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By STEVE SEMBRAT steves@leader.net
Monday, January 24, 2000 Page: 5B
Wyoming Valley West’s Shana Welch ranks No. 1 in the state in two events,
according to a list of the top times in state high school swimming.
The Class 3A boys and girls rankings are compiled by North Penn High School
for the Pennsylvania High School Swim Coaches Association (PHSSCA), and were
last updated on Thursday.
Welch, a freshman, ranks first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of
24.37 seconds. She also ranks first in the 100 freestyle, in 52.39. The Valley
West girls rank 13th in the 200 freestyle relay.
Corey Welch, Shana’s older brother, ranks in two individual events as well.
The junior is 11th in the 200 individual medley, in 1:58.95, and fifth in the
100 breaststroke, in 1:00.98 (he rec orded a 1:00.76 on Friday).
Valley West’s Mike Chesterfield ranks 14th in the 500 freestyle, in
4:55.37; and the Spartans’ Russ Redhead ranks 16th in diving with his top
score of 181.05 points (Redhead also has posted a better score).
In each case, it is possible that there are faster times that were not
reported. In fact, some Wyoming Valley Conference competitors who appear on
the list of the league’s top times would appear on the list of the state’s top
times. The list of top times that is compiled by the Times Leader was e-mailed
to be included in the state lists.
The url for the site Class 3A list of top times is:
www.pond.com/
Then, without a space, type in the tilda symbol, and follow it with:
npbgswim/
Then follow the links to the lists.
* * *
There is also a web site containing lists of the top Class 2A boys and
girls times in the state. It is hosted by Moon High School for the PHSSCA. The
most recent update of the list contains no WVC teams, but there are swimmers
and divers from the league who would make the list.
The list of top times that is compiled by the Times Leader was e-mailed to
be included in the state lists.
The url for the Class 2A list of top times is:
www.moonswim.com/moonswim/
Then follow the links to the lists.
* * *
Scranton Prep’s home-pool disadvantage cost its girls team a victory last
week.
Prep holds its home meets at the University of Scranton pool, which does
not have a diving board. There used to be two boards at the facility, but both
were removed before this season.
So Prep, according to the rules, has to forfeit diving points at its home
meets. It cost the girls in a one-point loss to Abington Heights on Tuesday.
The Classics had to give up 13 points for first, second and third in the
event. Also, their one diver could not compete, costing them more possible
points.
The Prep boys host Bishop Hoban on Tuesday. Prep also hosts Valley View in
a boys-girls meet on Tuesday, Feb. 15 and the lack of a diving board may
figure in the outcome of those meets as well.
* * *
Dallas senior Matt Schweitzer actually broke two school records during the
Mountaineers’ double-dual meet against Wyoming Seminary on Wednesday.
First, he broke the mark in the 200-yard individual medley with his time of
2:06.12.
He also set a 50 freestyle school record with his time of 23.43 seconds in
the leadoff leg of the 200 freestyle relay. Swimmers in leadoff legs of
freestyle relays can set records.
* * *
The final two undefeated teams in the WVC boys ranks go head-to-head on
Tuesday when Wyoming Valley West is at Valley View at 4:30 p.m. in a
boys-girls meet.
The highlight could be a head-to-head battle of two of the league’s top
swimmers. Valley West’s Corey Welch and Valley View’s Joe Wizda both boast
some of the top times in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke.
Overall, however, the Spartans should dominate the meet if they perform to
their capability.
* * *
One of the top performers last week was Bishop Hoban’s Chris Milz. He
recorded a pair of lifetime bests in Wednesday’s loss to Wyoming Valley West,
winning head-to-head battles with Scott Zawilski in the 200 individual medley
and the 100 butterfly.
“If you look at the times each has done over his career, (Zawilski) has
much better times than Chris,” Hoban coach Bill Milz said. “This was an
instance where Chris refused to lose.”
Chris Milz followed that performance by winning a pair of individual
events, the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, in Hoban’s victory over
Berwick on Thursday.
Call Sembrat at 829-7229.