Lock Haven Sets the Tone with Record-Breaking Swims

The Lock Haven Loggerheads, a YMCA sponsored team, pushed their season record to 3-0 with this past Saturday’s victory against Tri-Town (Muncy, Montgomery, and Hughesville).  The swimmers surprised their coaches with the unexpected win.  Although outnumbered by a good margin, the Loggerheads managed to win 7-3.  "The kids didn't have the numbers, but they made a lot of quality swims.  Of course, quality can overcome quantity - and today it did," said head coach Jim Merinar. 

The 14&under boys are a small group, only four swimmers, and were pushed hard by the larger Tri-Town contingent throughout the meet.  The foursome of Benjamin Turner, Leisher Gugino, Alex Butzler, and Parker Orndorf responded to the challenge from the get-go as they smashed the league record by almost 3 seconds in the meets’ opening 200 meter medley relay. 

From that point, it was back and forth with the two teams.  While Butzler and Orndorf went 1-2 in the 50 and 100 free, Tri-Town swimmers Landon Corbin and Trent Rakowski responded with a 1-2 finish in the 100 individual medley.  Turner and Gugino captured the top two spots respectively in the 50 breaststroke only to be answered in the next event with Tri’s Ross Flerage and Evan Hamms top finishes in the 50 fly.

It was the final relay where the Lock Haven boys put a stop to any idea of Tri-Town winning the age group.  The foursome again set a pace that broke a 4-year old record in the 200 free relay by almost 4 seconds.  The boys prevailed with a 40-33 win.

In the girls 10&under grouping, Lock Haven’s Camryn Bair took it upon herself to reconfigure the league’s record board. She set new standards by breaking 4- and 14-year old records in the 50 free and 25 breaststroke respectively. “Camryn just continues to excel as she adds to the accolades earned this year and is a complete swimmer,” said Merinar.  “She has skill, is coachable, and is always humble about her accomplishments.”

Lock Haven’s next league meet is against Wellsboro on July 12.

Jersey Shore Swimming Alum Dave Sheets Earns Sports Hall of Fame Status

Congratulations Dave Sheets for your induction to the 

Clarion University Sports Hall of Fame!

Dave Sheets, a 20-time NCAA Division II All-American and 9 time PSAC champion swimmer under coach Bill Miller, was an outstanding backstroke/IM specialist and leader of the Golden Eagles Men's swimming and diving teams from 1990 - 1993.


Team captain as a senior in 1993, Sheets won the 200 I.M. (1:56.12) and the 200 backstroke (1:52.48), plus placed 2nd in the 100 back (52.87) at the PSAC's leading the Eagles to a second place finish. Clarion went on to a 6th place team finish at the NCAA's paced by Sheets who was a 4-time All-American placing 11th in the 200 backstroke and 13th in the 200 I.M., along with the 5th place 400 medley and 7th place 800 free relay.


A three time All-American as a freshman in 1990, Sheets brought back 6 A-A honors in 1991 helping the Eagles to a 3rd place NCAA finish. He was 8th in the 200 back and 14th in the 200 back along with four relays. The Eagles were also second at PSAC's.


Then in 1992, Clarion won the PSAC team title and sprinted to an unbelievable second place finish at the NCAA D-II Nationals – the men's best ever NCAA finish. Sheets was a two time individual winner at PSAC's in the 100 and 200 backstroke, then went on to nationals and was a 7-time All-American placing third in the 200 and fifth in the 100 backstroke, 9th in the I.M. and four A-A relay swims.


A 1989 Jersey Shore grad, Sheets, the boys and girls coach at Brookville (1996) and Butler (1997-2000) high schools, is currently in his 16th year as head women's swim coach at Duquesne University. He was the 2015 Atlantic 10 "Coach of the Year. Dave was also the men's head coach for seven seasons (2004-10).


Married to Christina Tillotson, a 2006 Clarion Sports Hall of Fame inductee, the couple reside in Allison Park with their son Benjamin and daughters Elizabeth and Alaina.

