1/7/19
Competing against some of the best competition from across the state of Pennsylvania, the Emmaus swim teams delivered impressive showings this past weekend at the New Year’s Meet Challenge held Saturday at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium. The girls won top honors, while the boys also faired well finishing third amongst the eight teams competing.
“I thought that as a team we performed very well,” said head coach Tim O’Connor. ” It was a meet we wanted to do well at, yet did not over stress it and instead just went at it like another meet on the schedule. So with how we swam and dove, the coaches were happy.
“It is always great to swim against some of the best teams in the state for our kids just to see how they measure up against others.”
The girls compiled a team score of 100 points compared to Mount Lebanon from District 7 (Pittsburgh area) which finished second with 79 points and Wilson from District 3 (Reading area) with 76.
Senior Chelsea Gravereaux had a strong meet taking first place in 100 butterfly (57.50) and second in the 100 free (52.98).
Teammate freshman Lauren Sharp took second in the 200 IM (2:15.57), while senior Katie Champagne (500 free/2:16.05), freshman Avery King (5:20.49) and Abby Heilenman (50 free/25.35) took third in their respective races.
Two of the three Hornets relay teams also had strong showings.
Gravereaux, Champagne, Heilenman and Sharp took second place in the first event of the day, the 200 medley relay in time of 1:48.82, with Gravereaux, Champagne and the King sisters teaming up for a runner-up finish in the final event, the 400 freestyle relay (3:39.89).
In the boys race, the Hornets were up against some stiff competing facing two-time defending state champion North Allegheny who ran away from the team title with 107 points and Wilson who finished second with 82 points.
Sophomore Nick Soares brought home a pair of second place finishes in the 200 free (1:48.35) and 100 backstroke (53.99), while classmate Michael Iacobelli finished runner-up in the 200 IM (1:59.91). Iacobelli also had a fourth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.41).
Another sophomore, Luke Rautzhan, was fourth in the 200 free (1:48.69) while junior Gio Germano also had a fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (53.85).
Next on the schedule for both squads will be home meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday vs Allen.
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Team scores
Girls – 1. EMMAUS 100, 2. Mt. Lebanon 79, 3. Wilson 76, T4 Hershey/Parkland 57, T6. State College/North Allegheny 41, 8. Cumberland Valley 14
Boys – 1. North Allegheny 107, 2. Wilson 82, 3. EMMAUS 66, 4. Hershey 53, Mt. Lebanon 50, 6. State College 48, 7. Parkland 30, Cumberland Valley 29