Latrobe swim team driven by last year’s results, looking to finish even better

By: Ted Sarneso
Monday, January 29, 2024 | 11:46 AM

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The only way last season could have been improved for the Latrobe swim team is if the Wildcats had done just a little better in the WPIAL and PIAA championships.

The girls team went undefeated at 13-0 overall and 5-0 in section meets, and the boys finished 8-5, good for fourth in Section 1-3A. Both squads had multiple swimmers qualify for WPIALs and states.

“Hopefully we can accomplish the same things we did last year. We lost a little bit of seniors from last year,” coach Grey Arrigonie said. “Just some holes to fill, like we lost the second-place girl in the state in diving, but we brought in some freshmen that are doing a good job at filling those holes.”

The Wildcats only have six seniors — four girls and two boys — meaning the same young core that helped the team be successful last season is performing at a high level.

For the Lady Wildcats, repeating last year’s record is unattainable, as the team sits 5-2 overall and 1-0 in section, but features a solid junior core.

Junior Lauren Bell swam individuals at states, and fellow juniors Maggie Elder and Destini Homan joined Bell on the relay teams that also competed in the PIAAs.

“All three are well-rounded swimmers that have their top two events they’re best in, like Maggie in her breaststroke and Lauren who went to states in fly and free last year,” Arrigonie said. “They each have their best, but they can pretty much do any event, which is nice.”

The girls 400-yard freestyle and 200 freestyle relay teams medaled at states last season. Bell, Elder and Homan are mainstays on those relay teams, and Bell finished third at states in the individual 100 freestyle and fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Bell continues to swim at a high level this season. When the top times were released Jan. 8, Bell posted top-10 times in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 back and 100 butterfly. She has qualified for this year’s WPIALs.

Joining her will be Elder and Homan as both relays that medaled last year will look to place higher on the podium this year. Senior diver Sara Limani, who went to WPIALs last year, also has qualified and looks to continue the success of graduating senior Hannah Polosky, who finished second at both WPIALs and states.

“We always set the big goals, get as many swimmers to WPIALs and perform at a high level there,” Arrignoie said. “Try to get the team to states, try to get our relay teams to states. Those are our standard goals.”

At the halfway point, the team is mired in a difficult part of the season, both mentally and physically, but the part of the year when swimmers reduce intensity and volume (taper) is close.

“We need to stay focused and trust our training,” senior Kate Wolford said. “These hard practices are putting our times a bit slower in the meets, but once taper hits, we’ll be seeing the times we want in the big, important meets.”

The Lady Wildcats beat Hempfield, 92-86, on Jan. 11 and defeated Connellsville, 98-74, on Jan. 17.

If the Lady Wildcats keep up their winning ways, they will sit in a prime position as they look to make it three straight section titles.

“It’s what we’ve all been training for this season,” Wolford said. “We talked to coach about what we wanted, and he knows what our goal is and will to try to do everything he can to help us, but at the end of the day it’s up to us and how we perform.”

The Latrobe boys team is an interesting case, as it has to swim up in certain meets.

“They’re currently a 2A boys team running a 3A schedule because girls are 3A,” Arrigonie said. “So, they have to play up during dual meets.”

“It can be challenging at times, but we all play to our strengths so well that we’re able to maximize the points we earn in an event,” senior Jace Pedicone said.

The boys also have started well this season, matching the girls in record (5-2, 1-0).

The top core includes Pedicone, junior Patrick Cratty and sophomores Chris Heese and Charlie Thomson. Cratty, Heese and Thomson swam at states last season, and all have qualified for WPIALs this year. Freshman diver Ethan Stenger will join them this year.

Last year in WPIALs, Thomson medaled in the 50 and 100 free events, Heese medaled in the 100 breaststroke and Pat Cratty received a medal in the 200 freestyle. Like the girls, the boys had two relays medal — the 400 freestyle and the 200 medley.

“The guys team is very strong, and we’ve reached the point of the season where guys are getting comfortable in their events,” Pedicone said. “Coach Grey is great at placing us in successful situations.”

Even with the success of past seasons, and the incremental improvement of the young core, some things still need to be ironed out, but Latrobe will be primed and ready come championship season.

“We’re starting to round out and get ready for the WCCA meet at Derry and then the WPIAL championships,” Arrigonie said before the WCCA championships, which were held Friday and Saturday. “When we get some of the racing going, that’s where we’ll see some things.”

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