Laurel Highlands sweeps swim meet over Uniontown
Even if his post-game “bath” was a bit unconventional, Ed Yauger didn’t mind. His Laurel Highlands swim team had just swept an opponent – cross-town rival Uniontown no less – for the eighth time this season.
The meet served as a quality tune-up for the upcoming WPIALs, which will be held Feb. 21-22 at the University of Pittsburgh.
Laurel Highlands’ boys and girls breezed to victories, with the Mustangs posting a 94-67 win, while the Fillies prevailed, 98-74. Afterwards, Yauger and assistant coach Darren DeCarlo were both thrown into the pool by their charges.
The final scores were a bit deceiving, but indeed reflected a touch of class on Yauger’s part.
With four events to go, Laurel Highlands had commanding leads when Yauger decided his team would swim the remaining events exhibition. This meant Laurel Highlands’ times counted towards qualifying only, while Uniontown picked up points for the event, win or lose.
Aside from exhibitions, Laurel Highlands captured every event but one, and two swimmers – senior Zernie Parker and freshman Adam Collins – established new Mustang records. Parker’s time of 1:03.28 in the 100-yard breaststroke set a new school record, while Collins’ time of 56.34 in the 100-yard backstroke was good for a new pool record.
Discounting exhibitions, the Mustangs’ Eric Wang captured the 200- and 500-yard freestyles, while Dustin Stalnaker topped the field in the 200-yard I.M. and the 100-yard freestyle. Jimmy Tesauro and Kevin Collins also picked up victories, in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly, respectively.
On the girls’ side, Sara Bonchosky picked up wins in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly, while Keri Smiell captured two events (50- and 100-yard freestyles). The 50-yard freestyle was a hotly contested event, as Smiell edged teammate Theresa Reilly by .26 hundredths of a second.
Fillies sophomore Samantha Meese captured the 500-yard freestyle with a mark of 6:15.11.
“The girls are getting to the point where they are several wins over .500 each year, while the boys always seem to have that one team, that one thorn in their side,” Yauger said. “I’m very pleased with how we’ve swam this year. This will be one of the largest group of individual qualifiers on the boys side in a long time.”
Leading a parade of Mustang qualifiers is senior Kevin Collins, who has earned the right to compete in eight events. He has qualified in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay, the 200-yard medley relay, the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle, the 200-yard I.M. and the 100-yard fly.
Stalnaker, a junior, has qualified in five events, including the 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays, 200 freestyle, 200 I.M. and 100 fly, while Adam Collins got under the WPIAL mark in four events (200, 400 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and 100 backstroke).
Tesauro, a sophomore, qualified in all three relays, while Parker will go in the 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay. Sophomore Tony Marghella has also qualified in two events, the 200 free, and 200 medley relays, with senior Will Ashton and sophomore Alex Mundel qualifying in the 200 medley relay.
Uniontown’s boys’ team will send a host of qualifiers to Pittsburgh as well. Senior Brady Christopher leads the Red Raiders, qualifying in four events (200, 400 freestyle relays, 200 medley relay and 100 backstroke).
Seniors Fran Smith and Ron Milne made the mark in all three relay events, as did senior Rick Jenkins and Aaron Moreau. West Winning, also a senior, has qualified in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay.
Eric Hughes, the top male diver Thursday night with a score of 1:38.95 points, qualified for the same event, while Dave Slusarick, Mac Festa, Steve Lint and senior Andy Gleason have qualified in the 200 freestyle relay. Rick Moser made the mark in the 200 medley relay.
“We’ve had a good season,” said Uniontown coach Ryan Davis. “We lost a lot of seniors last year, but we dropped down in division and we had a lot of guys who really wanted to make the WPIALs. We also tried to get a lot of younger guys to qualify, so they’ll know what it takes and come back next year stronger.”
For the girls, Uniontown was shut out when it came to WPIAL qualifying, but Laurel Highlands will send a host of swimmers led by Bonchosky. The senior has qualified in six events, including the three relays, as well as the 200 freestyle, 100 fly and 200 I.M.
Smiell, a junior, isn’t far behind, qualifying in the three relays, and the 50 and 100 freestyles. Reilly, a sophomore, has qualified in all three relays, while junior Kara Dinsmore will go in the 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay.
Senior Angela Shotter and freshman Erin Perry qualified in the 200 freestyle relay.
“I’m really expecting that we will do well, both the boys and girls,” Yauger said. “These kids have worked really hard. I think it will be exciting, fun and fast. It will be interesting to see how things work out.”