Reporter/Times Herald Area Boys Swim Preview

The North Penn boys swimming and diving team rose to a third-place finish in the state last season and several of those performers went on to help the water polo squad capture a state title this past fall.
Expectations are high for 2018.
Said coach Jeff Faikish: “We are looking forward to seeing what our potential is this season. The team will be led by a handful of swimmers that have had experience at the state, regional and national levels. The depth of the team will allow this group to find success in the pool.”
While North Penn aims to defend its Suburban One League Continental Conference crown, the top spot in the Philadelphia Catholic League could once again be seized by La Salle.
“We will compete our way through the Catholic League and also compete in a tough non-conference schedule against Christian Brothers Academy, Malvern, Upper Dublin, and at the Wilson Relays,” coach Stephen Duncheskie said. “This young but talented team will have to learn quickly how to battle and race its way back into PIAA contention.”
Lansdale Catholic is coming on strong in the PCL.
“The key returners, along with the depth of new swimmers,” coach Bob Birnbrauer said, “will allow the boys to look forward to a strong dual-meet season and are looking for a successful postseason with stronger relay events and representation in the diving event with (Kiernan) O’Donnell.”
Upper Dublin, always one to be counted one when the postseason arrives, aims to continue its dominance in the Suburban One League American Conference and be well-represented at districts and states.
Said coach Geoff Scheuer: “Last year was a rebuilding year. This year, we find out what we’ve built.”
Following is a team-by-team look at the area.
Archbishop Wood
Coach: Charlie Stillwell (22nd season).
Last year’s record: 6-3 overall, 6-2 Philadelphia Catholic League; fourth in PCL; fourth in District 12-3A.
Key performers lost: Sean Harney; Conor Lynskey; Kevin Harte; Dan Johnston.
Key returners: Peter Gori, Sr., sprint freestyle/back; Daniel Lips, Jr., sprint freestyle/fly; Matthew Quigley, Jr., breast/fly/IM; Patrick Byrne, Jr., sprint free.
Others to Watch: Matthew Smith, Fr., all strokes; Robert Fredricksdorf, Fr., breaststroke.
Strengths: Sprint free.
Question Marks: Not much depth with a smaller team.
Coach Stillwell says: “With the loss of a very good senior class, this year’s team will be smaller but still competitive in all of our meets.”
Central Bucks West
Coach: Zach Wilson (fourth season).
Key performers lost: Peter Baltes; Brad Johnson; Dale Johnson; Evan Washington.
Key returners: Gabe Wingert, Jr., 100 back/distance free; Dylan Friedman, Sr., diving.
Germantown Academy
Coach: Jeff Thompson (fourth season).
Last year’s record: 6-3, 3-2 InterAC.
Key performers lost: Brien Collier (William and Mary); Jimmy Parker (Tufts).
Key returners: Brian Bartle, Jr., free; Jack Lafond, Jr., breast/IM; Jake Rabbiner, Jr., breast/IM; Jack Forde, Jr., breast/IM; Kevin Hou, Jr., breast/back; Marc Arsever, So., free; Walker Butler, free; Gavin Loughlin, So., free.
Others to watch: Alana Andress, So., free/fly; Emily Morrissey, Jr., free.
Hatboro-Horsham
Coach: Kip Emig (12th season).
Last season: District 1-3A third place; PIAA-3A seventh place.
Key performers lost: Tim McPoyle, Sr., free.
Key returners: Andy Thomas, Sr., free/breast; John Scully, Sr., free; Luke Emig, Jr., free; Stuart Sumner, Jr.
Outlook for the season: The Hatters had quite a postseason last winter and should be expecting more of the season, led by a determined Thomas.
Lansdale Catholic
Coach: Bob Birnbrauer (23rd season).
Last year’s record: 2-5 in the PCL, District 12-2A Runner-ups.
Key performers lost: None.
