Jersey Shore Squeaks By Lock Haven

The 10-and-under girls 25 yard backstroke
start off the blocks

One of Lock Haven’s largest teams in recent history visited Jersey Shore in an early season matchup but ultimately fell short in a 6-4 loss.  Shore was able to capture all the girl’s age groups while Lock Haven took all the male categories except for the 14-and-unders. “It wasn’t too long ago that Lock Haven was the perennial doormat in the Bald Eagle Swim League, losing many of the meets 10-0”, said head coach Joel Blesh.  “Not only are we competitive now, but we are building their skills and these kids are coming together as a team, having fun, and swimming fast”.

The future looks promising for the Lock Haven Loggerheads, especially with the young swimmers coming up in the 8-and-under boys.   They were able to capture all first place finishes in the relays and individual events.  The group was especially dominating in the 25 yard backstroke as Owen Persun, Will Straley, and Simon Lins swept the event.  Persun also picked up the win in the 25 yard freestyle with teammates Leisher Gugino and Straley locking up first place in the 25 yard breaststroke and butterfly respectively.

Shore’s depth in the 10-and-under girls propelled them to their second win in as many meets.  Their dominance started and ended with the relays.  Jordan O’Connor, Briar Lehman, Taylor Fleming, and Sadie Griswold touched out Lock Haven by over two seconds in the opening 100 yard medley relay.  O’Connor and Fleming then teamed up with Isabelle Hale and Isabelle Griswold to finish off the night with a win in the 100 yard freestyle relay over Shore’s number two and second place relay (Gabbie Bellomo, Allison Moore, Marissa Brady, and S. Griswold) and Lock Haven’s Morgan Brian, Leslie Shadle, Makayla Sampson, and Samantha Uhler.  “These girls are starting to grasp the importance of times and speed,” said Jersey Shore coach Dave Keegan “and becoming more aware of pool and league records.”  “It’s nice to see them realize the potential they have on this team and within their age-group.”

Lock Haven’s Avery Mahoney out in front of
Shore swimmer Isabelle Griswold in the girls 10-and-under
50 freestyle.

In between the relays, they split the individual events (three apiece) with Lock Haven as the black and orange took the majority of second and third place finishes.  Haven’s Shadle touched out all swimmers in the 25 yard freestyle but Shore’s I. Griswold and G. Bellomo prevented any other Lock Haven swimmers from picking up points by finishing second and third respectively.  The same scenario played out in the 50 yard freestyle where Lock Haven’s Avery Mahoney touched the wall first shortly followed by Shore’s I. Griswold and S. Griswold. 

 

Shore’s 12-and-under girls continued their assault on league and pool records.  Gabbie Moore, Sam Keegan, Emma Butzler, and Kendra White set new league records in the 200 yard medley and freestyle relays (from 1996 and 2007 respectively).  Butzler also broke the pool record from 2007 in the 50 yard freestyle.

Without skipping a beat, Jersey Shore’s Tycen Whitman
pushes past a goggle malfunction to finish the 10-and-under 25
yard butterfly.