Red Raiders cruise to 87-49 victory over rival LH
Uniontown swept the diving to open Thursday’s Section 2-AA meet and the Red Raiders didn’t look back for a 87-49 victory over visiting Laurel Highlands.
Uniontown’s Wyatt Dean scored a WPIAL qualifying-standard 212.30 points to win diving. Teammate Judah Bean also met the standard with 169.05 points for second place. Jonathan Hirsch made it a clean sweep in third place with 117.50 points.
The Red Raiders’ Logan Voytish won a spirited battle with Laurel HIghlands’ Kasey Mahoney in the 200 IM. Voytish touched the wall in 2:03.76, with Mahoney close behind in 2:05.18. Both times met the WPIAL qualifying standard.
Voytish held a slight lead after the opening butterfly leg and maintained the advantage after the backstroke..Mahoney surged ahead after the breaststroke, but Voytish regained the advantage in the final 25 yards of the freestyle for the win.
Voytish also was on the 200 medley relay squad that placed second. The senior finished the 100 backstroke in a qualifying time, but competed in exhibition.
Voytish closed the meet with a leg of the 400 freestyle relay in exhibition.
Voytish has qualified in seven individual events, and isn’t sure which he’ll select. He won WPIAL medals in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly last year.
“The butterfly and 200 IM are back-to-back at states. Maybe I’ll do the 200 IM and backstroke. That sounds crazy. That’s a stretch, but it’s something we considered,” said Voytish. “It will matter how I’m doing. It matters how I feel in the stroke.
“I’m not worried about the IM, back or fly.”
Voytish believes he’s in a good position for solid performances in the district and state meets.
“I am a little ahead of last year,” added Voytish.
The Red Raiders’ Brody Schiffbauer, Parker King, Cameron Soltis and Chase Brumley won the 200 medley relay in 1:57.98.
Rocco Furrer (200 freestyle, 2:19.03), Schiffbauer (50 freestyle, 27.35), Donte Rugula (100 butterfly, 1:09.61), and Chase King (500 freestyle, 5:55.72) all finished first for Uniontown.
Mahoney won the 100 freestyle in a qualifying time of 52.28 seconds. He also swam the opening leg of the victorious 200 freestyle relay.
The sophomore’s time in the two individual events were the fastest of his high school season.
“I wanted to mix it up a little bit,” Mahoney said of his two individual events. “I’m still debating which two events to do.”
Mahoney said he will base his decision on himself, not necessarily where he stands on the qualifying list.
“It’s me against me. I don’t worry about the list. (His decision) will be based on times and to see what’s best for me,” explained Mahoney.
The regular season is winding down, so Mahoney will need to make a decision soon.
“I’ll start focusing on my events,” said Mahoney, who added he’s leaning towards the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM.
The Mustangs’ Aidan Swaney won the 100 backstroke in 1:32.42, while Jackson Wade finished first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:43.82.
Albert Gallatin sophomore Aaron Moccaldi came tantalizingly close to making the time in the 200 IM. Moccaldi finished in 2:18.38, just .88 seconds off the standard. He was also close in the 500 freestyle with his time of 5:32.51 about 2½ seconds off the mark.
“I had a good time in the IM last week at (a YMCA event). I’m about where I’ve been in the 200 IM,” said Moccaldi. “I’m not really looking at the competition. My mindset is that my biggest competition is myself.
“The opportunities are becoming slim. I need to go big or go home. It’s not what I need to do, but what I want to do.”