Strong contingent in hunt for WPIAL swimming medals
These eight boys will represent Laurel Highlands in the WPIAL swim meet today and Friday at Trees Pool. First row, from left, are Brandon Thomas, Lucas Thomas, Jacob Hughes and Caleb Ruthardt. Second row, from left, are Cameron Lizza, Daniel Keith, Logan Knoyer and Theo Skoric.
These eight girls will represent Laurel Highlands in the WPIAL swim meet today and Friday at Trees Pool. Front row, from left, are Amanda Komula, Karlie Valek, Mackenzie Robatin and Emily Yarish. Second row, from left, are Lexi Kostelnik, Kristen Bane, Chloe Faris and Brooke Mansberry.
Geibel Catholic sophomore Emily Zimcosky returns to the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool to defend her title as the No. 1 finisher in the 100-yard freestyle in the WPIAL Class AA championships today and tomorrow.
She is joined by 36 other swimmers from local schools competing in the Class AAA/AA championships, including Connellsville, Geibel Catholic, Laurel Highlands, Belle Vernon and Uniontown. Connellsville and Laurel Highlands girls compete in Class AAA, while all other teams compete in Class AA.
Zimcosky is one of nine swimmers to hold a top eight seed going into today’s competition. She is once again the top seed in the 100 freestyle in Friday’s race, with a qualifying time almost two full seconds ahead of the No. 2 seed. She is also seeded first in the 50-yard freestyle today.
Senior John Paul Zimcosky joins his sister in the championships, seeded first in the 50 freestyle (he took fourth last year) and seeded eighth in the 100 freestyle. The Gators will also send sophomore Steve Conko to compete. Conko finished sixth in both the 100-yard backstroke and the 100 butterfly last year. He is the fourth seed in the backstroke this year and is seeded fifth in the butterfly.
Uniontown will send sophomore Elizabeth Klingensmith to compete in the 100 butterfly. Klingensmith is seeded fourth, the only swimmer from Uniontown to earn a top eight seed in her event.
The Red Raiders are sending eight other swimmers to compete in various events in the championships.
Laurel Highlands has six swimmers seeded eight or higher heading to Trees Pool today and Friday, with all six competing in more than one event.
The Mustangs are sending two freshman this year, Lexi Kostelnik and Brandon Thomas. Kostelnik is ranked sixth in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle. Thomas is seeded eighth in the 200 IM. He is also competing in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Sophomore Logan Knoyer is seeded third in the 50 freestyle, sixth in the 100 freestyle and will be competing with Thomas in both relays.
Laurel Highlands junior Emily Yarish will be swimming as the No. 8 seed in the 200 IM today, as well as the eighth seed in the 100-yard breaststroke tomorrow.
Seniors Jacob Hughes and Lucas Thomas will both be competing in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Hughes is also seeded eighth in the 100-yard backstroke, while Lucas Thomas is seeded fifth in the 100 breaststroke.
The Laurel Highlands boys team of Lucas Thomas, Hughes, Knoyer and Justin Kostelnik placed in both the 200 yard freestyle relay (third) and the 400 freestyle relay (sixth) last year. The Mustangs return this year for both events, but without Kostelnik, who graduated last year. Freshman Brandon Thomas filled the spot, and the team is seeded fourth in the 200 freestyle relay and eighth in the 400 freestyle relay.
Laurel Highlands is sending nine other swimmers to compete in the championships, while Belle Vernon and Connellsville are each sending five.
Laurel Highlands’ Theo Skoric and Uniontown’s Braden Carei look to add more events in the pool after already advancing to PIAA Diving Championships March 12-15 at Bucknell University. Skoric finished in sixth place in the Class AA finals with 315.90 points, while Carei finished in seventh at 279.70.