’re looking for a breakthrough year in competition and hope to continue a tradition of District 3 and PIAA state qualifiers.”
Hill School
Head coach: Amy Agnew, first season.
Last year’s record: 3-3 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Juniors: Paige Curcio (IM), Maddie McKean (free sprints), Paige Swartz (breast). Sophomore: Brigid Donnelly (distance free). Freshman: Maddie Green (fly).
Outlook: In her first season at the helm, Agnew was quick to point out the slew of juniors she’ll have at her disposal. Even with the graduation of Eastern Championships gold medalist and All-Area First Teamer Peyton Miles (Lehigh University), The Hill has plenty of experience and talent to turn toward this season. “Even though the girls’ team graduated powerful leaders in Peyton Miles, Matylda Zacklicki, and Maddy Lutwyche, it has added more depth with a robust freshman group who are fitting in well with the rest of the team,” said Agnew.” The girls’ team has a large and talented group of junior girls who will lead the team well both this year and next year.”
Methacton
Head coach: Stephanie Saucy, first season.
Last year’s record: 4-3 PAC, 4-7 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Emily Sykes (breast, fly, IM), Anna Price (free sprints), Emily Shea (back, free), Amanda Groff (back, fly). Sophomore: Vicky Zang (free, fly), Sara Fleck (fly, free).
Outlook: Two of the Warriors’ three representatives that went to states last season return. That includes All-Area First Teamer Sykes (University of Tennessee commit) as well as Zang. Following the graduation of Sara Lebold, though, first year head coach Saucy was quick to point out the void Methacton faces in the 500 free. “We have a good mix of upper and lower classmen who are key performers and leaders for the team.”
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Kevin Bott, 17th season.
Last year’s record: 6-1 PAC, 7-2 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Laurel Fink (free, fly, IM), Morgan Hansen (fly, IM, back). Juniors: Madison Gadzicki (fly, free). Sophomore: Lilia Crew (breast, IM), Jennifer Dinnocenti (free, fly), Madison Gadzicki (fly, free).
Outlook: The Wildcats will have plenty of veteran leadership to look up to with the return of All-Area First Teamers and PIAA-AAA qualifiers Fink and Hansen for their senior seasons. “The team has gelled quickly in the early part of the season. They have a high level of energy and support for each other, and we hope it will continue moving forward,” said Bott. “There is a complement of younger athletes new to the team that we feel can contribute to the returning team members from last year, and the girls’ seem overall motivated to have a successful season.”
Perkiomen School
Co-coaches: Erin Davidson Kellogg, Trevor Smith, Ryan Hanosek.
Last year’s record: Not applicable.
Swimmers to watch: Senior: Momoka Yamashita (free, fly).
Outlook: The Perk School opened the season with a non-league win over Abington Friends last week. Yamashita topped the charts in two individual races and was also part of two first-place relays.
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Brian Zeigler, third season
Last year’s record: 7-0 PAC (won conference title), 7-7 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Lexy Gallo (back), Gabby Ridge (back, IM), Elle Thorneloe (distance, free). Juniors: Kathryn Baker (sprint free, breast), Grace Catlin (free, diving), Caitlin Cunningham (distance free), Ellie Min (breast), Bailey Newman (fly), Allison O’Donnell (back), Taylor Pappas (diving), Elizabeth Turner (sprint free, fly). Sophomores: Alyssa Marano (IM, free), Maddie Cooper (fly), Macy Gray (distance free), Maddie Krentz (free, back), Mary Kate Lyons (distance free).
Outlook: A season ago, the Vikings bulled their way through the PAC, posting eight of the area’s top times en route to their first conference title since the 2012 season. A season later, they’re without All-Area Second Teamers Megan Gray and Kayla King along with three others lost to graduation. “The returning squad will look to their veterans to fill the gaps and are excited to see some younger swimmers find their way into this year’s lineup,” Zeigler said. “Look for Kathryn Baker, Caitlin Cunningham and Colleen O’Brien to do great things this year in addition to proven stand-outs Marano, Thorneloe and Turner.”