LH vs JS 6.21.17 top 3 times

Lock Haven v Jersey Shore
Zimmerli Pool, Lock Haven University
6/21/2017

Girls 8 & Under
25 Free: 1, S COAKLEY, LH, 22.46. 2, A WALL, JS, 23.34. 3, B CHARNEY, JS, 24.29.
50 Free: 1, I GREEN, JS, 55.65. 2, B REYNOLDS, LH, 1:09.13. 3, Z DEL ROSARIO, JS, 1:12.87.
25 Back:  1, G HOSLEY, LH, 21.08. 2, I GREEN, JS, 25.67. 3, A WALL, JS, 26.12.
25 Breast: 1, G HOSLEY, LH, 25.25. 2, S COAKLEY, LH, 38.78.
25 Fly: 1, G HOSLEY, LH, 20.28. 2, A WALL, JS, 31.44.
100 FR: 1, JS (B CHARNEY, R VAN DER PUTTEN, I GREEN, A WALL), 1:59.47.
100 MR: 1, LH (B REYNOLD, S COAKLEY, G HOSLEY, C MERINAR), 1:56.03.

Girls 9-10
25 Free: 1, K BUTZLER, LH, 14.10. 2, R CHARNEY, JS, 17.09. 3, E CHRISTENSEN, LH, 18.09.
50 Free: 1, K BUTZLER, LH, 30.66. 2, R CHARNEY, JS, 39.92. 3, W EVELAND, JS, 40.91.
25 Back: 1, K BUTZLER, LH, 16.72. 2, W EVELAND, JS, 22.31. 3, R BRANCA, JS, 23.41.
25 Breast: 1, C BAIR, LH, 16.57. 2, E CHRISTENSEN, LH, 24.29. 3, A GERST, LH, 26.11.
25 Fly: 1, C BAIR, LH, 15.07. 2, A HOSLEY, LH, 18.56. 3, K BECKER, JS, 21.97.
100 IM: 1, C BAIR, LH, 1:14.15. 2, A HOSLEY, LH, 1:36.22. 3, W EVELAND, JS, 1:42.93.
100 FR: 1, LH (C BAIR, E CHRISTENSEN, A GERST, A HOSLEY), 1:18.54. 2, JS (C ROSS, K PAULHAMUS, K HALDEMAN, R BRANCA), 1:34.94.
100 MR: 1, LH (K BUTZLER, E CHRISTENSEN, A HOSLEY, A GERST), 1:19.88. 2, JS (R BIERLY, R STRAUB, W EVELAND, K BECKER), 1:31.06. 3, JS (C GORDNER, R CHARNEY, O GREEN, G HARSANYI), 1:41.66.

Girls 11-12
50 Free: 1, H BRIAN, LH, 28.99. 2, J SORGEN, LH, 33.16. 3, K FUNK, JS, 46.73.
100 Free: 1, H BRIAN, LH, 1:04.43. 2, M GARDNER, JS, 1:17.84. 3, K FUNK, JS, 1:48.16.
50 Back: 1, A PERSUN, LH, 37.19. 2, M GARDNER, JS, 39.67. 3, R MERINAR, LH, 41.37.
50 Breast: 1, A PERSUN, LH, 40.62. 2, J SORGEN, LH, 45.06. 3, A GLOSSER, JS, 47.59.
50 Fly: 1, H BRIAN, LH, 32.43. 2, R MERINAR, LH, 40.31. 3, A GLOSSER, JS, 44.23.
100 IM: 1, A PERSUN, LH, 1:15.08. 2, M GARDNER, JS, 1:25.64. 3, R MERINAR, LH, 1:26.30.
200 MR: 1, LH (R MERINAR, J SORGEN, A PERSUN, H BRIAN), 2:21.81. 2, JS (A WINTER, M GARDNER, A GLOSSER, K FUNK), 3:05.15.

