Kiski Area swimmers won’t rest on laurels

By: Michael Love
Saturday, December 23, 2023 | 7:18 PM

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Landon Seman remembers it well.

The current senior and the other three members of the Kiski Area boys 400-yard freestyle relay — junior Justin Tucker and graduates Parker Sterlitz and Levi Hansen — knew what they needed to do to overtake Indiana in the Class 2A team standings and wrap up the program’s first WPIAL team title.

They did that, and more, winning the event in a WPIAL-record time of 3 minutes, 10.23 seconds. It was more than enough to clinch the team championship, which also was established with five other swims resulting in WPIAL medals and nine total that earned team points.

“It was an unbelievable feeling last year to raise that (first-place) trophy, but now it’s a new season with new goals,” Seman said.

“There is so much positivity and great chemistry throughout the team. We’re looking at the WPIAL times every day and are pushing each other to do what we need to do to go faster in practices and meets. We can’t wait for WPIALs, but we know we have a lot to do before then.”

Despite the loss of Sterlitz and Hansen, current Division I swimmers at West Virginia and Cincinnati, respectively, Tucker likes how this year’s team has come together and what it can accomplish.

“We understand that our numbers are down and we don’t have as much depth as we did last year, but honestly, we’re not letting that affect us too much,” said Tucker, who also helped the 200 free relay, with junior Riley Yute, Hansen and Sterlitz, place third, while also medaling sixth in the 200 individual medley and seventh in the 100 breaststroke.

“Our hopes and goals are still super high. We may not end up as the WPIAL champs again, but we know we’re going to give it our best. The vibe among the team is really strong. You could see it in our meet last night (against Norwin). We were screaming for each other on deck. We’re so supportive of each other, and that makes a huge difference.”

The 200 free relay also set a school record at WPIALs (1:27.08).

Tucker established a school record in the 200 IM last year, and he earned a WPIAL medal (sixth) in the event.

He also was seventh in the 100 breast.

Seman placed fifth at WPIALs in the 500 free and just missed a medal (ninth) in the 200 free. Yute was eighth in the 100 butterfly and ninth in the 100 free.

Cavaliers swimmers are off to strong starts with a number of WPIAL qualifying swims in meets against Freeport, Connellsville, Hampton, and Norwin.

Kiski Area returns to competition with its Section 4-2A opener Jan. 4 at Burrell.

The Kiski girls were fourth in WPIAL Class 2A last year and lost just two to graduation from the WPIAL contingent.

All of the WPIAL medalists are back, including Paige Kunkle, who was eighth individually in the 100 backstroke and was part of the third-place 200 medley relay and fourth-place 400 free relay with senior Eliza Miller, junior Amara Sterlitz and senior Abigail King.

“We’ve been trying to find the right combinations, whether it’s in relays or individual events, to score the most points in meets,” Kunkle said of the team-oriented focus in the early season.

“It’s really exciting because we haven’t lost a meet yet. Everyone is going in really strong and really positive. It is a lot of fun to watch everyone swim really well. I think a lot of us are going to qualify for WPIALs and also go to states.”

King and Sterlitz both were double individual WPIAL medalists. King placed fourth in the 100 breast and sixth in the 200 free, and Sterlitz was fifth in the 500 free and seventh in the 100 fly.

Sterlitz said though it is possible the medal-winning relay lineup will remain the same, it is not set in stone.

“I am thinking that it will be the same, but it could change because we have a number of girls who are close together,” she said. “We’re always looking at what we can do to make those relays as fast as possible.”

Kunkle said the team is paying close attention to the teams that finished above it in last year’s WPIAL team standings: Mt. Pleasant, Northgate and Quaker Valley.

“We saw what the boys team did last year, and we know that can be us this year if we work hard and are dedicated to our races,” she said. “Moving up one or two places in each race can make a big difference.”

Miller, last year’s WPIAL Class 2A champion in the 500 free and runner-up in the 200 IM, has her name on the Kiski Area record boards in five events as she added the 100 free record earlier this month.

The Duquesne triathlon commit came into the season holding the school records for the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, and 500 free and 400 free relay with King, Kunkle and Sterlitz.

Sophomores Kelsi Lott, Addison Tursky, and Gretchen Freund also are back after swimming at WPIALs last year.

Kunkle said a number of freshmen are making a difference in the early going, including her sister, Leah.

“Having her on the team now is really exciting for me,” Kunkle said. “Being on the same relay with her is a lot of fun. The freshmen are strong and fast. We’re a pretty deep team.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Kiski Area