The Central Mountain High School Swim Team successfully showcased their talents at the District 6-9 AAA Swimming and Diving Regional Championships held at Penn State McCoy Natatorium.
Right from the start, the Central Mountain boys dominated early by placing third in the medley relay (team of Rodo, Suter, Jones and Sheets) earning them a medal and spot on the podium. The relay team was seeded in fifth place. Backstoker, Phil Rodo shot off the blocks – possessing a very close and very tight 3rd place in the first 25 yards but fell slightly into fourth place heading back to the blocks with a time of 27.70. Teammate Ben Jones, in for the injured Josh Cram – fought hard in his breast stroke but wasn’t able to keep the pace with the tough teams of State College, Altoona and Hollidaysburg ahead of him, but managed to maintain 4th place with a 31.79. Trying to regain the shortfall, Jordan Suter had his work cut out for him in his butterfly. Suter responded, charging through the waters with a 26.89, allowing Tyler Sheets to maintain that momentum and sprint home not only with a new school record, but earning the boys a place on the podium, with a freestyle split of 24.33.
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| CM Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay (L) stand on the podium after receiving their medals Top row (L) Tyler Sheets and (R) Jordan Suter. Bottom (L) Benjamin Jones and (R) Phil Rodo Photo provided by Studio 2 Photography |
“That was one of the most exciting races I have seen all year swimming,” said CMHS coach Carol Matheney. “It wasn’t the time, it wasn’t where they placed and it wasn’t even the new school record that impressed me the most. It was hard-fought. The kids were in this for themselves. It was a fitting finish for an emotional season.”
The impetus continued into the 200 Yard Freestyle on both the boys and girls teams. Senior Rachel Sackett, placed second in her heat, 8th overall, with a personal best time of 2:23:75 and depositing 5 points on the CM scoreboard. Nolan Dale placed first in his heat coming in at 2:09:57, a new personal best for the freshmen, while teammates Jordan Suter and Benjamin Jones pushed one another in their heat with Suter taking second at 1:57:68, and Jones earning a third place finish for the Wildcats at 1:59:71. Suter’s second place finish also garnered him with the new CMHS 200 Yard Freestyle record, one that he earned last year as a freshman.
The energy surged again on the boys’ team during the 50 Yard freestyle as Phil Rodo placed fifth in his heat and netted himself a sixth place finish overall, which earned him a spot on the podium with a time of 23:42. Teammate Tyler Sheets placed second in his heat coming in at 24:35 – a career-best record and qualifying him a trip to the YMCA District level. Hannah Worden finished third in her heat at 28:39 – a few seconds faster than her seed time. The day ended with the girls 200 Yard Relay (team of Rachel Sackett - Autumn Shultz - Bethany Barrett - Hannah Worden; alternate Hannah Williams) taking a fourth place finish with a time of 1:56:63.
Day two of districts was just as rewarding for the Central Mountain Wildcats. Senior Autumn Shultz swam to a second place finish in her 100 Yard Freestyle heat coming in at 1:05:34, while Nolan Dale took first in his heat with a 56:96, followed by, in heat number two, Tyler Sheets placing fifth, with a time of 55:25. The team also saw former CM standout, Nate DeCapria’s, 2001 PIAA District record broken during this event when State College’s, Micah Cattell came in at 46:80.
The energy surged again on the boys’ team during the 50 Yard freestyle as Phil Rodo placed fifth in his heat and netted himself a sixth place finish overall, which earned him a spot on the podium with a time of 23:42. Teammate Tyler Sheets placed second in his heat coming in at 24:35 – a career-best record and qualifying him a trip to the YMCA District level. Hannah Worden finished third in her heat at 28:39 – a few seconds faster than her seed time. The day ended with the girls 200 Yard Relay (team of Rachel Sackett - Autumn Shultz - Bethany Barrett - Hannah Worden; alternate Hannah Williams) taking a fourth place finish with a time of 1:56:63.
Day two of districts was just as rewarding for the Central Mountain Wildcats. Senior Autumn Shultz swam to a second place finish in her 100 Yard Freestyle heat coming in at 1:05:34, while Nolan Dale took first in his heat with a 56:96, followed by, in heat number two, Tyler Sheets placing fifth, with a time of 55:25. The team also saw former CM standout, Nate DeCapria’s, 2001 PIAA District record broken during this event when State College’s, Micah Cattell came in at 46:80.
Jordan Suter broke another Wildcat record in the 500 Yard Freestyle coming in at 5:22:39 placing seventh overall, missing the podium by only six seconds, followed by tenth place finisher Benjamin Jones who came in at 5:30.28. The girls 100 Yard Backstroke saw Bethany Barrett taking third in her heat with a 1:15:94 while on the boys side Phil Rodo also placed third with a time of 1:01:41 breaking his own CM school record. The day ended with Hannah Williams earning the Wildcats their final points of the day by placing ninth overall in her 100 Yard Breaststroke coming in at 1:28:89.
Terrific competition”, Coach Matheny said. “I am definitely more than pleased with the way everyone swam.” “This year we have been plagued with injuries, illnesses, and swimmer’s leaving the program, and I am very proud of what the team has accomplished, marking the post season with personal best times and new school records.”
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