Shom
12-12-2009, 07:35 PM
Schuylkill League swimming preview
By leroy boyer (Staff Writer)
Published: December 11, 2009
Over the past decade, the Schuylkill League has made a name for itself in high school swimming.
Starting with Pottsville's Chris and Shelby Grabowski and Nativity's Trista Felty in the early part of the decade and continuing through the great careers of Lindsay Guers, Amanda Terray, Molly Leuschner, Allysa Vavra, Scott Thomas, Kristen Calderella, Kristen Shickora, Erin Pavlick, Amanda Sandlin, Sami Vavra and Kelly Purcell, the league has produced a bevy of talented swimmers and divers who have captured District 11 and PIAA gold medals, and several who have gone on to swim at NCAA Division I or II universities.
The influx of individual talent and their lofty accomplishments has attracted new swimmers and brought Schuylkill League swimming into the limelight.
The next step?
Parity in the team title chases.
In the early days of Schuylkill League swimming, the Pottsville boys and Tamaqua girls dominated the league's team races each season.
Over the past decade, however, the girls' champion has rotated among Pottsville, Blue Mountain and Panther Valley, while the Tamaqua boys ended Pottsville's string of 18 straight league titles and the Tide's 108-meet winning streak in 2007-08.
While the traditional powerhouse programs of Pottsville, Tamaqua and Blue Mountain have stayed strong, programs at Panther Valley and Mahanoy Area have blossomed and numbers continue to stay strong at Schuylkill Haven and Shamokin.
This year, the team races may be more balanced than ever before.
Pottsville, which regained the boys' crown last season, will be challenged by Tamaqua and Shamokin.
On the girls' side, defending champion Panther Valley, Pottsville, Tamaqua, Blue Mountain and Mahanoy Area will all be in the hunt before the season wraps up in February.
Here's a look at this season's team championship races, with some swimmers to watch in the postseason thrown in for good measure:
Boys
After seeing its 18-year reign as Schuylkill League boys' champion end in 2008, Pottsville returned to the top of the medals stand in 2009 by routing Tamaqua 113-72 and going undefeated in the rest of its league duals.
This year, the Crimson Tide are poised to retain the title. Ned Hampford's squad returns 10 letterwinners, including District 11 AA medal-winners Bryan Shipton, Drew Leahy and John Matulevich.
Other key returnees include senior Max Shirey (league runner-up in 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle) and juniors Barry Boran, Greg Merrick, E.J. Miller and Tyler Montgomery.
Shipton was the Schuylkill League champion and a fourth-place medalist at districts in the 50 freestyle. Matulevich, Leahy and Shipton won the league title and a district medal in the 200 medley relay, while Montgomery, Boran and Shirey were on the league-winning 400 freestyle relay team.
"Our first goal is to repeat as league champion," Hampford said. "That's going to be tough.
"Right now we're trying to find a home for some of our new kids. We have some new freshmen and a new sophomore, and we need to find spots in the lineup for them."
Hampering the Crimson Tide are water polo injuries to Bryan and Ryan Shipton and Miller, and the fact that senior Steve Kurtz, a member of Pottsville's league-winning 200 freestyle relay team, decided not to come out for the team this season.
With only 15 swimmers to begin with, the injuries open the door for Tamaqua and Shamokin to knock off the Crimson Tide.
The Blue Raiders return 13 letterwinners, including Schuylkill League diving champion Dane DeWire and experienced veterans Ricky Clemson, Ben Tuckett and Corey McCann. Tuckett was fourth at districts in the 100 backstroke.
Tamaqua has depth in the freestyle events, usually Pottsville's strong point. The two traditional powerhouses meet Jan. 7 at D.H.H. Lengel Natatorium in their annual showdown.
"Tamaqua brings back a lot of experienced kids," Hampford said. "They're well-coached. They have versatile kids, and they're always tough.
"In the league, that's the meet of the year. No question, that's the showdown."
Shamokin returns talented sophomore Kyle Koontz among seven letterwinners and a strong group of newcomers paced by freshman Dylan Bowers, the younger brother of Davey Bowers.
