Abington Heights girls win District 2 AAA title, boys grab second in AA

Two days after winning an elusive District 2 Class AAA championship, Abington Heights swimmers Emma Gromelski and Vanessa Lempicky were still hoarse.

Not surprising as the girls cheered and supported their team to a it’s first title in at least a decade and the boys team to a second place finish in the District 2 Class AA championship at the event, March 5 and 6, at the Wilkes-Barre CYC.

Individually, Gromelski and Lempicky had plenty to scream about as the sophomores will be joined by Kim Barren, junior and Katy Paterson, senior, in states, March 17 and 18, for the 400 freestyle relay.

The team knocked an unprecedented 15 seconds off their seed time on their way to snatching the school record.

“I just got up on the block and said, ‘I have to do it,’” said Gromelski.

“I’m proudest of finally reaching my goal of breaking a record and making it to states,” said Lempicky.

With the school record, the girls’ names were placed on the record board in the Abington Heights pool.

For a brief moment Lempicky and her brother, Stephen, a 2007 graduate, where on the record board together. Stephen was a member of the 200 freestyle relay team that was unseated by Sean Kennedy, Stephen Sorokanich, Tommy Devereaux and Gabe Thran at districts this year.

Similarly, Barren was on the board with her brothers Matt, 2007 who swam with Stephen Lempicky in the 200 relay, and Greg, 2009 whose 400 freestyle relay record was beaten at districts by the same group.

Though the girls team was highlighted by the 400 relay, plenty of gutsy performances gave the Lady Comets the district brass.

With a quick look at the standings, it appears that Abington Heights finished second in the team total, but Williamsport Area, a District 4 team, skews the results. Williamsport is a AAA team in a district with all smaller AA schools, so they participate in the District 2 meet for regional medals.

Though, the District 2 swimmers earn medals that exclude Williamsport, the Millionaires still compete for state spots.

“Williamsport is a great team and they have some great swimmers, but if they’re going to swim in our district there needs to be a district and a regional spot in states,” said coach John Conaboy who explained that their presence excluded all District 2 AAA boys and the AH girls 200 medley relay team from states. The medley relay which included Barb Mitchell, Lempicky, Barren and Gromelski finished with a time of 1:56.86, three seconds below their seed time.

The Lady Comets were consistent over the two day event, a deciding factor in their win as the first 12 places earn points.

Strong performances caused for a crowded podium in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

Barren led the Abington Heights charge in the fly with a second place at 1:02.49. She was followed by Maggie Scanlon in third and Gromelski in fifth.

The backstroke was paced by Barren with a silver medal. Scanlon finished third, and Mitchell was sixth.

In the 50 freestyle, Lempicky was edged by Delaware Valley’s Kendall Glaster by a margin of two-hundredths of a second. Gromelski joined her on the podium with a fourth place finish and a 26.23 time.

The Abington Heights boys will be well represented at the PIAA State Championships on March 19 and 20 at Bucknell University even though they finished second to Dallas at the District 2 Class AA meet.

“We knew going in we were going to have to fight hard,” said coach John Conaboy. “It was a well fought second place.”

Gabe Thran qualified as part of the record-breaking 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams as well as in the 200 and 100 freestyle.

Thran will be joined in the 200 and both relays by Tommy Devereaux. Though Thran won the race, Devereaux qualified on time. His 1:49.03 was seven seconds better than his seed time.

“That means a lot to me,” said Devereaux of qualifying for states in the 200.

Devereaux just narrowly missed a chance to compete at the state level in the 500 freestyle. He was edged by Tunkhannock Area junior David Novak. Devereaux peeled 11.6 seconds off his time and led most of the race.

“I can’t remember much of that race; there was so much adrenaline in my body,” said Devereaux. “All I remember is Danny Gleason whistling.”

Danny Gleason inspirational whistling will also be part of the Abington Heights state team, as he qualified for the 100 backstroke.

Sean Kennedy also qualified as an individual and as a relay member. His breaststroke time of 1:02.24 was enough to earn a gold medal and a state berth.

The final state qualifier is Stephen Sorokanich who will be part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

At districts Sorokanich, junior, earned a pair of gold medals for those relays and a bronze for the 200 medley relay.

The medley team swam a 1:44.75 with Gleason, Kennedy, Sorokanich and Seth Pinches.

This season, Sorokanich has dedicated himself to the family environment of relays by giving up his second individual race, the 100 backstroke.

Though the team was mathematically unable to win the district by the time the 400 free relay team took to the block, they still swam an inspired 3:17.07 that earned a win and a school record.