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As most high school students took advantage of winter break’s leisure and relaxation, swimmers at 14 Wyoming Valley Conference schools eased into their all-too-important training routines to prepare for an even-more grueling regular season.
Over the next seven weeks, area swimmers and divers will look to shave personal records with every race in anticipation of the big prize – qualifying times for the district championships.
Two teams settled into their roles as District 2’s best last season. Both Wyoming Valley West and Dallas both swept both the boys and girls swimming and diving championships at last year’s title race.
To repeat as Class 3A champions, the Spartans will have a loaded boys’ team. Both Logan Fluegel and Zac Rosencrans, in particular, excelled on last year’s 200-medley relay team who won a regional championship and placed 23rd at states. Rosencrans is the reigning district champion in the 100 breaststroke.
Dallas’ girls return four members from last year’s first team all-stars. Abby Zolner, Annalise Cheshire, Maddy Ross and Lexi Spaciano comprise a balanced Mountaineers team that won its second-straight district championship last season and has aim at becoming one of the state’s best in 2017. Ross (diving), Cheshire (100 free), and Zolner (100 fly) each return as defending champions.
Looking to dethrone the Spartans and Mountaineers are a host of teams with conference and district medals in mind. Expect many of the usual suspects to have solid years in the pool.
“We’re going to be competitive once again,” Hazleton Area coach Michele Yakubowski said. “Our toughest in-season competition is going to be Wyoming Seminary, Dallas, Wyoming Valley West, Holy Redeemer, Tunkhannock. It seems these teams reboot and find talent year after year. It should be a good season for a lot of us.”
Yakubowski’s Cougars are led by Jorge Moncayo. Moncayo, now a senior, stunned the crowd for an upset regional championship in the 200 IM. On the girls side, Hayley Sanko is poised for a breakout year.
Times Leader Swimmer of the Year Tara Kupsky paces a dangerous Wyoming Seminary team in both the girls and boys fields. Kupsky won three district championships and claimed a state medal in the 200 IM. The Blue Knights, with Ava Baur and Nicole Rose Lukesh, will be exceptionally difficult to beat at home. Matt Bean won the 100 back last year.
Following its surprise third-place finish at last year’s districts, Holy Redeemer has hope to get back into the mix on the girls’ side. The Royals are always known for their depth, and this year will be no exception. The Class 2A 100 back champ McKenna Zeller will team up with Kayla Kruk, Emily Blaum and Emily Easton for a run at a WVC title.
Two thrilling 100 breaststroke specialists will look to add to their extensive medal collection this year. Wyoming Valley West’s Alexis Ivanitch took down the district record as part of a four gold-medal year. Holy Redeemer’s Nick Dubinski collected a state medal in the event with a seventh-place swim.
Berwick will be the dark horse this season with a talented foursome of Becca Decker, Kylie Levan, Mia Doll and Sydney Lloyd that can earn a state ticket in the relays.