Penn-Trafford swim teams banking on relay teams

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 26, 2018 | 11:00 PM

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The Penn-Trafford boys and girls swimming teams will be banking on their relay teams at the WPIAL Class AAA championship meet Thursday and Friday at Pitt's Trees Pool.

All three of the boys foursomes and two of the girls relays are among top seeds.

“We could place in the top eight in all three (boys) relays and are hoping to send at least one to states,” junior Luke Babik said.

For the boys, the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Babik and seniors John Sandala, Zachary Snelling and Jacob Yant (3 minutes, 16.81 seconds) is seeded third. The 200 freestyle relay team of freshman Austin Prokopec, freshman Ben Yant, sophomore Nick Graziano and Sandala (1:30.72) sixth and the 200 medley relay team of Snelling, Babik, Sandala and Jacob Yant (1:40.63) is eighth.

All three times were recorded at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association meet in January, where the Warriors took first place, highlighting a perfect regular season that was capped with the Section 1-AAA crown.

Among individuals, Babik leads the team with ninth seeds in the 50 freestyle (22.28) and 100 freestyle (48.77).

Prokopec ranks 10th in the 200 freestyle (1:49.27). Sandala, Snelling, Graziano, junior Jordan Prokopec, sophomore Michael Vareha and Ben and Jacob Yant are among other seeded swimmers.

“I am hoping to get lifetime bests in the 50 and 100 free and be in the top eight (and medal),” Babik said. “I am so excited for this WPIALs.”

Warriors coach Dave Babik said his son and his teammates pointed toward the championship all season.

“We really enjoy these meets, and the extra time we have together,” Dave Babik said. “Our hope (is) that our best will result in medals or a trip to the state meet.”

Top finishers will advance to the PIAA championship March 14-15 at Bucknell.

On the girls side, the 400 freestyle relay (3:39.69) and 200 freestyle relay (1:41.32) teams of sophomore Corina Paszek, sophomore Amanda Graves, senior Rachel Sich and junior Hannah Muro are seeded sixth and eighth, respectively.

Paszek is seeded seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:11.63).

“My goal is to make the podium in at least one event,” Paszek said.

Sich, Muro and sophomore Alyssa Tomb also will compete individually.

The Warriors made the cut in the 200 medley relay, too.

“The WPIAL meet is a really fun thing,” Sich said. “I am so proud of how many of my teammates are swimming there.”

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn-Trafford