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Saturday, March 9, 2024, TRIB-LIVE
Fox Chapel swim coach Matt Mauclair enjoyed watching Sarah Pasquella turn in a big performance during the WPIAL Class 3A swimming championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool.
Pasquella, a Pitt commit, shattered a 29-year-old school record by winning the 200 free in 1 minute, 51.08 seconds.
“You can tell she swam there before,” Mauclair said. “She rose ot the challenge of the playing field and met the challenges and expectations the crowd had for her.”
Pasquella also finished second in the 100 breaststroke at 1:03.65 and helped Fox Chapel defend its title in the 400 free relay. The Foxes swam the race in 3:29.42. Pasquella was the only member of the relay team returning from last year.
Joining her were fellow junior Grace Kovach and freshmen Charlotte Rusche and Josephine Stanczak.
Pasquella was confident she could win the 200 free.
“I went into it feeling confident, and I just told myself that I was going to do my best and think about all the hard work I put in to have the chance to win a title,” Pasquella told Trib HSSN after the race. “I trusted myself and my coaches for getting me here. I also got the team record, which I am super excited about.”
Fox Chapel’s girls team finished second overall behind North Allegheny. On the boys side, Foxes junior Owen Howell won the 200 IM with a school record time of 1:52.38. Christian Dante placed second in the boys’ 200 free.
“Owen has been locked in,” Mauclair said. “He’s a student of the game. He knows how to move through the water efficiently. He knows when to say when and can rest when he needs to.”
Fox Chapel’s boys team placed eighth in the team standings. Five Foxes boys swimmers qualified for the PIAA championships: Howell, Arman Alborzi, Jackson Hagler, Henry Koloc and Dante.
On the girls side, Margaret Rusche, Cam Brindza, Josie Stanczak, Bella Marcos, Charlotte Rusche, CJ Smith, Grace Kovach and Pasquella qualified for states.
Mauclair has been proud of his team’s results this season.
“One of the things that we always go over is reflection,” Mauclair said. “After WPIALs, we asked everyone to reflect on what people brought and about the teams who supported us. Not just their teammate but parents, coaches, friends and anyone else who helped out.”