The Foxes swimming and diving season wrapped up at the PIAA 3A championships, during which swimmers and divers collected numerous medals, set school records, and swam times they might not have thought possible.
Sarah Pasquella brought home a silver medal in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:01.80, only 0.32 seconds away from a gold medal. That went to North Allegheny’s Natalie Sens, who broke a 10-year-old WPIAL record in that event. Still, Sarah walked away as an All-American in the 100 breaststroke, broke several school records earlier in the season, and qualified for the summer nationals. She also was only 0.01 away from making the cut for the U.S. Open, an elite swimming championship meet that draws qualifying domestic and international swimmers.
Additionally, the junior scored a bronze medal in the individual 200 freestyle with a personal best time of 1:49.91 and climbed the winners’ podium with her teammates in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay. The 200 free team placed third, with the latter event picking up fifth place. Both relays were composed of Sarah, freshmen Josie Stanczak and Charlotte Rusche, and junior Grace Kovach.
Other medalists included Christian Dantey, who swam his fastest ever in all of his events. He came in fourth in the individual 200 free and sixth in the 100 breaststroke. Owen Howell also earned a medal with his fifth-place finish in the 200 IM. Jackson Hagler had a magnificent day at the diving finals and earned a bronze medal, up five places from his sophomore year from last season.
New school records were set at states by Sarah (50 free and 200 free) and Christian (100 free and 100 breaststroke).
Also notable were Sarah and Christian’s citing by the PIAA as two of the top-20 swimmers in the state, 8th and 20th, respectively.
Overall, the girls team claimed sixth place and the boys finished 11th.
Coach Matt Mauclair has said several times throughout the season that if this group of swimmers seems talented, especially some of the freshmen who qualified for states, then “just wait until you see what’s coming up next.”
Good stuff to be proud of this year and, apparently, even better things are to come next season.