Girls 13-14
50 Free: 1, E REMBOLD, LH, 29.87. 2, H LUCAS, JS, 32.66. 3, A WALL, JS, 33.03.
100 Free: 1, E BARTLETT, LH, 1:05.65. 2, E REMBOLD, LH, 1:07.47. 3, M BRIAN, LH, 1:07.72.
50 Back: 1, M BAIR, LH, 33.45. 2, M BRIAN, LH, 36.03. 3, K GARMAN, LH, 37.06.
50 Breast: 1, M KEEGAN, LH, 34.53. 2, M BAIR, LH, 35.59. 3, E BARTLETT, LH, 36.10.
50 Fly: 1, M KEEGAN, LH, 30.62. 2, M BRIAN, LH, 34.31. 3, K GARMAN, LH, 34.90.
100 IM: 1, M KEEGAN, LH, 1:09.73. 2, E BARTLETT, LH, 1:13.27. 3, T WATKINS, JS, 1:22.32.
200 FR: 1, LH (E BARTLETT, M BRIAN, M BAIR, E REMBOLD), 2:00.34. 2, JS (A WALL, O GAIR, D RENNICKS, T WATKINS), 2:44.40.
200 MR: 1, LH (K GARMAN, M BAIR, M KEEGAN, E REMBOLD), 2:10.28. 2, (H LUCAS, T WATKINS, Q GREEN, R TIRA), 2:33.95.

Girls 15-18
50 Free: 1, J O'CONNOR, LH, 27.09. 2, I GRISWOLD, JS, 27.30. 3, R MAREK, LH, 27.52.
100 Free: 1, I GRISWOLD, JS, 58.78. 2, J O'CONNOR, LH, 1:00.34. 3, O MCGHEE, LH, 1:01.46.
200 Free: 1, K WHITE, JS, 2:13.23. 2, L CREVELING, JS, 2:37.97.
100 Back: 1, J O'CONNOR, LH, 1:07.91. 2, G MOORE, JS, 1:14.02. 3, M SORGEN, LH, 1:14.72.
100 Breast: 1, R MAREK, LH, 1:14.61. 2, E BARTLETT, LH, 1:18.65. 3, I GRISWOLD, JS, 1:18.84.
100 Fly: 1, O MCGHEE, LH, 1:09.57. 2, A ZIMMERMAN, LH, 1:31.18.
200 IM: 1, R MAREK, LH, 2:31.62. 2, K WHITE, JS, 2:38.18. 3, G MOORE, JS, 2:47.41.
200 FR: 1, LH (R MAREK, M SORGEN, A ZIMMERMAN, L SMITH), 2:01.81. 2, JS (L CREVELING, T CODISPOTI, J CREVELING, R SANDER), 2:16.75.
200 MR: 1, JS (G MOORE, I GRISWOLD, K WHITE, R SANDER), 2:02.12. 2, LH (J O'CONNOR, E BARTLETT, O MCGHEE, L SMITH), 2:04.31.

Boys 8 & Under
25 Free: 1, J REMBOLD, LH, 19.82. 2, A PAULHAMUS, JS, 22.06. 3, E PAULHAMUS, JS, 24.25.
50 Free: 1, J REMBOLD, LH, 45.81. 2, A PAULHAMUS, JS, 51.28. 3, E PAULHAMUS, JS, 54.02.
25 Back: 1, J REMBOLD, LH, 24.15. 2, C RHINE, LH, 33.06. 3, T MYERS, JS, 46.78
25 Breast: 1, A PAULHAMUS, JS, 27.66.
25 Fly: 1, E PAULHAMUS, JS, 32.70.
100 FR: 1, JS (E PAULHAMUS, T MYERS, D HARSANYI, A PAULHAMUS), 2:02.16.

Boys 9-10
25 Free: 1, B RHINE, LH, 16.85. 2, G STAGGERT, JS, 25.03.
50 Free: 1, N KALUZNY, LH, 41.97. 2, G STAGGERT, JS, 1:03.19
25 Back: 1, R SWIFT, LH, 21.81. 2, B RHINE, LH, 23.40. 3, G STAGGERT, JS, 29.47.
25 Breast: 1, B RHINE, LH, 23.95. 2, N KALUZNY, LH, 25.29. 3, R SWIFT, LH, 27.50.
25 Fly: 1, R SWIFT, LH, 22.17.
100 IM: 1, N KALUZNY, LH, 1:46.13.

