YMCA Swimmers Kick Off Season

Youth winter sports kicked off this past weekend with wrestling matches and basketball games galore.  The swim season for area youth started with a splash in the Bellefonte Invitational Quad Meet for local YMCAs this past Saturday.

The Lock Haven Loggerheads finished second overall (behind Bellefonte - 2,537 .50 to 2,239) but their boys took first place.  “We had a lot of fast swims today and a lot of drops in time” said Colt Coffman, co-head Lock Haven swim coach. “Overall, our team’s technique is looking great. We still have some areas to improve on and will be working on them this week at practice.”

Strong showings in the freestyle relays propelled the boys up in the point standings with Simon Lins, Owen Persuns, Xavier Persuns, and Arthur McGuire tops in the 8-and-unders; Tyler Cygan, Leisher Gugino, Elijah Persun, and Will Straley first in the 10-and unders; and Thomas Cygan, David Orndorf, Jonas Tomalonis, and Jordy Sheets touching the wall first in the 12-and-unders.

Several Lock Haven boys also qualified for YMCA Districts.  Phil Rodo’s first place swim in the 15-and-over 100 yard backstroke was fast enough to make district cut times.  Rodo also qualified in the 200 yard backstroke and 50 freestyle.  Ethan Dale, 14-and-under, qualified in the 100 breaststroke and James Riccardo, 12-and-under, in the 50 freestyle.

While Jersey Shore finished fourth, their girls were only 211 points behind the leader, Bellefonte (1,370 to 1,159) and 56 points ahead of East Lycoming YMCA.  One of the reasons for the strong showing was the 10-and-under girls.  The foursome of Jordan O’Connor, Taylor Fleming, Isabelle Griswold, and Meghan Keegan took both the 200 medley and freestyle relays.  They also went on to capture five of the seven individual events; Griswold in the 50 freestyle and breaststroke, Fleming in the 50 butterfly and 100 individual medley, and 0’Connor in the 50 yard backstroke.  These first place finishes in both the individual and relay events were enough to also earn a trip to YMCA Districts March 9-10 in York, Pennsylvania.

 

Full results of the meet can be seen here and box scores viewed here