Mercury-Area Team-by-Team Boys Swimming Preview
Boyertown
Head coach: Bill Draves, second season.
Last year’s record: 8-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference, 9-1 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Sophomores: Owen Miller (fly, free); Nolan Benner (fly, breast); Freshman: Noah Vivian (free, breast).
Outlook: The Bears will be up against the tall task of replacing All-Area First Teamers and PIAA-3A qualifiers Ivan Escott (Eastern Illinois) and Patrick Lance (Cleveland State) both lost to graduation. Although the team is light in numbers and postseason experience, Draves was quick to note that there’s plenty of promise coming up the ranks. “Light on numbers, but deep on talent,” he said. “We’re looking to repeat last year’s record. We’ve got solid divers which should help at meets with diving included.”
Daniel Boone
Head coach: Chris Breedy, second season.
Last year’s record: Not applicable (Blazers competed with ‘time only’ swims to qualify for districts).
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Joe Guiliano (free, back), David Ahakinian (free, breast), Zach Schnabel (free sprints); Sophomore: Jacob Santos (IM, back); Freshman: Chris Guiliano (free, back, IM).
Outlook: Breedy sees plenty of upside as her team moves from time only swims to an inter-conference schedule as they joined the Central Penn League this season. Boone’s roster boasts plenty of promise, namely in a pair of brothers she believes can make an impact up through the postseason. “The Guliano brothers will be making an impact not only for Daniel Boone swimming, but also on the District Three and hopefully state level as well,” she said.
Hill School
Head coach: Amy Agnew, second season.
Last year’s record: 2-6 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Senior: Walter Lehneis (breast, IM); Juniors: Alfonso Mestre (distance free), Michael Schiavone (back), Max Moore (back), Yeob Kim (sprint free, diving).
Outlook: The Blues will face the task of replacing All-Area Boys Swimmer of the Year Alberto Mestre, who set a meet-record with an unheard of 20.00 in the 50 free last season at the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming Championships. On the diving end, they’ll also be without two-time Eastern champ Christian DeVol, also lost to graduation. Agnew has no doubt that she’s got reinforcements in the ready. “We lost six key athletes to graduation, but we have some young prospects who are quite versatile to help us rebuild,” she said. “Alfonso Mestre and Walter Lehneis will continue to lead the team in distance free and breaststroke, respectively.”
Methacton
Head coach: Barbi Griffith, first season.
Last year’s record: 3-6 PAC, 3-8 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Senior: Michael Palumbo; Juniors: Steven Zeng, Jon Groff, Noah Caplan; Freshmen: Jan Perez, Travis Henrick.
Outlook: Griffith takes over a Warrior program that looks to be on its way to getting back to form. Palumbo returns for his senior year after being the team’s lone district qualifier last season. He’ll be joined on the blocks by a slew of juniors and underclassmen who gained valuable experience last winter. “The boys team is looking good for the future, with some young talent this year and on the horizon for the next few years,” said Griffith. “We have some strong swimmers and some that have shown tremendous growth in the past few months.”
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Kevin Bott, 18th season.
Last year’s record: 9-0 PAC, 9-0 overall (Three-time defending Conference champions).
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Logan Baker (free), Simon Crew (free, IM), Dan DiMarino (breast, IM), Ryan King (back, free), Jordan Roach (Fly, Back), Matt Snyder (breast, IM).
Outlook: This year’s crop of Wildcats certainly have the top-heavy strength and depth to continue their run at the top of the PAC. OJR returns nine seniors — six district qualifiers — from last year’s team as well as four juniors. “(We) graduated several talented athletes, many of whom were district qualifiers or played a key role in specific events last season,” said Bott. “While this year’s team has returning talent, they will need to fill those voids while continuing to progress in their desired events.”
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Mitchell Zackowski, first season.
Last year’s record: 6-3 PAC, 8-4 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Giles Lewis (free), Matt Marsh (back, sprint free), Tommy Santangelo (breast, IM); Juniors: Dylan Alexander (free, fly), Andrew Derrick (breast), Sam Gulen (fly), Ryan Keenan (distance free), Lance Kell (free), Ryan Kenny (free), Evan Older (free), Patrick Smeltzer (back), Aidan Stuhltrager (free).
