The Foxes swimming and diving teams capped off their 2024-2025 season with some hard-fought performances at the PIAA championships, but it was senior Sarah Pasquella who stole the show with her gold-medal performance in the 200 yard freestyle (1:48.84).
After years of dedication and coming close to the top without quite reaching her state goals, Sarah’s dream-come-true victory was a testament to her perseverance. She also credits the team’s preparation and attention to detail in the weeks leading up to states – pacing, starts, and turns – as essential for shaving off times.
Sarah competed in another individual event, the 100 breaststroke, and had hoped to add another gold to her collection, but finished fifth.
Despite that, she was pleased with her own and her team’s performance and especially cherished competing one last time alongside her teammates in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Joining Sarah on the relay teams were senior Grace Kovach, a Franklin & Marshall College recruit, and sophomores Josie Stanczak and Charlotte Rusche. Both relay teams finished fourth at the PIAA championships.
“I’m endlessly proud of all of my teammates for making my last high school season so memorable,” says Sarah, who leaves the program holding five school records. “They are all such hard workers in and out of the pool, and it really shows in our results. It has been so much fun to compete on a relay team with these hardworking girls.”
As a team, the girls had an impressive finish. They ranked sixth out of nearly 90 teams and were second among all WPIAL squads.
Boys Team Also Makes a Mark
The Foxes boys team also had several swimmers earning spots on the winner’s podium:
• Senior Christian Dantey, who is headed to Georgetown University next season, was sixth in the 200 yard
freestyle.
Emory University-bound senior Owen Howell finished sixth in the 200 yard individual medley and eighth in
the 100 yard breaststroke.