Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Girls Swimming All-Area: DiMartile is back (champion) again
It’s cold days like these past few that have Meghan DiMartile dreaming of warmer times.
In two years, she’ll have them, swimming at The University of Texas.
But in any weather and any situation, DiMartile was a driving force for Upper Dublin.
“I was really happy with the end result of this season,” DiMartile said. “We had a lot of girls step up this year, which was awesome. Considering the past year and all the challenges that came with it, I was really proud of my teammates and the way they worked hard through the adversity.
“Finishing sixth in the state was really special for our team because we lost a lot of seniors last year and we knew we had to work hard to get where we finished.”
DiMartile, selected Athlete of the Year for Girls Swimming by The Reporter, Times Herald, and Montgomery Media, won a pair of gold medals at the PIAA Championships, helping to push the Cards to that sixth-place finish.
DiMartile pulled off a rare three-peat in the 100 back.
“I am grateful to have won,” the junior shared. “This year of training was definitely different and leading up to states wasn’t what I was used to so I was happy to have swam the time I did and bring a first-place finish for my team.”
DiMartile was seeded with a time of 54.94, then touched in 54.31 to win the gold.
Said coach Brandon Pierce: “(Winning the title) was her focus since last year. Meghan’s not only a great swimmer. She’s a great athlete. When she came in as a freshman, we saw the potential. She’s been able to defend her title (in the 100 back) again and again, and next year could be quite a capper.”
The relays once again got it done for the Cardinals, and DiMartile led off the winning 200 medley relay (1:43.92), joining Emma McCarthy, Molly Braun and Korinna Pesti.
“We went into the meet seeded third so we knew we had to step up and swim our best,” DiMartile said. “It was really special to me to have won the event with teammates that I’ve trained hard with all year. Everyone stepped up and did their part so it was an awesome experience.”
DiMartile looks for a grand finale with Upper Dublin next year before heading west.
“I plan on studying and swimming at the University of Texas,” she said. “It was definitely weird having to decide on a college during a pandemic. I had my family and coaches there to help me make the right choice. I chose Texas because of the amazing academics, great coaching, and the feeling I got when I met the team. I am also looking forward to the warm weather.”
Making it through rough waters >> The pandemic made swimming and diving a far different experience this past winter, but several locals and their respective teams still made it a year to remember.
Papreplive.com’s All-Area Team for Girls Swimming and Diving was a team packed with perseverance.
Upper Dublin put together two amazing relays teams that helped fuel the fire at states, and a sixth-place finish in Class 3A.
Meghan DiMartile, Emma McCarthy, Molly Braun and Korinna Pesti comprised the gold-medal 200 medley relay, and DiMartile joined Maya Gondek, Pesti and Braun for the 400 free relay, which swam to ninth in the state.
Meghan DiMartile won her third straight state title for the Cardinals in the 100 back, a rare distinction.
It was another tremendous season for North Penn, including all-area picks Kaelan Daly (100 free), Maddie Fritz (100 breast) and Keira Allison (diving).
The 200 free relay foursome of Fritz, Charlotte Thamm, Kayla Stressman and Daly raced to the silver medal at PIAA’s.
It was a breakthrough season for Hatboro-Horsham, and its trio of standout swimmers, Vivi Vergara (200 free), Katherine Jia (200 IM) and Hannah Parker (500 free), all performers at states.
Maura Fluehr, headed to Penn State, won a pair of Class 2A state golds for Springfield Montco, including the 100 fly.
Ashley Gutshall of Spring-Ford was one of the fastest freestylers around, culminating her season in the 50 free with a trip to states and a sixth-place medal.
2021 All-Area Girls Swimming and Diving Team
200 medley relay: Upper Dublin (Meghan DiMartile, Emma McCarthy, Molly Braun, Korinna Pesti).
200 freestyle: Vivi Vergara, Hatboro-Horsham.
200 IM: Katherine Jia, Hatboro-Horsham.
Diving: Keira Allison, North Penn.
50 freestyle: Ashley Gutshall, Spring-Ford.
100 fly: Maura Fluehr, Springfield Montco.
200 free relay: North Penn (Maddie Fritz, Charlotte Thamm, Kayla Stressman, Kaelan Daly).
100 free: Kaelan Daly, North Penn.
500 free: Hannah Parker, Hatboro-Horsham.
100 back: Meghan DiMartile, Upper Dublin.
100 breast: Maddie Fritz, North Penn.
400 free relay: Upper Dublin (Meghan DiMartile, Maya Gondek, Korinna Pesti, Molly Braun).
