Quaker Valley boys swimmers hunt 4th straight WPIAL title
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Monday, February 26, 2018 | 11:00 PM
The Quaker Valley boys swimming team will need to be in peak form to earn its fourth consecutive WPIAL Class AA title Thursday and Friday at Pitt's Trees Pool.
“Some very fast swimmers have graduated,” senior Ben Mastrorocco said. “If everyone swims their best times, though, we think we have a shot.”
Among top-seeded individuals are junior Andres Hubsch, second in the 100-yard backstroke (55.76 seconds) and fourth in the 100 butterfly (54.14), and senior Kevin Bergdoll, third in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.28) and eighth in the 100 freestyle (50.71).
The Quakers, who went undefeated in dual meets, feel good about their second-seeded 400 freestyle relay team (3:25.73).
“I think our 200 medley and 200 free relays could finish top four and our 400 free relay could win,” Mastrorocco said.
The 200 medley relay (1:42.54) and 200 freestyle relay (1:36.21) rank fourth and seventh, respectively.
Quaker coach Erin Cawley said up for spots in the three relays are Bergdoll, senior Declan McGranahan, senior Devon Jones, Hubsch, junior Kieran Ragoowansi, Mastrorocco, senior Travis Wiehe and senior Nick Wroblewski.
Ragoowansi, Mastrorocco, McGranahan and Jones will compete individually.
“Every team at WPIALs wants to beat us,” Ragoowansi said. “We need to make it difficult for every team to end our streak.”
On the girls side, sophomore Sophie Besterman is the top seed in the 100 backstroke (1:02.10).
“I am very excited for WPIALs,” Besterman said. “It is the most exciting meet.”
The 200 freestyle relay team is seeded eighth (1:46.08).
Cawley, who also guides the girls, said candidates for that relay, plus the two others that qualified, are Besterman, freshman Halle Wagner, senior Allison Lenhardt, senior Antoinette Heil, junior Martha Pangburn, sophomore Elena Ashburn, junior Erin Glas and senior Emiliana Arriaga.
Wagner made the meet individually.
“My goals (are) for all athletes to dig deep, go lifetime bests and improve overall,” said Cawley, in her first season at the helm of both squads. “I'm excited to watch all of their races.
“They've put in a lot of hard work.”
The girls placed third at WPIALs last season.
Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.
Tags: Quaker Valley
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