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Swimmers set sights on districts

By Scott Franco

sfranco@altoonamirror.com

When the District 6 Class 3A and 2A Swimming and Diving Championships get under way today at Penn State University, there will be several area swimmers from the Mirror coverage area who will have their sights set on a trip to states.

In particlar, there are the Huntingdon Bearcats, in the 2A field, who have four swimmers who tasted the state competition last year at Bucknell University — Ben Atherton, Matias Berger, Andrew Edwards and Haley Goldstone.

The boys are seeded first in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay. Atherton is seeded second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 backstroke. Nick Buckley is part of the 200 and 400 teams. Goldstone is seeded first in the 50 freestyle. The girls 200 medley relay team of Mallory Woodward, Sydney Houck, Jaelyn Mitchell and Sarah Hoover are seeded third. Houck is seeded third in the 200 IM while Buckley is seeded second in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle.

“They are excited and ready to go,” Huntingdon coach Mel Varner said. “The three that went last year are ready to go back and Nick is anxious to go back with them and take part in it. Haley has been dealing with knee problems throughout this year. She is motivated, but how she does depends on how her knee holds up.”

Hollidaysburg, a 3A team, did not get anyone to states a year ago, but coach Deb Solomon likes her team’s chances this year, thanks to the likes of Shani Evans and Conor McKeirnan.

Evans is seeded first in the 100 breaststroke and No. 2 in the100 freestyle while McKeirnan is seeded first in the 200 freestyle and second in the 100 freestyle. Teammate Allison Black is seeded third in the 100 backstroke.

“We are really excited about our seeds,” Solomon said. “Our kids have been working hard to fill those seedings. They have swum in competitive arenas in the past so I think they will step up and swim well.”

Also receiving top 3 seedings are the boys 200 medley relay team (McKeirnan, Gabe Paul, Will Tyndall, Nick Helsel) and the 200 freestyle relay (Seth Lowey, Robert Burns, James Roberts, Dane Holtz), the girls 200 medley relay team (Black, Evans, Shannon Campbell, Taylor Hileman), the 200 freestyle relay team (Evans, Campbell, Hileman, Megan Dinges), and the 400 freestyle relay team (Helsel, Holtz, Tyndall and McKeirnan).

Cambria Heights, a 2A school, has some very high seeds on its girls team. The 400 relay team of Sara Snyder, McKenzie Watt, Morgan Watt and Maddi Dzurko are the top seed.

“We have high hopes for our 400 freestyle relay team,” Heights coach Paige Pecora said. “They are nervous but in all the best ways. It gives the girls a lot of confidence. They have worked hard to drop their time down.”

Dzurko is seeded third in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle. Teammate Sarah Petry is third in the 100 backstroke.

Central High School, a 2A school, does not have a swim team, but does have two swimmers there as independents and they both are highly seeded. Christopher Bush is the No. 1 seed in the boys 200 IM, and he is also the No. 2 seed in the 100 breaststroke. Jackson Jeffries, a freshman, is the No. 2 seed in the 100 freestyle.

Altoona does not have any top three seeded swimmers, but coach Andy Smearman still feels that among his group of 18 headed to University Park, there are a few in contention for a shot.

“Rusty Focht is seeded fourth in the 100 breaststroke and Blake Slobodnik is just right outside the top six in both of his events (200 and 500 freestyle),” Smearman said. “Anastasia Slobodnik is near the top six and has our best shot in both of her events (200 IM, 100 free).”

Central Cambria, in the 2A field, has 21 swimmers heading to districts, and though none are top three seeds, first-year coach Amy Haycisak still has a positive outlook for her club.

“I expect them all to place well and I expect them to go in there and exceed where they are seeded,” she said. “Our boys 400 freestyle relay team is seeded fourth (Logan Prokop, Ty McBreen, Quintin Helsel, Isaac Haycisak) so they have the potential to be on the podium.”

Tyrone, also in the 2A field, has several swimmers with top 3 seedings. On the girls side, Madison Coleman is No. 1 in the 100 freestyle and No. 2 in the 50 freestyle. Fionna McConnell is a No. 3 seed in the 100 breaststroke. In the relays, McConnell, Coleman, Mae Decker and Sarah Hoover are a 2 seed (200 medley relay),

On the boys side, Tyrone’s Jacob Decker is the No. 1 seed in the 100 backstroke. Matt Lenze is the No. 3 seed in the 100 breaststroke. Decker, Lenze, Carter Maceno and Bryce Bauer are a 2 seed (200 medley relay) while Decker, Bauer, Nick Delbaggio and Hunter Grigg are a 3 seed (400 freestyle relay).