Phoenixville
Head coach: Daniel Weinstein, fifth season.
Last year’s record: 5-2 PAC, 9-2 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Kathryn Bland (back, free), Maddie Cooke (breast, free), Emily Fabius (fly, free), Liz Hussin (back), Grace Kiernan (back). Juniors: Caroline Turner (diving), Sarah Baker (breast). Sophomore: Katya Hayward.
Outlook: Led by 14 seniors and plenty of depth up and down their lineup, the Phantoms have their sights set on competing for the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship. Phoenixville returns several district and state qualifiers, including All-Area First Teamer and two-time PIAA-AAA silver medalist Cooke along with Second Teamer Turner. “We have lots of experience at both the district and state level and have the depth and desire to compete for the PAC championship,” said Weinstein.
Pottsgrove
Head coach: Alex Diehl, second season
Last year’s record: 0-7 PAC, 1-9 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Senior: Elese Christ (fly, IM). Freshman: Victoria Keener (distance free, breast).
Outlook: As is the case most seasons, the Falcons will be up against it numbers-wise. This year, there’s a little extra challenge following the graduation of two-time Mercury All-Area Girls Swimmer of the Year Emily Glinecke (now at Arizona State). Even against all those challenges, Diehl carries a positive outlook heading into the season. “We lost some great, experienced swimmers on both the boys and girls teams since last year but we have also gained some good, young talent,” he said. “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.”
Pottstown
Head coach: Kevin Krause, second season.
Last year’s record: Not applicable (Trojans compete with ‘time only’ swims to qualify for districts).
Swimmers to watch: Sophomores; Abigail Krause (distance, free, IM), London Aquino (breast). Freshman: Jaylyn Kennedy (free, back).
Outlook: Districts is the goal, according to Kevin Krause after taking over the undermanned program two seasons ago. Though the Trojans won’t be competing in dual meets during the season, swimmers will compete against the clock in hopes of earning a trip to the postseason. “Still a very young team,” said Krause, “but with the improvement shown from last year and the work that the girls are putting into their club season as well as with the Pottstown YMCA team, we are hoping to possibly have district qualifiers.”
Spring-Ford
Head coach: Mark Agnew, fourth season.
Last year’s record: 2-5 PAC, 2-7 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Senior: Shannon Reape (back, free, diving). Sophomore: Katherine Parker (distance free).
Outlook: The Rams will face the task of replacing two-time Mercury All-Area First Teamer and PIAA-AAA medalist Rebecca Cubbler (now at Bloomsburg). Parker qualified for districts in the 500 free during her freshman season, and will surely have heightened aspirations over the course of the next two seasons.
Upper Merion
Head coach: Jeff Bugenhagen, 20th season.
Last year’s record: 3-4 Suburban One American Conference, 6-4 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Meg Hall (distance free, IM, breast), Alison Shuster (free).
Outlook: The Eagles will look to replace to legs on the 200 free relay, which took 17th at districts last season. Gone are Katie Wisniewski and Eunice Ardamoy, but ready to fill in their roles are seniors Hall and Shuster as UM makes the move from the Suburban One Conference to the PAC. “We are smaller than in past years,” said Bugenhagen. “We have some returning talent, but there are many opportunities for our newer and younger swimmers to step up and contribute.”
Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: Brien Kalnoski, fourth season.
Last year’s record: 1-6 PAC, 2-8 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Sophomores: Bailey McCausland (breast), Maddie Modugno (free sprints). Freshman: Jayme Fisher (distance free), Noel Fresa (back).
Outlook: Youth. With the graduation of state qualifier Kirsten Siwy as well as district qualifier Melissa Kilroy, the Tribe will return a team of just six swimmers, mostly consisting of underclassmen. Although they may swim against the current most of the season, UP is surely building a bright future. Modugno and McCausland both qualified for districts during their freshman seasons. “Our goal is to get all the girls qualified for districts and all three relays as well,” said Kalnoski.
