HS SWIMMING: 2022-23 Schuylkill League preview capsules (copy)
Dec. 9—GIRLS
Blue Mountain
Head coach: Pete Sarnes (2nd season)
Last season: 13-1, 10-0 SL. Schuylkill League champion, District 11 Class AA team champion, PIAA Class AA eighth-place
Returnees: Hannah Magdeburg (sr.), Sarah Magdeburg (sr.), Andie Zeplin (sr.), Mollie Sarnes (jr.), Ashley Lake (jr.), Kylie Fehr (jr.), Paige Bensinger (jr.), Victoria Ellex (jr.), Kaitlyn Zulli (soph.), Sage Kaplafka (soph.), Julia Crossen (soph.), Emma Lutz (soph.)
Newcomers: Kamryn Moran (soph.), Izabel Zajac (soph.), Natalie Brown (soph.), Shyanna White (fr.), Taya Perry (fr.), Charlotte Bachman (fr.), Arpita Mishra (fr.)
Outlook: The Eagles graduated a pair of 1,000-point scorers in Katherine Sarnes and Morgan Yuengling, who were multiple District 11 medal-winners and PIAA qualifiers over the past four years, but plenty of talent remains. Two-time All-Area Girls' Swimmer of the Year Hannah Magdeburg returns, as does District 11 breaststroke champion Bensinger and state qualifiers Ellex, Sarah Magdeburg and Kaplafka. Finding a fourth swimmer to join Hannah Magdeburg, Bensinger and Ellex on the top relay is a key objective, while younger swimmers must step up to fill voids. Blue Mountain has won 80 straight league dual meets entering the season. The Eagles are the league favorite until somebody beats them.
Mahanoy Area
Head coach: Darren Kline (4th season)
Last season: 6-4, 6-4 SL
Returnees: Abby Dudash (sr.), Izabel Lynn (sr.), Oceana O'Boyle (sr.), Tabbatha Ward (sr.), Kaylee Senglar (jr.), Morgan Denchy (jr.), Alexis Chilinskas (soph.), Carly Honus (soph.), Samantha Ritsko (soph.)
Newcomers: Urijah Fazio (fr.)
Outlook: Excitement is high at Mahanoy Area, where the Golden Bears' entire 200 medley relay team of Dudash, Ward, O'Boyle and Senglar returns after placing third at districts and 25th at states. Ward, Dudash and Senglar also captured individual district medals. With just 10 swimmers and no divers, Mahanoy Area may not have enough depth to challenge Blue Mountain for the league title. However, expect Bears to be big players in the postseason at the league, district and state level.
North Schuylkill
Head coach: Marcie Ackell (1st season)
Last season: 2-9, 1-9 SL
Returnees: Tia Malafarina (sr.), Olivia Kehler (sr.), Grace Menuchak (sr.), Kenna Wonsock (jr.), Emily Welna (jr.), Emalie Farrone (jr.), Abby Orkin (jr.), Mackenzie Lavas (soph.), Geneiveve Salefski (soph.), Erika Trexler (soph.), Vivian Swartz (soph.), Joyce Burian (soph.), Jamie Love (soph.)
Newcomers: Kay Lee Morgan (jr.), Jaelyn Pennypacker (jr.), Ellie Huntzinger (jr.), Adelle Ballay (jr.), Meaghan Connors (soph.), Brian Lavin (soph.), Ava Hubler (fr.), Maya Barnett (fr.), Katelyn Nahodil (fr.), Kamryn Wolfe (fr.), Elizabeth Nahodil (fr.), Caitlin Miller (fr.), Alyssa McElhenny (fr.), Addison Lesher (fr.)
Outlook: Ackell's first season at the helm begins with a roster of 27 girls, including 14 newcomers, perhaps the biggest girls' swimming roster North Schuylkill has ever had. District medalists Welna and Wonsock lead the way, while the diving trio of Love, Burian and Swartz should earn valuable dual-meet points. Should improve.
Pottsville
Head coach: Greg Schuettler (11th season)
Last season: 10-3, 8-2 SL
Returnees: Carly Mohl (sr.), Gwen Biddle (sr.), Brenna Davis (sr.), Chloe Heintz (sr.), Kaitlin Painter (sr.), Madison Wright (sr.), Emma Seiger (jr.), Caitlyn Peleschak (soph.), Madison Forbes (soph.), Jillian Horvath (soph.), Adalia LaSelva (soph.), Elizabeth Martinko (soph.)
Newcomers: Alana Bachman (soph.)
Outlook: Tide must replace six seniors lost to graduation, including two, state qualifiers District 11 champion Taleah Ruben and Julia Balulis, who were team leaders the past four years. Mohl and Elizabeth Martinko swam on a District 11 gold-medal-winning relay team that competed at states and must become team leaders. Repeating last year's 10-win campaign might be tough to accomplish.
Schuylkill Haven
Head coach: Sharon Wenrich (24th season)
Last season: 6-8, 2-8 SL
Returnees: Kyleigh Book (sr.), Grace Bright (sr.), Rylee Brown (jr.), Cali Stank (jr.), Kathryn Wank (jr.), Nicole Domermuth (soph.), Teagan Wehr (soph.)
Newcomers: Cali Stauffer (fr.)
Outlook: The Hurricanes lost three key cogs to last year's team to graduation in District 11 backstroke champion Erika Zimmerman, Schuylkill League diving champion Melissa Ellis and diving runner-up Olivia Lang, so focusing on individual goals will be key. Keep an eye on Domermuth, who had a breakout year last season as a freshman.
