Hempfield swimmers posting times among best in WPIAL

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, January 17, 2019 | 9:15 PM

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The Westmoreland County swim championships will take place Jan. 25-26 at Derry.

They are held as a prelude to the WPIAL championships to be held Feb. 28-March 1 at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

Several Hempfield swimmers have their eyes squarely set on those two important meets.

Five members of the boys team have registered times that rank among the regular-season leaders as posted by the WPIAL.

Gavin Mayo, a senior sprint specialist and North Carolina recruit, has attained top times in the 50-yard freestyle (21.67), 100 freestyle (49.10) and 100 backstroke (55.81).

“My season is going well,” Mayo said. “I was off to a late start because of some shoulder problems that I’m still working out. I am still training through it and working on a lot of technique stuff. The goal is to keep working hard and post some personal-bests at the WPIAL meet.”

Mayo, a two-time PIAA qualifier who also competes in track and cross country, finished as the WPIAL runner-up in the 50 freestyle last year, and placed fourth in Class AAA in the 50 freestyle at the state meet.

“The girls and boys teams have been doing great,” Mayo said. “We’ve been posting a lot of fast times for this part of the year. We are working hard and getting ready for our next big meet, which is the county meet.”

Hempfield senior Todd Wilson, the school record-holder in the 100 breaststroke, has sparkled in the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley this season.

Wilson qualified for the PIAA Class AAA championships in the 100 breaststroke in 2017-18.

Senior Nolan Steeley has performed well in his specialty, the 100 butterfly; and two sophomores, Brian Wilson and Will Falcon, are focused on advancing in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke events, respectively.

And the Spartans’ 200 freestyle relayers, consisting of Mayo, Todd Wilson, Brian Wilson and sophomore Anthony Peila, have generated the third-fastest time in the WPIAL at 1:30.2.

Turning to the girls, five Hempfield team members have recorded outstanding times this season, including senior Zoey Wilson, a St. Francis (Pa.) commit. Wilson specializes in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events.

“The (Hempfield) teams have impressed me so far this season,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of young talent that have really contributed to our wins. I’m excited to see what happens at WPIALs.

“My season has been kind of interesting. I’ve been dealing with a Thoracic Sprain and a left Latissimus Dorsi Sprain ever since our first meet. However, this injury has given me time to focus on technique and strengthening my kick.”

Also looking to make some noise in the upcoming championship meets are sophomore Maddy Cisco (50, 100 freestyle), junior Francesca Nemetz (100 butterfly, 200 IM) and freshmen Emma Martz (50, 100 freestyle) and Jordan Crupie (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke).

Wilson (200 freestyle) and Cisco (50 freestyle) advanced to the PIAA Class AAA finals last year.

The Hempfield girls’ 200 freestyle relayers hold the fifth-fastest time at 1:42.07.

Hempfield’s swimming and diving program is coached by Kevin Clougherty. The Spartans’ leading divers are senior Grant Drexler and Falcon.

Mayo, Todd Wilson, Brian Wilson, Steeley and Falcon have posted WPIAL qualifying times, as have Zoey Wilson, Cisco, Nemetz, Martz and Crupie.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Hempfield