"Winning leagues, that's their goal," new Shamokin head coach Connie Boyer said. "If they improve, they'll have a shot at it. We have a young team, but they have the heart to do it. They're very, very excited."
Girls
Panther Valley had a magical season in 2008-09, rolling through its Schuylkill League slate unbeaten for the school's first league championship since 1978.
The Panthers return 13 letterwinners from that squad, including state qualifiers Karoline Vavra, Alexia Follweiller, Tricia Janowiak and Lauren Cormier.
After several seasons of success at the District 11 and state level, Panther Valley's first goal this season is to repeat as league champs.
"We're down in numbers, but we have some really strong returning swimmers," said Panther Valley coach Geri Vavra. "They have pretty lofty goals individually, but they know because it's happened to us how many times in the past ... every swimmer counts. Our backup swimmers have to be strong and they know they have to contribute this year for the wins to be there."
Looking to knock off the Panthers will be a group of teams that includes Pottsville, Tamaqua, Blue Mountain and Mahanoy Area.
Each squad returns at least one standout swimmer, and a couple feature several strong freshmen.
Hampering Panther Valley in its quest to repeat is the fact the Panthers travel to Pottsville, Tamaqua and Blue Mountain. Since the Panthers don't have diving, they'll be down 13 points before the meet even starts.
"I honestly believe it could be anybody this year," Vavra said. "Tamaqua is going to be strong, Pottsville is certainly going to be strong and Blue Mountain. It's up for grabs."
Mahanoy Area, which set school records with 11-1 overall and 7-1 league marks last year, returns nine letterwinners, led by senior Rachael Burke.
Tamaqua returns 12 letterwinners, led by Schuylkill League diving champion Katie Hummel.
Pottsville returns four talented senior swimmers in Kaley Ebling, Kimmy Barone, Jill Matz and Hannah Spece, and benefits from the addition of Lauren Brilla, a sophomore transfer from Blue Mountain.
Blue Mountain features the addition of several talented freshmen while Schuylkill Haven, Shamokin and Mount Carmel have strong numbers and will be competitive in dual meets, but lack the star swimmer who can win multiple events.
It all shapes up to be a balanced title chase, making every dual meet exciting and meaningful.
By leroy boyer (Staff Writer)
Published: December 11, 2009
Over the past decade, the Schuylkill League has made a name for itself in high school swimming.
Starting with Pottsville's Chris and Shelby Grabowski and Nativity's Trista Felty in the early part of the decade and continuing through the great careers of Lindsay Guers, Amanda Terray, Molly Leuschner, Allysa Vavra, Scott Thomas, Kristen Calderella, Kristen Shickora, Erin Pavlick, Amanda Sandlin, Sami Vavra and Kelly Purcell, the league has produced a bevy of talented swimmers and divers who have captured District 11 and PIAA gold medals, and several who have gone on to swim at NCAA Division I or II universities.
The influx of individual talent and their lofty accomplishments has attracted new swimmers and brought Schuylkill League swimming into the limelight.
The next step?
Parity in the team title chases.
In the early days of Schuylkill League swimming, the Pottsville boys and Tamaqua girls dominated the league's team races each season.
Over the past decade, however, the girls' champion has rotated among Pottsville, Blue Mountain and Panther Valley, while the Tamaqua boys ended Pottsville's string of 18 straight league titles and the Tide's 108-meet winning streak in 2007-08.
While the traditional powerhouse programs of Pottsville, Tamaqua and Blue Mountain have stayed strong, programs at Panther Valley and Mahanoy Area have blossomed and numbers continue to stay strong at Schuylkill Haven and Shamokin.
This year, the team races may be more balanced than ever before.
Pottsville, which regained the boys' crown last season, will be challenged by Tamaqua and Shamokin.
On the girls' side, defending champion Panther Valley, Pottsville, Tamaqua, Blue Mountain and Mahanoy Area will all be in the hunt before the season wraps up in February.
Here's a look at this season's team championship races, with some swimmers to watch in the postseason thrown in for good measure:
Boys
After seeing its 18-year reign as Schuylkill League boys' champion end in 2008, Pottsville returned to the top of the medals stand in 2009 by routing Tamaqua 113-72 and going undefeated in the rest of its league duals.
