Reporter/Times Herald Area Boys Swimming and Diving Preview

Title defenses are on the horizon for area swim teams.
“The boys should do well in the dual-meet season but will have their work cut out for them to try and repeat as District 12 Champs,” said Lansdale Catholic coach Bob Birnbrauer, who enters his 24th season as coach of the Crusaders. “Three very strong teams have moved from Class 3A to 2A status.
“For us, Cody Kulick and Kiernan O’Donnell return as district champions in their respective events and three members of the free relays are returning.”
Sean Faikish, Ryley Fein and Greyson Campbell lead a strong North Penn team in its defense of the Suburban One League Continental Conference crown while La Salle looks to hold down the fort in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
“The Explorers are no longer a young team as in the past two years,” said coach Stephen Duncheskie. “This year’s senior and junior classes need to take a big step forward and assert themselves as a dominant force in the PIAA.”
Souderton Area wants to continue its rise.
“Despite losing PIAA finalists (Storm) Krader and (Wesley) Ahart to graduation, expectations are high after top-10 team points at both the District One and PIAA meets in 2018,” said first-year head coach Lou Williams. “The Indians will be tested during one of the strongest dual-meet schedules around.
“This year’s team will face District One title contenders Hatboro-Horsham (Dec. 18) and Upper Dublin (Jan. 3) before meeting North Penn at home on Jan. 29.”
Following is a team-by-team look at the area.
Central Bucks West
Coach: Vikye Swanson.
Last year’s record: 4-8.
Key performers lost: Ian Donaher; Pierce McKelvy; Vlad Pischenko; Dario Cabal; Max Schevchuk.
Key returners: Gabriel Wingert, Sr., back/free/IM; Matt Bowe, Sr., all strokes; Connor Levant, Sr., diving/sprint free; Cameron Wagner, Jr., fly/IM; Francis Swain, So., back/free; Luke Cimakasky, Jr., distance free.
Others to watch: Josh Kim, So., free/fly; Sam Shin, So., fly; Max Quinn, Jr., all strokes.
Strengths: Lots of young swimmers looking to improve.
Question marks: The team is mostly young swimmers.
Coach Swanson says: “Hoping to improve times and getting more swimmers to the district meet.”
Lansdale Catholic
Coach: Bob Birnbrauer (24th season).
Last year: 10-4, 6-1 Philadelphia Catholic League; District 12-2A Champs.
Key performers lost: Nick Picozzi; Tyler Arsuaga.
Key returners: Ryan Flanegan, Sr., free; Kevin Gianoni, Jr., free/back; Bryce U’Selis, Jr., free; Austin Helmer, So., all strokes; Connor Flanegan, So., free; Cody Kulick, So., all strokes; John Murphy, free/back; Kiernan O’Donnell, So., diving; Ryan O’Rourke, So., all strokes; Solomon Leo, So., all strokes; John Lee, So., all strokes.
Others to watch: Brendon Price, all strokes.
Strengths: A young team that gained experience last year with many district qualifiers and with strong desire to work for a repeat.
La Salle
Coach: Stephen Duncheskie (fourth season).
Last year’s record: 12-1.
Key performers lost: James McErlean (IM, 500 free), Sam Grossi (backstroke).
Key returners: Matt Szekely (12), Matt Lewis (12), Evan Parkhill (12).
Others to watch: Liam Smith (11), Patrick Cunningham (11), Alex Patti (11), Luke Ramalho (10).
Strengths: This year’s LaSalle’s squad runs very deep with talent.
Question marks: Who will fill the need for backstroke events vacated with the graduation of Sam Grossi? Who will fill the leadership role vacated with the graduation of James McErlean?
Methacton
Coach: Sarah (Miller) Stevens (first season).
Last year’s record: 2-6.
Key performers lost: Michael Palumbo (free/IM).
Key returners: Seniors — Noah Caplan (breast), Jon Groff (sprint free), Steven Zeng (fly/back); Juniors — Gage Caputo-Munce (diving), Matt Tsai (fly); Sophomores — Travis Hendrick (diving), Jan Perez-Bonilla (fly/sprint free).
Others to watch: Freshman — Tommy Gibbs (fly/sprint free), Dylan Phan (breast).
Strengths: The team has depth in fly, breast and sprint free events.
Outlook for the season: The team only lost one key player from last season; in addition, they have gained some young talent. This season we have a large senior class who continue to show leadership with the growing team. Looking forward to this season, we are excited to see some great performances and time improvements, as well as hoping to have more qualify for Districts.
North Penn
Coach: Jeff Faikish (seventh season).
Last year: 12-0; SOL Continental Champs; District 1-3A Champs.
Key performers lost: Ben Ahlmark; Aidan Daly; Andrew Dunigan; Derek Friday; Ryan Hartmann; Braxton Ahlmark; Noah Jamieson; Bryan Mitchell; Daniel Trumpp; Ross Gold.
Key returners: Greyson Campbell, Jr., IM/breast; Sean Faikish, Jr., distance/IM; Ryley Fein, Sr., free/breast.
Outlook: The Knights were hit hard by graduation but should be in good position to defend their conference and district crowns and make a push at states.
Pennridge
Coach: Jenna Anselmo (first season).
Last year’s record: 3-7.
Key performers lost: Nicolas Bland; Aiden Bunn.
Key returners: Ethan Lionetti, Sr., 100 breast/200 IM; Joseph Hong, So., 100 breast/200 IM; James Sandt, Sr., 100 free/fly/50 free; Joe Ereifej, Sr., 100 breast/200 IM; Reese Trauger, Sr., 100 free/fly/50 free.
Strengths: Loaded in the 100 breast and 200 IM — three returning district qualifiers in those events.
Souderton Area
Coach: Lou Williams (first season).
Last year’s record: (5-1 SOL Continental, 8-2 Overall)
Key performers lost: Storm Krader, Back/Fly, University of Delaware; Wesley Ahart, Diving, University of Pittsburgh.
Key returners: TJ Yaglenski, senior, Back/Fly; Jake Kramer, senior, Free/IM; Reid Sinkinson, senior, Free; Ethan Moyer, senior, Free.
Others to watch: Matt Masciulli, junior, Fly/Free; Will Leyland, junior, Breast/IM; Kyle Creachen, sophomore, diving;
Strengths: Strong group of four senior swimmers have a great deal of competitive experience and the ability to swim multiple events. Yaglenski, Kramer, Sinkinson, Leyland, Masciulli and Creachen have District 1 individual event experience and Yaglenski, Kramer, Sinkinson and Leyland competed at PIAA States in 2018.
Question marks: This year’s Indian team is smaller than in year’s past so depth may be an issue, with the notable exception of the diving team, which will sport 4-5 divers.
Upper Dublin
Coach: Geoff Scheuer (seventh season).
Key performers lost: Alex Flynn; Joe Gewartowski.
Key returners: Kornel Pesti, Sr., free; Zach Duthie, Sr., breast/IM; Michael Burke, Sr., diving; Kyle Pro, Jr., sprint free.
Wissahickon
Coach: Jonathan Faikish (first season).
Key performers lost: Jon Carrozza.
Key returners: Nick Kang, Sr.; Griffin Bowers, Jr.; Ryan Keagy, Sr., 500 free; Bobby Boehme, Sr., 500 free/100 breast.