Clinching their fifth consecutive undefeated WPIAL Class 3A championship title was an impressive accomplishment for the Foxes girls swimming team. Yet, since the end of last season, the swimmers set their sights on a vastly larger goal – they want to become the new WPIAL team champions. It’s a long shot, but it’s been their dream for a while, so the group collectively set that as their primary objective for the 2023-2024 season.
The girls’ optimism is based upon a standard in which every girl must bring her A-game to the regional meet, whether that’s in the water or cheering from the pool deck. The swimmers did get a shot of confidence during the regular season in January when the Foxes finished a mere four points behind perennial powerhouse North Allegheny, the current team champions.
Their divers contributed a good number of the Tigers’ points that day, but the Foxes have a solid core of competitive divers this season. They include junior Ainsley Anderson, who is close to breaking the Fox Chapel Area girls’ diving scoring record, and fellow juniors Elle Dering and Noelle Dick.
The Foxes will bring a contingent of 13 girls swimmers to the championships, led by junior and University of Pittsburgh recruit Sarah Pasquella. She’ll be surrounded by the team’s other experienced swimmers and an infusion of six talented freshmen, all of whom qualified for the regional meet. Some of the newcomers are seeded in the top five and higher in their respective events.
Setting the Standard
Setting more school and pool records this season might have been hard to imagine after the past four years, during which some of the school’s most outstanding female swimmers shredded record after record. However, Sarah, a 2022-2023 National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) All-American, made sure the streak continued. A freestyle and breaststroke expert, Sarah set three new pool records this season. Two were in the 100 breaststroke – one at home and the other at Upper St. Clair (1.03.33) – and the other record was at Seneca Valley in the 200 freestyle (1:52.06) Her times in those events make her the WPIAL’s top-ranked swimmer in both events.
In all, Sarah qualified in seven out of eight individual events this year, not including relays, but due to limitations set by the WPIAL, she will end up competing in the 100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, and the 400 freestyle relay. Sarah finished third last year in the championships in both the 50 free and 100 breaststroke, and also was a member of the 400 freestyle relay that brought home the gold medal and the 200 medley relay team that placed second. She advanced to the PIAA meet in all events.
Plenty of Achievers
Fellow juniors Grace Kovach and Margaret Rusche are also expected to contribute to the team’s standing.
Grace, described by head coach Matt Mauclair as “intensely focused and possessing phenomenal drive,” has qualified for WPIALs in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, and 400 freestyle relay. She says there were many unknowns at the beginning of the season but believes the team has come a long way since then.
“Our team has had many new additions this year, but the leadership of our coaches and our closeness as a team is allowing us to have one of our most successful seasons,” says Grace, whose freshman sister, Norah, has qualified in the 50 free. “We have so many talented swimmers in every event, which has really contributed to the success of our season so far.”
The Rusche sisters, Margaret and freshman Charlotte, add a double punch.
Margaret, a butterfly specialist, earned a bronze medal last year in the 100 fly, and swam in three other events. This season, she will compete in the 100 fly, 100 backstroke, and as a member of the 200 medley team.
She says North Allegheny always brings a huge contingent to the championships, which is how the Tigers typically rank above the Foxes. Margaret says, “The thing with North Allegheny is that they will max out (number of swimmers participating in each event) because they always have a lot of depth. But I still think we can do it. We have a lot of swimmers who can score points for us, too. We’re so motivated, and the whole team is pushing for that. We have a great team dynamic, and the leadership from the seniors and upperclassmen has been great. We also have a very strong, energetic class of freshmen who are practicing hard.”
Freshmen and Experienced Swimmers
Charlotte Rusche qualified in seven out of eight solo events and is currently ranked second in the 500 free, while Josie Stanczak had her choice of swimming in six individual events. Cameryn Brindza, Norah Kovach, Elizabeth Datt, and Sarah Huang also met qualifying times.
The team also will depend upon its experienced swimmers, including senior co-captains Nora Siri and Claudia “CJ” Smith (a Chapman College recruit), Isabella Marcos (a Providence College recruit), and Gloria Wen.
Those athletes who are interested in reaching elite levels have put in their time and then some. They attend practices at least once daily and swim with their club teams afterward. They participate in dry land workouts and then optional weekend tests of steel that include climbing more than 700 steps at Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning. After that intense leg and aerobic workout, the not-so-faint-at-heart then attend a specialized and more personalized optional practice led by Foxes assistant coach and technique expert Cindy Woods.
Sarah believes the workouts with Coach Woods have been particularly productive.
“I have been focusing on my turns, pullouts, and starts, and, of course, implementing those skills in sprint work during practices,” Sarah says. “I’m always looking for something to improve. There’s definitely progress that has been made. Last high school season, my best 100 breaststroke time before WPIALs was in the 1:05 range, and this year it is in the 1:03 range.”
Winners No Matter What
Coach Mauclair says, “Our girls are getting better every day. Winning the team championship is within reach if they can keep it together and if everyone gives their top effort. We are so proud of each member of this team and how they juggle mental strength, physical training, stress management, school, and life expectations, all while going after this elusive title.”
In the end, this dream means much more to the swimmers than just bringing home a gold medal. It is about the process of yearslong hard work, the grit that got them through the toughest of workouts, teamwork, and the unwavering support they have for each other.
WPIAL Lineups
(WPIAL regulations only allow swimmers to participate in two individual and two relay races, or three individual and one relay race)
200 Medley Relay: Cameryn Brindza, Isabella Marcos, Margaret Rusche, and CJ Smith
200 Freestyle: Sarah Pasquella, Charlotte Rusche, and Sarah Huang
200 IM: CJ Smith, Isabella Marcos, Cameryn Brindza
100 Butterfly: Margaret Rusche
100 Free: Grace Kovach, Josie Stanczak, Gloria Wen
500 Free: Charlotte Rusche, Sarah Huang, Nora Siri
200 Free Relay: Sarah Pasquella, Charlotte Rusche, Josie Stanczak, and Grace Kovach
100 Backstroke: Margaret Rusche, Cameryn Brindza
100 Breaststroke: Sarah Pasquella, Isabella Marcus, CJ Smith, and Elizabeth Datt
400 Freestyle Relay: Josie Stanczak, Charlotte Rusche, Grace Kovach, and Sarah Pasquella
50 Free: Josie Stanczak, Gloria Wen, Grace Kovach, Norah Kovach
Editor’s note: The WPIAL diving championships were held February 23 and 24 at North Allegheny High School. Juniors Ainsley Anderson placed 7th at the WPIAL championships, Noelle Dick placed 11th, and Ellie Dering placed 18th.