Reporter/Times Herald Area Girls Swim Preview
Souderton Area has a healthy blend of experience and newcomers that should make Big Red one of the teams to watch this winter.
Said Indians coach Lou Williams: “We were a little disappointed with our dual meet record last year and are looking forward to turning the tables on a couple of close losses. We didn’t lose any of our district qualifiers and should make a stronger showing at both the District One and PIAA Championship meets.”
North Penn enters the winter as defending SOL Continental, District 1-3A and PIAA-3A Champs, and has plenty of postseason experience returning.
Lansdale Catholic could make some noise in the PCL as well as District 12.
“Great opportunity for new swimmers to earn district times and compete,” coach Bob Birnbrauer said. “Returning swimmers have a chance to move up on the medal stand and the goal is to get some to the state championships.”
Following is a team-by-team look at the area.
Central Bucks West
Coach: Vibeke Swanson (29th season).
Key performers lost: Sam Seiden, Emily Grill, Caitlin Mulligan, Rebecca McPherson.
Key returners: Caroline Stim, Sr., all free; Natalie Yim, Sr., fly/free/IM; Jessica Kuo, Jr., IM/breast; Sam Remmey, Sr., free/back; Christina Cavalluzzo, Sr., free/breast; Hailey DeFazio, Jr., diving.
Others to watch: Riley Growney, Jr., distance/free; Julia Bowe, Jr., fly/breast; Abby Jenkinsen, Jr., free/back; Audrey Hitchens, So., diving.
Strengths: Free.
Question marks: A nice group of young swimmers have come out and are making a good impression.
Coach Swanson says: “Always looking to improve from previous year.”
Lansdale Catholic
Coach: Bob Birnbrauer (25th season).
Last year’s record: 6-6, 4-2 PCL; Runner-Up in District 12-2A.
Key performers lost: Sara Murphy, all around swimmer, District champion, state qualifier; Colleen Costello, free and back district and state qualifier; Mary Gunder, district qualifier.
Key returners: Mary Picozzi, Sr., free; Caroline Primus, Sr., free/breast; Lauren Grello, Jr., free; Brynne U’Selis, Jr., all-around; Emily McGovern, Jr., free; Madeleine McGovern, So., free; Faith Morrisey, So., back/free; Jordan Morrisey, So., free; Grace Picozzi, So., free/breast; Brielle U’Selis, Fr., all-around.
Strengths: The sprint free events will be strong as three of the four swimmers in the second-place 200 free relay return and five of the girls were district qualifiers last year.
Question marks: Replacing top performers on each of the relay teams will be key.
North Penn
Coach: Jeff Faikish (fourth season).
Last year’s record: 6-0 SOL Continental; District 1-3A Champs; PIAA-3A Champs.
Key returners: Lizi Bakradze, Sr.; Abigail Broadhead, Sr.; Caroline Dunigan, Sr.; Sophia Franco, Sr.; Brigid Huebner, Sr.; Grace McLaughlin, Sr.; Abby Peters, Sr.; Meghan Wenzel, Sr.; Madalyn Freece, Sr.
Outlook: With no shortage of experience on the roster, the Knights look to defend their conference title and should again be in the running for district and state glory at season’s end.
Pennridge
Coach: Jacob Grant (fifth season).
Last year’s record: 2-7.
Key performers lost: Reese Trauger, district qualifier in the 50 free.
Key returners: Lauren Scott, So., 100/200 free.
Others to watch: Adi Garges, Fr., 50-100 free/100 fly; Emily Myers, Fr., 100 breast/200 IM; Lea Preston, So., 50 free/100 fly; Hannah Sayre, Jr., 100 back.
Strengths: Relays will hopefully be stronger this year than last. Still a little ways off district cuts but relays will be very young this year and have a lot of room to grow. Lauren in the 100 and 200 free. Adi in the 50-100 free and Emily in the 100 breast and 200 IM.