CENTRAL CAMBRIA

Girls

Chelsey Novitski, 50 freestyle; 100 backstroke (200 medley relay, 200 free relay);; Grace Gerlach, 200 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; 200 medley relay, 400 free relay; Sydney Forcellini, 200 medley relay; 100 butterfly; 500 freestyle; Monica Breth, 200 free relay; Erin Frank, 200 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay;Katie Harrison, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Danika Polka, 100 butterfly; 400 free relay; Caitlin Cochran, 100 backstroke; Anna Dill, 100 breaststroke

Boys

Michael Surma, 200 medley relay; 100 backstroke; Nathan Kuntz, 200 medley relay; 200 IM; 100 breaststroke; Isaac Haycisak, 200 medley relay; 100 butterfly; 400 free relay; Tyler Wilson, 200 medley relay; Quintin Helsel, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Michael McCloskey, 200 freestyle; Ty McBreen, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Logan Prokop, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Sam Swope, 50 freestyle; 200 free relay; Seth Farabaugh, 100 breaststroke; Ryan Trostle, 200 IM; Brandon Dick, 100 butterfly

ALTOONA

Girls

Julianna Kratzer, 100 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; Anastasia Slobodnik, 200 IM; 100 freestyle; Brittany Fouse, 200 freestyle; 100 backstroke; Christina Brunnette, 200 freestyle; Iris Kauffman, 200 IM, 100 butterfly; Kayla Rosas, 50 freestyle; 100 butterfly; Sianna Hatch, 100 freestyle; Elizabeth Manley, 100 backstroke; Sarah Harmon, 100 breaststroke; Faith Milliron, 200 medley relay

Boys

Dylan Kratzer, 200 freestyle; 100 backstroke; Blake Slobodnik, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; Sergio Slobodnik, 100 breaststroke; Jared Mearkle, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; Rusty Focht, 100 butterfly; 100 breaststroke; Zion Weaver, 100 butterfly; Dan McCoy, 100 breaststroke; Rylan Bailor, 50 freestyle

HUNTINGDON

Girls

Maddie Buckley, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; 200 free relay; Katie Freeberg, 500 freestyle; 200 free relay; 100 breaststroke; Haley Goldstone, 200 medley relay; 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 400 free relay; Sydney Houck, 200 medley relay; 200 IM; 100 breaststroke; 400 free relay; Zane Kazmarski, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; Maddie Langenbach, 100 butterfly; 200 free relay; 100 backstroke; Jaelyn Mitchell, 200 medley relay; 200 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 400 free relay; Savannah Swartz, 50 freestyle; 100 butterfly; 200 free relay; Mallory Woodward, 200 medley relay; 200 IM; 100 backstroke; 400 free relay

Boys

Ben Atherton, 200 freestyle; 200 free relay; 100 back; 400 free relay; Jacob Atherton, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; Luke Atherton, 200 medley relay; 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; Matias Berger, 200 IM; 100 butterfly; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Nick Buckley, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Andrew Edwards, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Julian Groenendaal, 200 medley relay; 200 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; Colby Grubb, 200 medley relay; 200 IM; 100 butterfly; Max Hosler, 100 backstroke; Camden Knode, 100 butterfly; Marshall Lowe, 200 medley relay; 200 freestyle; 100 backstroke; Jake Tanner, 100 breaststroke

HOLLIDAYSBURG

Girls

Allison Black, 200 IM; 100 backstroke; Shannon Campbell, 100 butterfly; 500 freestyle; Megan Dinges, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; Lilly Evans, 200 IM; 500 freestyle; Shani Evans, 100 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; Taylor Hileman, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; Averie Holtz, 50 freestyle; Aggie Hoover, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; Lauren Imler, 100 breaststroke; Mia LeCrone, 100 butterfly; Emma McCall, 100 backstroke; Claire Saurland, 50 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; Kara Vyborny, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle

Boys

Joe Black, 100 butterfly; Aidan Bouchard, 500 freestyle; 100 backstroke; Carson Bryan, 50 freestyle; Bob Burns, 50 freestyle; 100 backstroke; Zach Grabill, 100 IM; 100 breaststroke; Parker Grigg, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; Nick Helsel, 200 freestyle; 500 freestyle; Dane Holtz, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle; Seth Lowey, 50 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; Conor McKeirnan, 200 freestyle; 100 freestyle; Gage Paul, 100 butterfly; 100 breaststroke; James Roberts, 200 IM; 100 butterfly; Will Tyndall, 100 butterfly; 100 free

CAMBRIA HEIGHTS

Girls

Maddi Dzurko, 100 freestyle; 100 butterfly, 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Sarah Petry, 200 freestyle; 100 backstroke, 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Morgan Watt, 50 freestyle; 100 freestyle, 200 free relay; 400 free relay; McKenzie Watt, 100 butterfly; 200 IM, 200 free relay; 400 free relay; Sara Snyder, 100 breaststroke; 50 freestyle

Boys

Neil Sutton, 50 freestyle; 200 freestyle; Adam Bobak, 100 freestyle; 100 breaststroke; Blaze McCombie, 100 backstroke; 50 freestyle; Logan Michina, 100 backstroke; 50 freestyle

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