Key returners: Nick Picozzi, Sr., free/breast; Tyler Arsuaga, Sr., IM/fly; Joe Montagna, Jr., free; Kevin Gianoni, So., free/back; Bryce U’Selis, So., free; Brian Montagna, So., free/fly; Austin Helmer, Fr., all strokes; Cody Kulick, Fr., all strokes; John Murphy, Fr., free/back; Kiernan O’Donnell, Fr., diver; Ryan O’Rourke, Fr., all strokes; Solomon Leo, Fr., all strokes.
Others to watch: Tyler Arsuagua, Sr.; Kevin Gianoni, Sr.
Strengths: Bryce U’Selis won the district title in the 200 free and was part of the 400 free relay gold, with Gianoni, Picozzi and U’Selis.
Coach Birnbrauer says: “The boys lost the district meet by 28 points last season and have a team goal to be stronger at that meet.”
La Salle
Coach: Stephen Duncheskie.
Last year’s record: 13-0 PCL; District 12-3A Champs; PIAA-3A State Runner-Up.
Key performers lost: Jake Sannem (USC); John Klein (Drexel); Jake Lubinski (Bucknell); Liam Duffy (Fordham).
Key returners: Liam Smith, So.; Will Seely, Jr.; Matt Szekely, Jr.; James McErlean, Sr.; Sam Grossi, Sr.
Other to watch: Evan Parkhill, Jr.; Liam McFadden, So.; Andrew Pave, So.; Patrick Cunningham, So., Matt Lewis, Jr.
Strengths: La Salle brings back a very young but deep swimming and diving team to compete for its 30th straight PCL title and its 10th straight District 12 title.
Lower Moreland
Coach: Karney McNear (15th season).
Last year’s record: District 1-2A Champs; PIAA-2A fifth place.
Key performers lost: None.
Returning state scorers: Connor Killion (Virginia commit); Chris Kelly; Tommy Lutter; Dan Shevelev; Colin Shipp.
Returning district scorers: Ben Aust; Alex Yoon; Eddie Barton; Dan Amusin; Max Gutnik; Mark Klinchin; Mark Watanabe (diver).
Others to watch: Jaden Feldman; Noah Ferker; Greg Landis.
Coach McNear says: “The Lions are sure to make some noise this season.”

Methacton
Coach: Barbara Griffith (first season).
Key returners: Michael Palumbo, Sr., free/breast/IM; Steven Zeng, Jr., free/back/breast; Jon Groff, Jr., free; Noah Caplan, Jr., breast.
Others to watch: Perez, Fr., free/fly; Travis Henrick, Fr., diving.​
Strengths: A young team with lots of potential.
Question marks: Experience. Only two seniors.
Coach Griffith says: “​We look forward to a competitive season and to gaining experience for the next few years of competition.”
North Penn
Coach: Jeff Faikish (sixth season).
Last year’s record: 12-0; SOL Continental Champs; District 1-3A Champs; PIAA-3A third place.
Key performers lost: Ian Boland Bintner, diving; Bryce Hoch, diving.
Key returners: Ben Ahlmark, Sr., fly; Aidan Daly, Sr., free; Andrew Dunigan, Sr., IM/breast; Derek Friday, Sr., sprint; Ryan Hartmann, Sr., back/free; Braxton Sweeney-Higley, Sr., distance; Noah Jamieson, Sr., sprint/fly; Bryan Mitchell, Sr., distance; Daniel Trumpp, Sr., fly; Ross Gold, Sr., manager.
Others to Watch: Greyson Campbell, So., IM/breast; Sean Faikish, So., distance/IM; Ryley Fein, Jr., free/breast.
Coach Faikish says: “Coming off of a State Championship for Water Polo, this is a highly-motivated group of young men.”
Pennridge
Coach: Jacob Grant (third season).
Key performers lost: Hayden Sandt; John Handy; Jakob Aigeldinger.