Question Marks: 500 free and diving. Last year had no divers but this year have three. Intrigued to see what they can bring to the team this year.
Coach Grant says: “Looking to build on last year with this new batch of young talent. Hoping to keep our two dual-meet wins and snag another one along the way. Also hoping to get a few district qualifiers this year.”
Souderton Area
Coach: Lou Williams (second season).
Last year’s record: 6-4, 4-2 SOL Continental.
Key performers lost: Gabrielle Fortier, free; Lael Flores, free; Kristie Scott, breast.
Key returners: Hailey Freed, Sr., IM/free; Hannah Christie, Sr., fly/free; Grace McKeone, Sr., diver.
Others to watch: Ellie Hiestand, Jr., IM/breast; Lexi Krebs, Jr., fly/back; Ally Beldham, Jr., diver; Abby Burns, So., fly/free; Kayla Pike, So., fly/free; Kelsey Donatelli, So., free.
Strengths: The addition of a few experienced freshmen makes depth a real strength for the Indians in 2019-2020. Souderton qualified six swimmers and all three relays for the District One Champs in 2018-19. All of those swimmers return in 2019-20.
Question marks: With great depth at all events, finalizing relays and meet lineups will be a question mark for the Indians in 2019-20. The Indians are also interested to see how their strong freshmen class of 18-19 performs during their second season with the team in 19-20.
Upper Dublin
Coach: Patrick Redican (seventh season).
Last year’s record: 9-1, 6-1 SOL American, 30th consecutive Suburban One American Conference Championship, District 1-3A Runner-Up, PIAA-3A Runner-Up.
Key performers lost: Abbie Amdor (last year’s PIAA Swimmer of the Meet), Lia Wilmoth (four-year district qualifier), Liz Medevedev (three-year district qualifier).
Key returners: Elle Braun, Sr., distance freestyle; Aly Breslin, Sr., IM/breaststroke; Laura Pendleton, sprint free/fly/breast; Molly Braun, Jr., fly/sprint free; Meghan DiMartile, back; Korinna Pesti, sprint free.
Others to watch: Grace Brennan, Sr., free; Sami Coccia, Sr., free; Clarie Lochstet, IM; Erin Andrews, So., distance free/fly; Lexi Brown, So., diving.
Strengths: Strong senior leadership and a winning tradition.
Question marks: With a very tough early season schedule, how quickly will the 10 freshmen be able to contribute and can the seniors fill the big shoes left by Abbie Amdor, who is now swimming at Penn State?
Coach Redican says: “Job number one is keeping the ‘streak’ alive and earning number 31. In addition, finishing second at districts and states last year has given the team some ‘unfinished business’ to take care of. If the team stays healthy and maintains its focus, their potential is unlimited.”
Wissahickon
Coach: Laurie Hug (12th season).
Last year’s record: 8-4.
Key performers lost: Carly Zlotnikoff; Caitlin Valentine; Haley Culp.
Key returners: Katie Sapozhnikov 12th – 100 fly, 200 IM, 500 Fr, Julia Weiss 12th – free (all), Karis Kim 12th- 200 IM, free (all), Jaclyn Staub 12th 50 and 100 free, Tess Klugherz 12th – diving.
Others to watch: Maddy Johnson 9th, IM, 100 fr, 100 br, Julia Ronca 11th, 100 br, 50/100 fr, 200IM, Eunice Fu 11th 200 IM, 100 fly, 100 br, Lauren Donofrio – 12th 200 IM, 100 br, Becca Valentine 11th – free, Kayla Hartzell 11th – free.
Strengths: Large and strong group of upper-class swimmers.
Question marks: Can the girls step up to match last season’s record after the loss of States Finalist Carly Zlotnikoff to graduation?
Coach Hug says: “We have a strong group of returning swimmers as well as a large incoming freshman class, so are hoping for a winning record as well multiple district and state championship qualifiers.”
