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By STEVE SEMBRAT
steves@leader.net
Wednesday, March 12, 2003 Page: 1B
WILKES-BARRE Great expectations don’t bother the Bishop Hoban girls swim
team.
Fact is, the Argents are thrilled to be the top seed in the 200-yard
freestyle relay for this weekend’s PIAA Class 2A Swimming & Diving
Championships. They’re also excited about their chances of finishing as
runner-up in the team standings for the second consecutive year.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Hoban junior Julie McLaughlin, who along
with senior Justine Grilz and sophomores Caroline Byron and Bryn Mesko form
the top entry in the 200 freestyle relay. “There are so many expectations, but
I think we’re going to do well because of that. We’re ready.”
The state meet starts tomorrow with diving competition at the McCoy
Natatorium on the Penn State University Park campus. Swimming events will be
held on Friday and Saturday. According to the seedings for the meet, which are
based upon times recorded at district championship meets from around the
state, Oakland Catholic is a solid favorite to repeat as 2A girls team champs,
while Hoban could pile up enough points to again finish as runner-up.
“Teamwise, we can probably be in the top three with outstanding
performances from all our kids,” Argents head coach Mara Pawlenok said.
The Scranton Prep girls, who finished as runner-up to Hoban in the team
standings at districts, also have a crack at a top-five finish at states.
On the boys side, Prep should come up with the best showing among teams
from District 2. Prep finished fourth behind Wyoming Seminary, Hoban and
Dallas in the team standings at districts, but the Cavaliers have the
strongest qualifiers among the local entries for states.
A number of competitors have a shot at winning a state medal for a top-six
finish, and Hoban could win gold for the second time in school history.
“It’s really exciting knowing that you are going in there as the favorite,”
Grilz said. “It gives you an extra boost knowing that you can do it.”
While being seeded first for states is an outstanding accomplishment, it
guarantees nothing during the meet. The competition starts with preliminaries
during the morning. The top six finishers for each event make the evening’s
finals, where first through sixth places are decided. The next six make
consolation finals, where seventh through 12th places are decided. The top 12
finishers score points for their team.
“You have to tell yourself this is what you worked for all season and it’s
going to come together,” McLaughlin said. “It’s all in your head. You have the
physical part down. You have the training behind you. You have the experience
behind you. You have to focus and get yourself ready for what you have to do.”
McLaughlin is entered in four events, and will swim three on Friday. In
addition to being part of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, she is also
in the 200 individual medley. Her signature event, the 100 breaststroke, is
Saturday. McLaughlin holds the district record in it, and finished fourth at
states last year. She is seeded eighth heading into the breaststroke, and 13th
in the individual medley.
“I’m really ready for the breaststroke and the IM,” McLaughlin said. “I’m
hoping to move up as much as possible. I think I’m capable of doing that.”
Grilz is another swimmer who hopes to make her mark individually as well as
part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. She is seeded sixth in the 200
freestyle with the time of one minute, 58.33 seconds she recorded at
districts, and is thinking big heading into that event.
“We have a school record, which is 1:57.00,” Grilz said. “I want to get
that record. I am capable of doing that and that helps me want to drop my time
even more.”
Byron is in position to win four state medals. She is seeded third in the
100 freestyle and fifth in the 50 freestyle. In addition to being part of the
top-seeded 200 freestyle relay team, she anchors Hoban’s second-seeded 400
freestyle relay team. Grilz, Mesko and Katelyn Ostopick fill out that
foursome.
Hoban’s 200 medley relay team of McLaughlin, Ostopick, Julie Grilz and
Kelly Dessoye is seeded eighth. “I think the relays are more fun,” McLaughlin
said. “You have a job to do, because you have three other people with you who
are counting on you.”
The Prep boys also could bring home gold as Mike Eisner, Mark Esolen, Mark
Lesak and Eric Hayden form the top-seeded 200 medley relay team. The same
foursome is seeded sixth in the 200 freestyle relay. Lesak is seeded second in
the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, giving him a shot at bringing home four
state medals.
Local entries and schedule of state meet, Page 4B.