Boys 11-12
50 Free: 1, X PERSUN, LH, 29.35. 2, K GRISWOLD, JS, 30.04. 3, B GLOSSER, JS, 35.62.
100 Free: 1, X PERSUN, LH, 1:04.34. 2, K GRISWOLD, JS, 1:06.69. 3, G KUPRES, JS, 1:37.19
50 Back: 1, K GRISWOLD, JS, 35.09. 2, B GLOSSER, JS, 44.79. 3, J DAMMER, JS, 48.48
50 Breast: 1, B GLOSSER, JS, 52.53
50 Fly: 1, X PERSUN, LH, 32.93
100 IM: 1, J DAMMER, JS, 1:33.13.
200 FR: 1, JS (B GLOSSER, G KUPRES, J DAMMER, K GRISWOLD), 2:28.72.

Boys 13-14
50 Free: 1, P ORNDORF, LH, 25.73. 2, E PERSUN, LH, 25.88. 3, C MOORE, JS, 30.63. 
100 Free: 1, P ORNDORF, LH, 57.35. 2, E PERSUN, LH, 58.95. 3, A DAMMER, JS, 1:06.16.
50 Back: 1, B TURNER, LH, 31.85. 2, L GUGINO, LH, 32.57. 3, A DAMMER, JS, 36.15.
50 Breast: 1, L GUGINO, LH, 33.69. 2, B TURNER, LH, 34.34. 3, P ORNDORF, LH, 34.93.
50 Fly: 1, E PERSUN, LH, 30.52.
100 IM: 1, B TURNER, LH, 1:06.50. 2, L GUGINO, LH, 1:08.02.
200 FR: 1, JS (C STEMLER, B MANN, D KUPRES, C MOORE), 2:11.47.
200 MR: 1, LH (B TURNER, L GUGINO, E PERSUN, P ORNDORF), 1:57.94.

Boys 15-18
50 Free: 1, J RICCARDO, LH, 24.84. 2, D GARDNER, JS, 29.06. 3, L GLOSSER, JS, 33.61.
100 Free: 1, J RICCARDO, LH, 56.46. 2, D GARDNER, JS, 1:08.01. 3, L GLOSSER, JS, 1:16.96.
200 Free: 1, N KLINGER, LH, 2:33.71. 2, D ORNDORF, LH, 2:38.88.
100 Back: 1, D GARDNER, JS, 1:22.77. 2, L GLOSSER, JS, 1:29.91.
100 Breast: 1, D ORNDORF, LH, 1:12.16.
200 IM: 1, D ORNDORF, LH, 2:24.06.

Age Group Scores
Girls			Boys
LH	JS		LH	JS
46	33	15&Over	28	16
57	15	14&Under	51	10
32	15	12&Under	15	32
52	21	10&Under	36	7
32	23	8&Under	18	25
Final Meet Score: Lock Haven 8, Jersey Shore 2

Lock Haven Swimmers Open Season with Win Over Jersey Shore

While the nearby creeks, streams, and river have been high and frothy, the waters of Lock Haven University’s Zimmerli Pool have been pretty calm.  That was until the annual summer rivalry between Lock Haven and Jersey Shore swimmers took place this past Wednesday.  Even though the action created a choppy scene within the pool, it appeared pretty soothing for the Lock Haven Loggerheads, a YMCA sponsored team, as they cruised to an 8-2 victory.

“The team looked very sharp tonight from top to bottom,” said Lock Haven’s head coach Jim Merinar.  “Swims were fast, especially for early season, and the effort and teamwork was fantastic.  The coaching staff was extremely impressed with the overall performance.  There were great swims up and down the lineup.”

The girls were especially dominating as they won all five of their age groups.  In fact, they were able to capture 27 of the 30 individual events and 7 of the 9 relays.

The 14-and-under girls had an especially strong showing in their opening debut.  Not only did they capture the top spot in all of their events, they were able to go 1-2-3 in 4 of the 6 individual races.  Meaghan Keegan led the way with wins in the 50 yard breaststroke and butterfly, plus the 100 individual medley.  She also was part of the winning opening medley relay of Kylie Garman, Madison Bair, and Evie Rembold. 

Bair and Rembold would also go on to win the 50 backstroke and freestyle respectively.  Emily Bartlett was Lock Haven’s only point scorer in the 50 free as she touched the wall with a winning time of 29.87, several seconds ahead of her competition.  The girls went on to a 57-15 win.