Outlook: The Vikings didn’t have a single qualifier for last season’s District 1-3A championships. No doubt, that will be the goal for the Vikings, led by first year head coach Zackowski. Perk Valley’s roster lacks senior leadership but boasts plenty of juniors who he claims are eager to make an impact. “With only a few returning seniors to help guide the boys team this year, we have a very strong junior class with some up and coming performers in the sophomore and freshman class,” Zackowski said. “This year will a fun season for the boys team and everyone is looking forward to some great performances.”
Phoenixville
Head coach: Dan Weinstein, sixth season.
Last year’s record: 4-5 PAC, 5-6 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Zach Kleppe (free, IM), Luke Morris (free, breast); Juniors: Will Carnevale (free, back), Kyler Lewis (distance free), Mitchell Schwartz (distance free), Dominic Sposato (free, breast); Sophomore: Ryan Aclan (IM, back).
Outlook: The Phantoms are still seeking their first District championship berth since making the transition from Class AA up to Class AAA in 2015. Weinstein believes this could be the year, as Phoenixville boasts plenty of promising returners. “The boys team is looking to build off of last season’s win total, the highest in team history,” said Weinstein. “With strong team leadership, and a deep crop of incoming freshman, the Phantoms are eager to set high marks in season win totals and qualify for AAA District competition.”
Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Emily Thomas, first season.
Last year’s record: N/A.
Outlook: Thursday, Dec. 28 will be a historic day for the Golden Panthers as the team will face Lansdale Catholic in the program’s inaugural swim meet. Having just completed the tryout process, Thomas is excited to see how the individuals as well as the team progress as the season goes on. “Every start, time-drop and finish will be a little milestone completed,” she said. “As those milestone turn into school records and best times, I can see each individual being proud of the work they put in this year. Every member of this team can say they were apart of laying a foundation in which to build our program upon I see a bright future ahead of us for the PJP II swimming program.”
Pottsgrove
Head coach: Alex Diehl, third season.
Last year’s record: 1-8 PAC, 1-8 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Senior: Patrick Agnew (free sprints, breast).
Outlook: Agnew looks to build on a strong junior season where he claimed gold medals in the 50 free and 100 free during the District 1-AA Championships. He’ll be the leader as the team moves on after the graduation of Mikey Prior (Ursinus). “Patrick Agnew returns as a team leader in his senior year looking to continue his history of strong performances in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 breaststroke this year,” said Diehl.
Spring-Ford
Head coach: Mark Agnew, fourth season.
Last year’s record: 7-2 PAC, 8-2 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Carson Huff, Carson Hilliard, Matt Skilton, Andres Sosa, Harry Zweifel; Sophomores: Cory Laing, Sean Laing, Luke McKenna, Nick Tuffilaro.
Outlook: The Carsons will look to end their scholastic swimming careers in style — with a fourth-straight trip to the District 1-AAA championships at season’s end. The Rams boast a top-heavy roster with plenty of senior leadership, and will look to ride that to another solid campaign. Gone is Noah Cancro, the program’s lone state-qualifier from last season. “The boys look to be among the top-third of the PAC again this year,” said Agnew.
Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: Brien Kalnoski, fifth season.
Last year’s record: 2-7 PAC, 2-10 overall.
Swimmers to watch: Seniors: Cameron Junk (distance free), Joel Williams (fly, back, distance free), Dan Miller (distance free, 100 back); Junior: Kyle Kovalenko (breast, IM, distance free); Sophomore: Trevor Cairns (distance free).
Outlook: The Tribe sent eight individual qualifiers to the District One Championships last season, seven of which return this winter. Although Upper Perk never boasts the deepest team in terms of size, they constantly have quality swimmers. Junk (500 free) and Kovalenko (100 breast) earned bronze medals at districts last season and will no doubt look to up their marks. “Our goal is to get the boys qualified in two individual events each for Districts and all three relays as well,” said Kalnoski.
