Central Mountain Boys Bring Home The Silver

Central Mountain PIAA Swimming – District 6-9 – AAA Championships

 

BOYS
As the waves settled at Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium during the District VI AAA Swimming and Diving Regional Championships, the Central Mountain High School Swim Team successfully showcased their talents with the team walking away with seven podium appearances,  four school records broken, and an overall second place finish in the two day event, the first in Central Mountain history. 

 

“Unreal!!! The most decorated swim team in Central Mountain history. What an incredible feat for our handful of boys to outscore big schools, like Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Mifflin County and Tyrone”, said Coach Carol Matheney. “I am definitely more than pleased with the way everyone swam.” 

 

Right from the start, the Central Mountain boys were there to make a statement, dominating early in the 200 Yard Medley Relay (team of Phil Rodo, Josh Cram, Jordan Suter and Tyler Sheets).  They placed second ahead of tough competitor Altoona with a time of 1:48:24, earning them a much deserved place on the podium, a silver medal, and a new school record.

The Boys Relay team of (top) Jordan Suter,
Phil Rodo (Bottom) Josh Cram & Tyler Sheets

 

 

“Terrific competition”, Coach Matheny said.  “I am very proud of what the team has accomplished, no matter the situation; these swimmers believe they will find a way to win.”

 

The energy continued into the 200 Yard Freestyle as Jordan Suter, who was seeded seventh going into the event, defeated Kyle Heasley from Altoona.  He earned a spot on the podium by placing sixth, which qualified him for the YMCA District level.  Teammate Tyler Sheets swam his personal best at 2:01:43, placing eighth, and depositing additional points on the score board for the Wildcats.

 

In the 200 Yard IM the Wildcats powered through the water and saw three swimmers place in the top ten. Senior Josh Cram, who was seeded sixth leading into the event, managed to defeat Evan Becker from Mifflin County, earning a spot on the podium by placing fifth.  Nolan Dale placed seventh, with a time of 2:19:85, qualifying for the YMCA District level; Brandon Kibler placed ninth.

The impetus continued during the 50 Yard Freestyle as Phil Rodo netted himself a sixth place finish,  earning a spot on the podium with a time of 22:96, while teammate Tyler Sheets placed first in his heat and eighth overall with a  24.38.  This career-best record also qualifies for the YMCA District level.  Rodo, with still enough gas in his tank, broke the CMHS record, held by Andrew Barrett, in his 100 Yard Freestyle placing eighth with a time of 1:00:09.

The 200 Yard Medley & 200 Yard Freestyle Relay teams of Phil Rodo,
Jordan Suter, Josh Cram and Tyler Sheets celebrating in Olympic style
after earning two silver medals in the PIAA District IV
Swimming & Diving Championships

The day ended with an exciting, nail biting, finish in the boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay.  The relay team of Tyler Sheets, Josh Cram, Jordan Suter and Phil Rodo, were seeded third, less than two seconds behind second seed Altoona. Sheets shot off the block possessing a very close tight race with tough competitors Altoona and Hollidaysburg on his heels with a 24.52 split. Cram fought hard to maintain the Wildcats position with a time of 24.14, but Altoona and Hollidaysburg had other plans.  Suter had his work cut out for him if the Wildcats were to get on the podium.  Suter responded, charging through the waters with a 23.75, allowing senior Phil Rodo to maintain the momentum and sprint home not only with a new school record, but earning the boys another silver medal,  with a freestyle split of 22.60.

 

“That was one of the most exciting races I have seen all year swimming,” said 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.”

 

As the doors opened to McCoy Natatorium on day two of the PIAA championship swimming,  the Central Mountain Wildcats found themselves in a situation they have never been in before,  second place overall in the competition. They knew they had to further establish their dominance by continuing to add points on the scoreboard.  

The 400 Yard Freestyle team of Brandon Kibler, Nolan
Dale, Ben Jones, Ethan Dale discuss last minute
strategies before their race

In the 100 Yard Freestyle, Sophomore Nolan Dale earned himself an eighth place finish with a time of 55:53 followed by Benjamin Jones who placed ninth. Both Wildcats answered the call and collectively added more points to Central Mountain scoreboard. Jordan Suter, who was seeded eighth going into the 500 Yard Freestyle, shocked the CM fans as he swept through the waters, passing swimmers from Altoona and Hollidaysburg to earn a fifth place berth on the podium with a 5:22:91. Sophomore Brandon Kibler dug deep, dropping three seconds off his seed time, adding some points for the Wildcats by placing seventh in the 100 Yard Backstroke, and qualifying for the YMCA District level.  Three Wildcats qualified for the 100 Yard Breaststroke event: Josh Cram earning a sixth place spot and breaking his own school record, followed by teammate Ben Jones in seventh and freshman Ethan Dale,  who out swam Altoona sophomore Dima Kunstbeck, to secure an eighth place finish. The day concluded as the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay team (Jones, E. Dale, Kibler and N. Dale) showcased their abilities by adding the final points for the Wildcats placing fourth.

 

GIRLS
With depth being in an issue all season long, the Wildcats pushed through with their tough competitors in the 200 Yard Medley Relay (team of Bethany Barrett, Hannah Williams, Hannah Worden and Katie Tolomay) but fell short, placing fifth.  Teammates Barrett and Williams tried to get some points up on the scoreboard for the girls, but placed 11 & 12 respectively in their 50 Yard Freestyle. Hannah Williams powered through the waters during the 200 Yard Freestyle relay with a split time of 20.45 to earn her teammates a fifth place finish, just three seconds behind Mifflin County. Senior Bethany Barrett rallied during her 100 Yard Backstroke and placed seventh giving the lady Wildcats some much needed points. The day ended with Williams placing eleventh in her 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:32:52.

 

“We really focused this year on training both mentally and physically to swim fast no matter whom our competition was”, said Volunteer Coach, Steve Sheets.  “In the past, we wouldn’t swim our best if we knew the other team was better than us, but this year we really turned the corner on the mental aspect of swimming your best in every race”, said Sheets.  “Both the boys and girls team improved at this, and they really demonstrated it during our regular season, (with a new Central Mountain school record of 8-4-1), and at districts with a second place finish, that they did not want to leave each other down.”