The boys were able to win the majority of their age groups, only losing the 8- and 12-and-unders.  Even then, there were reasons to be optimistic.  The 12-and-unders were pretty thin this past week as they were only able to muster one swimmer for the meet, Xavier Persun.  He held up his end of the bargain by winning all three of his individual events.  His sole effort fell short as Shore was able to win the three other individual events plus the 200 free relay.  Shore ended the evening with a 32-15 win.

Action in the Greater Susquehanna Valley Aquatic League continues for the Lock Haven Loggerheads as they travel to Central Columbia on Saturday.  

Lock Haven’s Neil Kaluzny at the half-point in his 50 yard freestyle

Placings of Area Swimmers at YMCA States

2017 Pennsylvania YMCA State Swimming Championship
March 24 – 26
McCoy Natatorium, Penn State University

BFY – Bellefonte YMCA
JSY -  Jersey Shore YMCA
LHY – Lock Haven YMCA

Boys 10 & under
200 MR: 15. LHY (Wunder, O., Hughes, J., Persun, X., Lindsay, D.), 2:28.31
50 free: 8. Persun, X., LHY, 28.54; 12. Boone, C., BFY, 29.72; 13. Griswold, K., JSY, 29.74
100 free: 9. Griswold, K., JSY, 1:04.56; 10. Boone, C., BFY, 1:05.11
200 free: 10. Boone, C., BFY, 2:22.84
50 fly: 6. Persun, X., LHY, 31.57
100 fly: 6. Persun, X., LHY, 1:11.35
50 back: 6. Griswold, K., JSY, 33.69
50 breast: 23. Johnson, I., BFY, 43.53
100 breast: 12. Hughes, J., LHY, 1:30.02; 16. Johnson, I., BFY, 1:31.52

Boys 13-14
200 MR: 18. LHY (Turner, B., Gugino, L., Butzler, A., Drouin, J.), 1:54.79
100 back: 24. Butzler, A., LHY, 1:03.32
100 breast: 14. Hockman, R., JSY, 1:05.40
200 breast: 15. Hockman, R., JSY, 2:26.96
50 free: 24. Warner, B., JSY, 24.71
400 IM: 12. Bloom, R., BFY, 4:42.65; 19. Turner, B., LHY, 4:52.55
500 free: 23. Orndorf, P., LHY, 5:27.75
200 FR: 11. LHY (Orndorf, P., Hughes, D., Drouin, J., Butzler, A.), 1:40.04; 21. JSY (Hockman, R., Stemler, C., Dick, C., Warner, B.), 1:42.13
200 fly: 16. Bloom, R., BFY, 2:18.81

15 & Over Boys
200 MR: 22. JSY (Schwoyer, C., Brought, C., Warner, D., Schwoyer, Z.), 1:52.11
100 back: 19. Schwoyer, C., JSY, 58.35
200 back: 21. Schwoyer, C., JSY, 2:11.13
400 IM: 20. Orndorf, D., LHY, 4:54.03

Girls 10 & under
50 free: 7. Butzler, LHY, 28.80; 8. Gugino, L., LHY, 29.01
200 free: 1. Bair, C., LHY, 2:14.16; 4. Rarrick, K., BFY, 2:15.69; 16. Pringle, A., BFY, 2:30. 20
50 back: 2. Rarrick, K., BFY, 33.07; 5. Butzler, K., LHY, 34.29
100 back: 1. Rarrick, K., BFY, 1:08.10
50 breast: 3. Bair, C., LHY, 36.45; 5. Gugino, L., LHY, 36.90
50 fly: 9. Bair, C., LHY, 32.85; 10. Persun, A., LHY, 32.87
100 fly: 3. Persun, A., LHY, 1:11.90
100 IM: 4. Persun, A., LHY, 1:14.34
200 FR: LHY (Butzler, K., Persun, A, Bair, C., Gugino, L.), 1:54.48

Girls 11-12
200 MR: 13. LHY (Bair, M., Bartlett, E., Brian, H., Rockey, O.), 2:06.90
50 breast: 11. Bartlett, E., LHY, 34.24; 18. Bair, M., LHY, 34.94
100 breast: 13. Bartlett, E., LHY, 1:16.20; Bair, M., LHY, 1:16.29

Girls 13-14
200 MR: 18. LHY (O’Connor, J., Fox, M., Keegan, M., Fleming, T), 2:00.89
100 back: 19. O’Connor, J., LHY1:04.30

15 & Over Girls
200 MR: 16. LHY (Mahoney, A., Bartlett, E., Register, M., Marek, R.), 1:57.24
200 fly: 18. Cole, Z., BFY, 2:26.55

Full results can be viewed here.

