Nov 20, 2024 By Jim Downey 6 min read

Mount Pleasant coach Sandy Felice has turned out top flight boys and girls programs over recent years, and that excellence has produced a number of strong swimmers.

The current senior class will add four more swimmers to the number of collegiate competitors with two boys (Joseph Gardner, David Mutter) and two girls (Lily King, Kiersten O’Connor) committing to Division I programs.

King headlines the group and enters the season after participating in the 2024 US Olympic Swimming trials last June.

King is arguably the most-dominating female swimmer not only in the WPIAL, but also the state.

She has 10 PIAA gold medals, six individual and four relay, and was the guiding force in the Lady Vikings’ back-to-back state team titles.

King holds the WPIAL Class AA record in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles. She is the district defending champion in the 100 and 200 freestyles.

King verbally committed to North Carolina State earlier, but formally signed to join the program last week.

“It’s more excitement. I’m really excited right now,” said King.

King isn’t quite sure what her course of study will be, but is leaning to either Chemistry (with an aim towards pharmacy) or English (to become an attorney).

King still believes she can drop times, whatever event she selects, which is bad news for swimmers around the district, as well as in the state.

“My main goal is to improve on last year and the years before, and go into the season with a fresh mind,” said King. “I’m ready for (her senior season). I’m excited for it.”

King continued, “Something that’s always exciting for me and comes with the idea it’s an individualish sport. Every time I go to a meet I have another chance to better myself and better what I’ve done, so I think that’s what keeps it exciting and fresh. You always have an opportunity to improve.

“I love it. It never really becomes boring to me.

“I feel like some of my times haven’t gotten to where I want them to be yet, so that’s my main goal this season. I have some times I want to get.”

O’Connor was also a key component in the Lady Vikings’ back-to-back PIAA team titles. She is the defending Class AA state champion in the 50 freestyle, placed third in the 100 backstroke, and swam the backstroke on the Lady Vikings’ gold medal performance in the 200 medley relay.

The Mount Pleasant girls also won back-to-back WPIAL team titles in 2022-23. O’Connor was on the WPIAL gold-medal winning 200 medley and freestyle relays last season.

O’Connor noted the ease of the recruiting process with the UConn coaching staff.

“All of the coaches I interacted with were super nice and super helpful. They really made the process go along smoothly,” explained O’Connor. “I talked to a bunch of schools. UConn ended up being the whole package.

“I’m a sprinter and a backstroker, and that’s exactly what they needed, so that’s what they recruited me for. I will continue to swim those events.”

O’Connor plans on majoring in communications with an eye towards sports broadcasting.

O’Connor, who played tennis in the fall, is looking forward to her last season with the Lady Vikings.

“I’m looking forward to just having fun this season and seeing what I can do without all the pressure off my back on finding a school. I’m excited for my senior season,” said O’Connor. “I’m always looking to strive for more. This year I’m looking forward to breaking my own records and swimming against myself.

“I always have a goal for a lower time. If nothing else, I’m going to work as hard as I can for my team and make myself better.”

Gardner is the next in the family to matriculate to a Division I swimming program.

Heather Gardner swam for Liberty University and is taking her COVID year this season at UNLV. SaraJo Gardner is currently swimming for Canisius.

“They gave me some helpful information, insights about visits and how to talk to coaches, and what questions to ask,” Joseph Gardner said of the recruiting process.

Gardner was impressed with the program at the University of Pittsburgh and is quite familiar with Trees Pool, the site of the WPIAL championships.

“Coach Chase Kreitler, the past four years he’s been there, they’ve done things that haven’t been done before. I believe he’s going to bring the best swimmer out of my abilities,” explained Gardner. “The ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) is the toughest conference in swimming right now.”

Gardner is a breaststroke specialist and expects to swim the same program at Pitt in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, plus the individual medley.

He brings quite a resume to the Panthers with the PIAA record time of 55.23 seconds for the gold medal in the 100 breaststroke. He held the WPIAL record, as well, but it was broken in the 2023 Class AA meet. Gardner did break his mark, though, with his silver medal finish in 55.27 seconds.

Gardner also swam the breaststroke leg on the Vikings’ record-breaking time of 1:34.15 in the 200 medley relay.

The Vikings finished second in the team standings in both the PIAA and WPIAL meets last year.

Gardner has his sights set high on what he wants to accomplish in his final high school season.

“I was second in the WPIAL last year (in the breaststroke) and lost my record. I want to get that back,” said Gardner, adding, “I’m looking to see how I can help the team, how I can be the best teammate possible. Just working hard, working towards my goals.

“I just want to enjoy it and leave everything in the water.”

Mutter will be joining Mapletown graduate Ella Menear at the University of Alabama.

“They were a late option on my list of schools. But, they came in and really wanted me,” said Mutter.

Mutter swims the butterfly and was recruited to do the same for the Crimson Tide in the 100 and 200 butterfly, plus some freestyle events.

Mutter won the gold medal in the 100 butterfly last year in a WPIAL Class AA record time of 48.30 seconds and repeated with the gold medal in record time at the state meet. He was also on the WPIAL record-breaking 200 medley relay squad and won the silver medal in the 200 freestyle.

“My one goal is to set the AA record in the 100 butterfly,” added Mutter.