Key returners: Nicolas Bland, Sr., free/back; Aiden Bunn, Sr., free; Joe Ereifej, Jr., breast.
Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Coach: Kevin Golebiewski (second season).
Last year’s record: 5-3, 4-2 SOL American; District 1-3A 21st place.
Key performers lost: Zach Schaeffer, sprint/free relays; Sean Keenan, So., 100 back/200 free.
Key returners: Billy Gallagher, Sr., 50/100 free; Nick Fiddler, Jr., 100 back/fly/IM; Justin Ruggiero, Jr., 200/500 free; Niles Rankin, So., breast/IM; Caleb Kelly, So., 50/100/200 free.
Strengths: Still a young team with only one senior present on the roster. The team spreads out evenly for a dual-meet lineup. Should have a really good shot at winning each event.
Question marks: Depth could be a problem. Fifth-place finishes will be crucial for the success of the dual-meet record.
Coach Golebiewski says: “The team should be competitive in the league once again. Behind the leadership of senior captain Billy Gallagher and the talent of our key returners, we are hoping to finish third once again behind the powerful Hatboro Horsham and Upper Dublin programs. The ultimate goal is to qualify at least one relay to the state championship meet this season.”
Souderton Area
Coach: Rob Faccenda (15th season overall; 1994-2006, 2016-present).
Last year: District 1-3A fifth place; PIAA-3A sixth place.
Key performers lost: Cristian Musterait (Arizona St.).
Key returners: Spencer Nice, Sr., fly/breast; Storm Krader, Sr., IM/back; Rory Sinkerson, Sr., 200/500 free; Wesley Ahart, Sr., diving; T.J. Yaglenski, Jr., utility; Jake Kramer, Jr., 200/500 free; Reid Sinkinson, Jr., 50/100 free.
Outlook for the season: Big Red made a major push last season with top-six finishes at both districts and states. They lost an outstanding performer in Musterait but have a tremendous nucleus returning.
Upper Dublin
Coach: Geoff Scheuer (sixth season).
Last year: SOL American Champs; District 1-3A fourth place; PIAA-3A 10th place.
Key performers lost: None.
Key returners: Alex Flynn, Sr., sprint free/fly; Joe Gewartowski, Sr., sprint free; Kornel Pesti, Jr., free; Zach Duthie, Jr., breast/IM; Michael Burke, Jr., diving.
Others to watch: Kyle Pro, So., sprint free.
Strengths: Experience.
Question marks: Depth.
Upper Moreland
Coach: Jess Healy.
Last year’s record: 1-10, 1-5 SOL American.
Key performers: Sean Duffey, Sr., sprints; Zach Litvin, Sr., sprints; Misha Davis, Jr., utility; Ronan Smith, Jr., back/fly/IM; Nikitta Furman, Jr., free/breast; Kevin Johnston, Jr., distance; Dylan Swedberg, So., diving.
The season: this is a brief comment from you about the upcoming season and can be whatever you want. This is not necessarily a quote unless one of you says something particularly pithy. If you aren’t sure, call me and we’ll work on it together.
Strengths: A team full of fun personalities that is up to work hard.
Question marks: Plagued by very small numbers.
Coach Healy says: “As always, will have a good showing at the conference meet.”
Wissahickon
Coach: John High (eighth season).
Key returners: Jon Carrozza, Sr.; Nick Kang, Jr.; Griffin Bowers, So.
Others to watch: Ryan Keagy, Jr., 500 free; Bobby Boehme, Jr., 500 free/100 breast.
Strengths: Excited to start the season in the newly-built Wissahickon Natatorium. This year, another young team, with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm about its training and competition.
Question marks: Looking to fill the shoes of some of the graduates from earlier years in the sprint freestyle events.
Coach High says: “Excited to see what the team can do. Concentrating on swimming fast, and making our training a priority. The team believes that swimming fast is an attitude, and their hard work will pay off in the pool.”