Lock Haven Swimmers End Season on High Note at YMCA States

All athletes experience highs and lows at some point in their competitive sporting career. Lock Haven’s 10-and-under girls have been on this rollercoaster ride in championship swimming the past couple weeks.

The low feeling came two weeks ago at the first event of the YMCA Central District meet, the 200 yard medley relay.  The girls were seeded 7th and were pumped for the upcoming race as top six automatically qualified for YMCA States.  And hard-charging the foursome were as the finished in the four spot.  The excitement was quickly crushed as an official notified the team that they had been disqualified on one of the relay starts.  Spirits were dashed temporarily. 

But as the meet progressed, the 10-and-under girls saw that they were hanging with some of the elite programs and were placing high in their events.  The day’s extreme high waited in the wings until the very last event, the 200 freestyle relay.  The foursome of Ana Persun, Kate Butzler, Camryn Bair, and Lilyann Gugino were aggressive enough to not only win but break the meet record by 1.5 seconds.  In addition, enough points were accumulated throughout the day that the girls won their age group.

Fast forward to this past weekend with YMCA States at Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium.  Every coach worries about a letdown after some monumental achievement or win but Lock Haven’s Jim Merinar was pretty optimistic.  “Not only were my 10-and-under girls positive and sharp the past two weeks of practice, but as were the other 24 State qualifiers”, he said.  “I knew these girls could carry the momentum from Districts into this State meet”. 

That momentum into States had to wait a bit as the 10-and-under girls watched team after team swim the 200 medley relay.  It was only the very next event, the 200 freestyle that Lock Haven started to make up lost ground. 

While Bair was seeded 5th, she quickly moved into third after the start and held that position for the first 100 yards.  In the next 50 yards, she passed Bellefonte’s Katie Rarrick to trail behind the leader; Greater Johnstown’s Sasha Innis.  A great burst of speed in the last 50 yards was enough to propel her to a win by .38 seconds.  “I wasn’t nervous and just wanted to drop time”, said Bair.  “I was on the outside lane and was able to see everyone.  I just sped up and went faster as we got closer to the end.”

Top 12 finishers of the 200 yard freestyle.  Winner Lock Haven’s
 Camryn Bair upper, far right and Bellefonte’s Katie Rarrick (4th) upper
row, fourth from the right.

The same 200 freestyle didn’t sit too well with Rarrcik.  “I didn’t do well and felt sluggish”, she said.  She finished fourth and was looking up the podium stairs to Lock Haven’s Bair.  “I told my coach that I didn’t like looking up at anybody”, said Rarrick.  She soon got her chance to back up those thoughts in her signature event, the 100 backstroke. Seeded first, she held off hard charging Sarah Fox of Upper Main Line YMCA to win by half a second.  “I knew people were coming after me,” she said, “I needed to go faster as I could tell the competitors were close”.

Lock Haven’s 10-and-under girls had outstanding swims throughout the day as each one produced points and several podium finishes.  But it was their last event of the day, the 200 yard freestyle that put an exclamation point on their season.  Lock Haven was seeded in the two spot behind Corry YMCA.  But the girls were able to cobble together fast enough times to easily beat Corry by 2.73 seconds.  “Lock Haven hasn’t won a State YMCA relay in 31 years”, said coach Merinar.  “My recollection is a little fuzzy with age but I can’t recall the girls ever winning a State relay in our long swimming history”. 

While the girls were able to beat Corry YMCA in the final relay, they were unable to amass enough points to unseat their lead and placed second in their age group (out of 36 teams).  

Full results can be found here.

Advanced Stroke Clinic