North Penn opens SOL Continental season in style with wins over rival Pennridge
TOWAMENCIN >> North Penn is staying sharp through the grind.
“(January’s) very busy, very tiring. It’s just very long,” said the Knights’ Kayla Stressman, who swam to a victory in the 100-yard butterfly on Tuesday. “I just keep thinking that if I work hard, it’ll pay off.”
The Knights were impressive in their Suburban One League Continental Conference opener, swimming and diving to a pair of victories over rival Pennridge. The NP boys won 93-84 over the Rams and the North Penn girls notched a 99-79 win over Pennridge.
Fresh off winter training and now submerged in the busy month of January, the Knights are pushing forward.
“It was a good meet between the two teams. The kids are starting to feel the last couple weeks of training and now this is where all the meets pick up,” North Penn coach Jeff Faikish said. “We had some pretty good swims here today. We were able to focus on some techniques and mechanics. We’ve been working on those things in practice and the great thing about the meets is you get to put it into action.”
Scott Klein (200 IM), William Klein (50 free), Lance Engel (diving) and Evan Mancini (500 free) all earned victories for the North Penn boys. The Knights’ 200 medley relay and 200 free relay also finished first.
In addition to Stressman’s win in the fly, the North Penn girls were powered by Caroline Dunigan (200 free), Anna Evans (200 IM), Meghan Wenzel (diving) and Kaelan Daly (500 free), all first in their events. The 200 medley and 200 free relays also earned wins for the Knights.
“Winter training was really tiring, really hard, but I’m just glad it’s over,” Stressman said with a smile.
Behind the blocks Tuesday, North Penn and Pennridge were talking each other through it.
“That’s one of the fun things about this area, is that the teams are all so close,” Faikish said. “Because of the Suburban Aquatic League and the water polo and the high school teams, these kids have seen each other since they were seven years old.”
Joseph Hong won a pair of events for the Pennridge boys, placing first in the 200 free and the 100 fly, as the Rams pushed hard in their trip to the Rick Carroll Natatorium.
“I love swimming against North Penn. Their kids are fast, their coaches are awesome, and they make our kids race hard,” Rams coach Jacob Grant said. “It’s fun to come down and here and swim against a school that I consider friends.”
Boys Swimming
North Penn 93, Pennridge 84
200 medley relay: North Penn (S. Faikish, N. Wauls, N. Clark, K. Faikish), 1:37.55; 200 free: Joseph Hong (P) 147.67; 200 IM: Scott Klein (NP) 2:07.63; 50 free: William Klein (NP) 23.46; Diving: Lance Engel (NP) 179.95; 100 fly: Hong (P) 54.33; 100 free: Eric Ulmet (P) 1:00.01; 500 free: Evan Mancini (NP) 4:53.07; 200 free relay: North Penn (E. Mancini, N. Clark, S. Faikish, R. Faikish), 1:26.87; NP SWAM THE REMAINING EVENTS AS EXHIBITIONS – 100 back: Danny Whalen (P) 1:11.05; 100 breast: Cameron Schaubel (P) 1:09.35; 400 free relay: Pennridge (J. Arteaga, Z. Yardley, B. Masselma, J. Hong), 3:34.08.
Girls Swimming
North Penn 99, Pennridge 79
200 medley relay: North Penn (J. Stevens, J. Davis, C. Dunigan, N. Chiappa), 1:51.11; 200 free: Caroline Dunigan (NP) 1:59.44; 200 IM: Anna Evans (NP) 2:20.05; 50 free: Lauren Scott (P) 25.48; Diving: Meghan Wentzel (NP) 291.75; 100 fly: Kayla Stressman (NP) 101.90; 100 free: Adi Garges (P) 58.93; 500 free: Kaelan Daly (NP) 5:22.69; 200 free relay: North Penn (C. Dunigan, O. Toussaint, K. Daly, N. Chiappa), 1:40.20; NP SWAM THE REMAINING EVENTS AS EXHIBITIONS – 100 back: Hannah Saydos (P) 1:11.01; 100 breast: Emily Myers (P) 1:12.25; 400 free relay: Pennridge (L. Preston, H. Sayres, A. Nunemiller, H. Carges), 4:34.02.