Tamaqua
Head coach: Jennifer Paisley (6th season)
Last season: 5-9, 3-7 SL
Returnees: Mia Jones (sr.), Lexi Buchala (jr.), Gabrielle Blasko (jr.), Addison Krall (soph.), Andrea Betz (soph.), Emily Kohlmeir (jr.), Erika Campomizzi (soph.), Hannah Bachert (soph.), Isabella Jones (soph.), Keira McGuinness (soph.), Kimberly Rudy (soph.), Lily McNutt (jr.)
Newcomers: Avery Deitrich (soph.), Audrey Nattress (fr.), Ava Jones (fr.), Ceanna Gormley (fr.), Destiny Steinmetz (fr.), Lyla Clemson (fr.), Savannah Wilson (fr.)
Outlook: The Blue Raiders are definitely building for the future, as their roster of 19 girls includes just one senior, Mia Jones. Buchala was an All-Area pick as a sophomore after winning a pair of District 11 medals and needs to be a consistent point-getter. How quickly a group of seven newcomers fills lanes will determine Raiders' team success.
BOYS
Blue Mountain
Head coach: Pete Sarnes (2nd season)
Last season: 14-0, 10-0 SL. Schuylkill League champion, District 11 Class AA team champion
Returnees: Noah Powers (soph.), Matheson Bair (jr.), Braden Nester (sr.), Kyan Mitchell (sr.), Liam McKay (jr.), Christian Fisher (jr.), Van Caliendo (jr.), Axton Kelly (soph.), Michael Frey (soph.)
Newcomers: Cole Schaeffer (sr.), Francesco Carr (fr.), Jonathan Hart (fr.), Liam Magdeburg (fr.), Donald Moyer (fr.), Gabriel Kamarousky (fr.)
Outlook: State champion Powers and fellow state medalist Bair return to lead a rather inexperienced group that must replace state qualifiers Taber Perry and Logan Stein. The All-Area Male Swimmer of the Year, Powers will have the spotlight on him wherever he goes. How fast he goes will be interesting to watch. Team-wise, need younger swimmers to step up and fill voids, especially in the relays. League favorite.
Mahanoy Area
Head coach: Darren Kline (4th season)
Last season: 1-9, 1-9 SL
Returnees: Jake Hillibush (sr.), Bohdan Van Horn (jr.)
Newcomers: Reese Steibler (fr.)
Outlook: With just three swimmers, dual-meet success is almost impossible. Expect big things individually from Hillibush, who was the Schuylkill League champion and District 11 runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and placed 18th at states a year ago.
North Schuylkill
Head coach: Marcie Ackell (1st season)
Last season: 4-7, 4-6 SL
Returnees: Gavin Mentzer (soph.), Chase Meyers (soph.)
Newcomers: Steven Cope (sr.), Hayden Hornung (jr.), Joe Campbell (soph.)
Outlook: Spartans have just five swimmers, so dual-meet success will be rough. Lost state qualifier Travis Stanitis to graduation. Keep an eye on All-Area pick Mentzer, who was the Schuylkill League champion and second at districts in the 100 backstroke a year ago.
Pottsville
Head coach: Greg Schuettler (2nd season)
Last season: 6-7, 5-5 SL
Returnees: Xander Hirsch (sr.), Zachary Ott (sr.), Bryce Sadowski (sr.), Vincent Prestileo (jr.), Caden Wright (soph.)
Newcomers: Kenneth Accardi (jr.), Noah Bevan (fr.), Killian Bressler (fr.), William Davis (fr.), Adam Klinger (fr.), Michael Prestileo (fr.)
Outlook: An increase in numbers should make the Crimson Tide more competitive in dual meets and improve upon their record from last season. Ott was a Schuylkill League champion in the 50 breaststroke a year ago and earn two district medals, while the foursome of Vincent Prestileo, Ott, Wright and Hirsch was third in the 400 freestyle relay.
Schuylkill Haven
Head coach: Sharon Wenrich (24th season)
Last season: 3-11, 3-7 SL
Returnees: Reese Felty (sr.), Sean Coyle (sr.), Aidan McKee (sr.), Damian Naranjo (jr.)
Newcomers: Jacob O'Toole (sr.), Bryce Umbenhauer (sr.), Bruce Stein (fr.)
Outlook: With just seven swimmers, Hurricanes don't have the depth to compete with Blue Mountain, Pottsville or Tamaqua, but should finish in the middle of the league standings. Felty is the one to watch here, as the two-time state qualifier was 10th in the 50 freestyle and 18th in the 100 freestyle last year at states.
Tamaqua
Head coach: Jennifer Paisley (6th season)
Last season: 9-5, 7-3 SL
Returnees: Alex Zehner (jr.), Alexander Nattress (sr.), Brandon Long (sr.), Caleb Wolbach (jr.), Ethan DiBonifazio (jr.), Jack Tharp (jr.), Jacob Hehn (soph.), Jathan Krall (jr.), Jesse Gormley (jr.), Stephen Behun (jr.), Vincenzo Valentine (soph.)
Newcomers: Gianni Valentine (sr.), Sean Wall (sr.), Peter McGinley (jr.), Nicholas Barron (soph.), Brody Boyce (soph.), Anthony Marchetti (soph.), William Behun (fr.), Logan Morgans (fr.)
Outlook: The Blue Raiders will look to continue to build off the momentum gained toward the end of last season. The combination of Long, Stephen Behun, Krall, Tharp and Hehn helped Tamaqua win three District 11 relay medals and will look to improve upon those finishes. Raiders don't have the star power Blue Mountain has, but they have as much depth. Will be the Eagles' biggest challenger atop the league standings.
