2022-23 Mercury Boys Swimming Team-By-Team Previews

Boyertown

Head coach: Hannah Scheiry, 2nd season

Last year’s record: 2-8 PAC and overall

Swimmers to watch: Harry Tye (500 free, 200 IM), Sebastian Emrick (200 IM)

Outlook: “Our outlook as a team is just to continue sharing the love of the sport and positivity,” Scheiry said.

Daniel Boone

Head coach: Amy Demberger, 2nd season

Last year’s record: 1-6 Central Penn League and overall

Swimmers to watch: Matt Ferenz, Tyler Ferenz, Nick Antolis, Austin Snavely

Outlook: Matt Ferenz has won the 50 free twice, the 500 free twice and the 200 free and 100 back once each in Boone’s first three meets.

“We’re a small team this season,” Demberger said. “Last year we had 11 graduating seniors. This year we are looking to improve all our best times from last season and hopefully send more swimmers to districts.”

Hill School

Head coach: Jay Spencer, 9th season

Last year’s record: 0-2, MAPL, 2-4 overall

Swimmers to watch: Shunji Lewandowski , Jr., (200 IM, 100 breast, sprints, relays, co-captain); Tom Leggett, Sr. (will play water polo at the Naval Academy, sprinter); Tucker Brown, So. (diver); Luke Schafer, Fr., (100 fly)

Outlook: The Blues are deeper than last year and expect to be strong in sprint freestyle and relays.

“The addition of no less than seven fast new boys to our already strong contingent of returning swimmers will be a great combination to watch,” Spencer said. “Our relays should be particularly fast this year, as we have several sprint specialists. Our divers are not as experienced as the ones we graduated, but they have great promise. We look forward to a first half of the season on the road followed by our last three meets at home. We stand to do well at the Mid-Atlantic Prep League Championship and Easterns. Peddie and Mercersburg may not need to be worried about us taking over the league yet, but we will give them a run for their money in some of the events.”

Methacton

Head coach: Sarah Stevens, 5th season

Last year’s record: 7-3 PAC, 7-4 overall

Swimmers to watch: Christopher Groff, Sr. (7th in state in 100 back, state qualifier in 200 free, member of state qualifier medley relay team); Christian Lebold, Jr. (district qualifier in 200 and 500 free, member of state qualifier medley relay team); John Du, Jr. (fly); Eric Zang, Jr. (sprint free, member of state qualifier medley relay team); Jake Kallal, Jr. (distance free); Jack Dowell, Jr. (fly, breast)

Outlook: “We lost two of our leading seniors, Tommy Gibbs and Dylan Phan, due to graduating high school last year,” said Stevens. “This year we have a strong upper class who will lead the way with our newer swimmers. However, our depth will be tested this year. In order to maintain the record we have had in previous years, the boys will need to work together to achieve great strides. New freshmen to watch are Lucah Petriello (breast), Will VanBuskirk (breast, fly), Jack DePiano (fly, free), Troy Fink (back, free) and Ethan Tse (breast).”

Owen J. Roberts

Head coach: Kevin Bott, 23rd season

Last year’s record: 10-0 PAC and overall

Swimmers to watch: Logan Richards, Sr., (free); Eskander Bierman, Sr., (fly); Mark Flewelling, Sr., (fly, IM); Nate Kulp, Jr. (back, free); Jude Moes, Jr. (breast, IM); Colin Davis, So. (free); Tyler Larson, So. (diving); Ethan Suessmuth, So. (IM)
Outlook: Richards won the District 1 500 free (setting a district record) and 200 free, won a gold medal in states in the 500 free and placed sixth in the 200 free.

Seven district qualifiers return.

“The boys team returns several athletes from last year’s team,” Bott said. “So far, they have been working hard, and they realize the key to their success will result from their ability to remain focused. The upperclassmen have done a nice job engaging with the younger athletes at practice, and we look forward to positive progressions throughout the year.”

Coaching staff also includes Colin Bauer (1st year), Lindsay Staufenberg (6th year), Rebekah Elliott (11th year, diving).

Perkiomen Valley

Head coach: Mitchell Zackowski, 6th season

Last year’s record: 4-3 PAC and overall

Swimmers to watch: Eric Schilling, Sr. (team captain, free); Nicolas Hernandez, Sr. (fly); Owen Miller, Sr. (free); Justin Reyes, Sr. (sprints)

Outlook: Vikings graduated Jacob Replogle, who finished second in the state in the 200 free and third in the 500 free.

“With 13 new freshman on the team, many with a few years of competitive swimming experience, we are looking forward to a building year,” Zackowski said. “We will rely heavily on our juniors and seniors to help guide and teach our young swimmers the ropes. We are looking forward to another exciting season with many swimmers looking ahead to districts and even states.”

Phoenixville

Head coach: Dan Weinstein, 11th season

Last year’s record: 4-6 PAC and overall

Swimmers to watch: Joel Smith, Sr. (fly, free); Nick Darragh, So. (free, back); Grady Reiman, So. (free, breast); Kyle Padilla (free); Flynn Roulstone, Fr. (free, back)

Outlook: Phantoms graduated district qualifiers Paul Florio (200 IM) and Edmonds Doberenz (diving).

Pope John Paul II

Head coach: Emily Thomas, 6th season

Last year’s record: 3-6 PAC and overall

Swimmers to watch: Henry Phillips, Sr. (2nd in district and 8th in state in Class 2-A 200 free, 1st in district and 7th in state in 500 free, team captain); Aidan Maiale, Jr.; Nate DeMedio, Jr.; Kevin Bleam, Jr.; Michael Fiore, Jr.

Outlook: “Continuing to grow the program, looking to better our district appearances from last year with more individuals and relays making it,” Thomas said concerning the team’s goals. “Looking to better our records from last season.”

Pottsgrove

Head coach: Alex Diehl, 8th season

Last year’s record: 0-8-1 PAC, 1-8-1 overall

Swimmers to watch: Declan Keener, Sr.

Outlook: Jack Hughes is in his fourth season as assistant coach for the Falcons.

Spring-Ford

Head coach: Jack Graham, 2nd season

Last year’s record: 9-1 PAC and overall

Swimmers to watch: Owen Burry, Sr. (distance free), Cameron Wilson, Sr. (IM, breast); Patrick Baganski, Jr. (district qualifier free, back), Kyle Kruppa, Jr. (free); Keegan Pence, Jr. (free); Shaun Drover, Jr. (free, back); Blaise Sadowski, So., (district qualfier IM, breast); Nate Reagan, So. (distance free); Dylan Dayrit, So. (fly, free)

Outlook: “We had a few key losses to graduation last year,” Graham said. “We have a big freshmen class that will add to our depth. We hope to get all three relays to districts and are shooting for a relay to states as well as getting some of our district qualifiers to states.”

Upper Perkiomen

Head coach: Brien Kalnoski, 10th season

Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC,6-5 overall

Swimmers to watch: Eric Harter, Sr. (200 free, 500 free, 100 breast); Nolan McCloskey, So. (200 free, 500 free, 100 back)

Outlook: “We have a small boys team, but have depth of quality,” Kalnoski said. “We should be competitive in individual races during dual meets. Also, look to get as many qualified to the District I-2A meet this year.”