With the 2024 WPIAL Class 3A swimming and diving championships now just a memory, the only thing on
the athletes’ minds is leaving their mark at Bucknell University, where the state championships will be held
March 13 and 14. They will be riding on the strength of their performances at the regional competition,
which reaped three gold, three silver, and four bronze medals, along with a contingent of others qualifiers,
including a handful of freshmen.
The Foxes two individual gold medalists were Sarah Pasquella (200 freestyle) and Owen Howell (200 IM) and
silver medalists were Sarah (100 breaststroke), Christian Dantey (200 Freestyle), and diver Jackson Hagler.
Bronze medalists were Grace Kovach (100 freestyle), Charlotte Rusche (200 & 500 freestyle), and Christian
Dantey (100 breaststroke).
Overall, almost every swimmer either broke a school record and/or had impressive drops in personal best
times.
Diving coach Vernon Yenick says Jackson has greatly improved and believes he can land higher than his
eighth-place finish last year if he hits his dives.
“His list of dives consists of mostly new dives in the pike position, and he has a much higher degree of
difficulty, which you want to have in order to score higher,” coach Yenick says. “He has improved a great deal
this year by working on his form and position when taking off from the board.”
In the team relays, the girls 400 free relay grabbed first place for the third consecutive year and the 200 free
relay won a silver medal. Sarah Pasquella was the leadoff in the 200 free relay and her leadoff split time broke
the school’s 50-yard record with a time of 23.69.
“Immediately after swimming that first leg in the 200 free relay, I was so focused on cheering on our relay
team that I did not realize I broke the record,” she says. “My coaches brought it up to me after the race. It’s
always exciting to break a team record.”
Going into the PIAA championships, the Foxes have two swimmers ranked second in the state, Christian in
the 200 free and Owen in the 200 IM. The girls 200 and 400 freestyle relays are seeded third.
Four-Medal Winners
Sarah led the pace at WPIALs with four medals, including a gold in the 200 free and another one as part of
the 400 free relay with teammates Josie Stanczak, Charlotte Rusche, and Grace Kovach. Grace and Charlotte
also each won four medals.
Of her win in the individual event, Sarah says, “I am always thinking about the next step, so even though my
time was good, and I felt the gratification of winning, I was already thinking about what I could do to make it
faster.”
Sarah says she never imagined being in this position when she first started high school swimming as a
freshman.
“I was a late bloomer in terms of swimming,” says the current junior. “I grew very tall, very quickly, meaning
I was kind of uncoordinated. My coaches, however, always believed in me and could see a future in swimming
for me. I am super excited about my progress and have much more potential to uncover.”
Sarah heads to states ranked fourth in her two individual races, the 200 free and the 100 breaststroke. She
didn’t reach her goal in the breaststroke at WPIALS, in which she was slated as the top swimmer in the event.
She finished second and knows what she needs to work on.
Sarah says, “it was a learning experience for me to see what I have to work on during training and I have
discussed it with my coaches to identify room for improvement.”
Owen and Christian Lead Boys Swimmers
Owen Howell’s time of 1.52.38 in the 200 IM set a new school record.
“My goal for my 200 IM was actually 1:50-1:51,” Owen says of his target time for the regional championships.
“Of course, I was still very happy since it was a huge drop, but I’m hoping to shave off another second or so
at states. Being seated second for states is awesome and surprising! But it just makes me even more confident
that I can swim fast and have a great race.
“I really focused on underwaters and improving my backstroke. Since backstroke was the weakest leg of my
IM, I knew I had to make the most improvements in that, so I did. I usually have a very strong back half of
my IM, so I knew if I was close to everyone else on the back to breast turn, I would have the confidence to
be able to win.”
Owen also will step on the block as part of the boys 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Christian Dantey had a photo finish in the 200 freestyle at WPIALs, but things didn’t go his way that day. He
has a second chance at states and has been working hard on what he needs to do to cut his time even further.
“There is a lot to improve in that race for me,” says Christian. “I need to train more to come out in the first
50 yards a whole second faster. Even though it’s nice to see the high ranking, I know everyone in the top 12 is
capable of placing high.”
For Christian, the chance to compete at states is more of a déjà vu rather than jumping into the unknown.
The three top-ranked swimmers in the 200 freestyle are the exact same racers that finished 1-2-3 at WPIALs.
Like teammate Owen, Christian is a member of the boys 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Below is the entire list of state qualifiers.
Boys
- 200 Yard Freestyle: Christian Dantey (team record – 1:39.45)
- 200 Yard IM: Owen Howell (team record – 1:52.38) and Henry Koloc
- 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Henry Koloc, Arman Alborzi, Owen Howell, and Christian Dantey (team record –
1:28.02) - 100 Yard Breaststroke: Christian Dantey and Owen Howell
- 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: Arman Alborzi, Henry Koloc, Owen Howell, Christian Dantey
Diving: Jackson Hagler
Girls
- Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay: Cameryn Brindza, Isabella Marcos, Margaret Rusche, and Claudia “CJ” Smith
- Girls 200 Yard Freestyle: Sarah Pasquella (team record 1:51.08) and Charlotte Rusche
- Girls 50 Yard Freestyle: Grace Kovach and Josie Stanczak (Sarah Pasquella – team record 23.69 – as leadoff in
200 free relay) - Girls 100 Yard Butterfly: Margaret Rusche
- Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Sarah Pasquella, Charlotte Rusche, Josie Stanczak, and Grace Kovach (team
record – 1:35.57) - Girls 100 Yard Freestyle: Grace Kovach
- Girls 500 Yard Freestyle: Charlotte Rusche
- Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke: Sarah Pasquella and Isabella Marcos
- Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: Josie Stanczak, Charlotte Rusche, Grace Kovach, and Sarah Pasquella