This year, the Crimson Tide are poised to retain the title. Ned Hampford's squad returns 10 letterwinners, including District 11 AA medal-winners Bryan Shipton, Drew Leahy and John Matulevich.
Other key returnees include senior Max Shirey (league runner-up in 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle) and juniors Barry Boran, Greg Merrick, E.J. Miller and Tyler Montgomery.
Shipton was the Schuylkill League champion and a fourth-place medalist at districts in the 50 freestyle. Matulevich, Leahy and Shipton won the league title and a district medal in the 200 medley relay, while Montgomery, Boran and Shirey were on the league-winning 400 freestyle relay team.
"Our first goal is to repeat as league champion," Hampford said. "That's going to be tough.
"Right now we're trying to find a home for some of our new kids. We have some new freshmen and a new sophomore, and we need to find spots in the lineup for them."
Hampering the Crimson Tide are water polo injuries to Bryan and Ryan Shipton and Miller, and the fact that senior Steve Kurtz, a member of Pottsville's league-winning 200 freestyle relay team, decided not to come out for the team this season.
With only 15 swimmers to begin with, the injuries open the door for Tamaqua and Shamokin to knock off the Crimson Tide.
The Blue Raiders return 13 letterwinners, including Schuylkill League diving champion Dane DeWire and experienced veterans Ricky Clemson, Ben Tuckett and Corey McCann. Tuckett was fourth at districts in the 100 backstroke.
Tamaqua has depth in the freestyle events, usually Pottsville's strong point. The two traditional powerhouses meet Jan. 7 at D.H.H. Lengel Natatorium in their annual showdown.
"Tamaqua brings back a lot of experienced kids," Hampford said. "They're well-coached. They have versatile kids, and they're always tough.
"In the league, that's the meet of the year. No question, that's the showdown."
Shamokin returns talented sophomore Kyle Koontz among seven letterwinners and a strong group of newcomers paced by freshman Dylan Bowers, the younger brother of Davey Bowers.
"Winning leagues, that's their goal," new Shamokin head coach Connie Boyer said. "If they improve, they'll have a shot at it. We have a young team, but they have the heart to do it. They're very, very excited."
Girls
Panther Valley had a magical season in 2008-09, rolling through its Schuylkill League slate unbeaten for the school's first league championship since 1978.
The Panthers return 13 letterwinners from that squad, including state qualifiers Karoline Vavra, Alexia Follweiller, Tricia Janowiak and Lauren Cormier.
After several seasons of success at the District 11 and state level, Panther Valley's first goal this season is to repeat as league champs.
"We're down in numbers, but we have some really strong returning swimmers," said Panther Valley coach Geri Vavra. "They have pretty lofty goals individually, but they know because it's happened to us how many times in the past ... every swimmer counts. Our backup swimmers have to be strong and they know they have to contribute this year for the wins to be there."
Looking to knock off the Panthers will be a group of teams that includes Pottsville, Tamaqua, Blue Mountain and Mahanoy Area.
Each squad returns at least one standout swimmer, and a couple feature several strong freshmen.
Hampering Panther Valley in its quest to repeat is the fact the Panthers travel to Pottsville, Tamaqua and Blue Mountain. Since the Panthers don't have diving, they'll be down 13 points before the meet even starts.
"I honestly believe it could be anybody this year," Vavra said. "Tamaqua is going to be strong, Pottsville is certainly going to be strong and Blue Mountain. It's up for grabs."
Mahanoy Area, which set school records with 11-1 overall and 7-1 league marks last year, returns nine letterwinners, led by senior Rachael Burke.
Tamaqua returns 12 letterwinners, led by Schuylkill League diving champion Katie Hummel.
Pottsville returns four talented senior swimmers in Kaley Ebling, Kimmy Barone, Jill Matz and Hannah Spece, and benefits from the addition of Lauren Brilla, a sophomore transfer from Blue Mountain.
Blue Mountain features the addition of several talented freshmen while Schuylkill Haven, Shamokin and Mount Carmel have strong numbers and will be competitive in dual meets, but lack the star swimmer who can win multiple events.
It all shapes up to be a balanced title chase, making every dual meet exciting and meaningful.