With Hunter Raymer out to regain WPIAL crown, Gateway swimmers look to reach goals

By: Andrew John
Sunday, November 26, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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Last year, Hunter Raymer was hoping to successfully defend his title in the 500-yard freestyle at the WPIAL Class 3A championships. However, Raymer finished in third place, making him hungry to reclaim the title this year.

The Gateway junior finished with a time of 4:40.48, which was behind a pair of Central Catholic swimmers — Mac Clark (4:29.36) and Luke Hartman (4:38.26).

“I learned that there is always someone behind me,” Raymer said. “There is always someone you need to race. You’ve got to swim the best that you can.”

During his freshman season, Raymer edged out Hartman by two and a half seconds when he finished with a time of 4:35.83.

After the third-place finish at WPIALs, Raymer swam almost two seconds faster when he placed 13th with a time of 4:38.82 at the PIAA Class 3A meet at Bucknell.

“I’m hungry to reclaim the title, and I’m ready to get to work,” Raymer said.

Raymer will look to also compete in the 200 free and 200 IM this year. Raymer finished seventh at WPIALs in the 200 free with a time of 1:43.57 last year and will look to break the school record in the event this season.

Raymer will be joined again by his younger brother, Gunner, in the pool. The sophomore will look to build off a freshman season where he finished 11th in the 200 IM (1:58.44) and 12th in the 100 free (48.33) at the WPIAL meet.

The most improved swimmer on the Gateway boys team may be Colton Park, who qualified for WPIALs in the relays.

“He has been swimming for a few years. He has been in the pool all spring and summer and fall and has made great strides,” Gateway coach Glenn Raymer said.

The Gators will also have back senior Mark DiPalma and junior Owen Echegaray, who competed individually at WPIALs. DiPalma swam in the 100 free and 200 free and Echegaray in the 100 fly.

The duo will look to make up for the loss of Primo Brodt-Jenkins, who finished 10th in the 100 breast and 22nd in the 50 free.

Freshman Dallas Richardson will look to compete in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly for the Gators.

The boys 200 medley relay will look to improve on its 10th-place finish at WPIALs, while the 200 free relay finished 11th last season.

On the girls side, the Gators will look to replace Morgan Holmes, who finished third in the 50 free (24.00) and fifth in the 100 back (59.37) at the WPIAL Class 2A championships last season.

Holmes, who is now at Bloomsburg, finished 10th in the 50 free and tied for 11th in the 100 back at the state meet.

“Not only do we lose a wonderful swimmer, she was a true leader of the team and was a great captain,” Glenn Raymer said. “They followed her leadership and she was a wonderful captain. In the pool, I could use Morgan in the 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 free, 100 back so losing someone like that is a big loss for the team.”

“We will be watching her collegiate career and see how she does. I know she will be successful because she’s a hard worker and very determined to be successful at what she does.”

The Gators will look to replace Holmes with the Brown sisters, McKenna and Mallory. McKenna Brown finished fourth in the 500 free and fifth in the 50 free at WPIALs. Mallory Brown finished seventh in the 200 free and 11th in the 100 breast.

Sophomore Gia Laurenti will look to improve on her 18th-place finish in the 100 breast and 23rd-place finish in the 200 IM at WPIALs last year.

The girls 400 free relay of the Brown sisters, Laurenti and Holmes finished third at WPIALs and fifth at states last season. The 200 medley relay of Holmes, the Brown sisters and Ayva Harris finished sixth at WPIALs and 15th at states last season.

Freshman Aliya Rosssianne will look to be part of the relay this year.

Junior Bailey Steele will look to qualify for the WPIAL Class 2A diving meet this season.

“Every single kid is there for a different reason,” Glenn Raymer said. “They are there because they want to be a part of something, and they are looking to do something where they stand out and succeed. The goal of the coaches is to make them the best swimmers that they can be.

“We also focus on making them into good people as well. Inside the pool, we try to make you as fierce of a competitor as you want to be and we will set you up for that to happen. I think we have got a nice group of kids that have some great goals for themselves and now we got to help them accomplish those goals.”

Tags: Gateway