3/5/19
Both the Emmaus girls and boys swim teams entered the District XI Class 3A Championships as prohibitive favorites to win gold.
Neither disappointed.
The girls squad snapped rival Parkland’s 10-year consecutive run of winning district championships with its first title since 2007-08, while the boys continued their dominance with an incredible 12th straight crown on Saturday evening before a standing-room only crowd at Parkland High School.
“It was a great team effort,” said longtime Emmaus head coach Tim O’Connor. “I told the kids that we need every ounce of everybody to go into this meet because everybody is going to bring their best. You may not feel great or you might not be in the mood, but you have to bring your enthusiasm today to have a total team effort to be successful, especially on the girls side because we were trying to do something we haven’t done since 2008.”
It had been a long time since the girls were able to celebrate winning district gold, but it finally happened as they rolled to the team title with 509.5 points, some 75 points better than their nemesis Parkland (434).
“It feels really good,” said senior Chelsea Gravereaux, who won a pair of gold medals ” Today we made history and that’s awesome. We have a great group of girls and it was great that we can share it with the guys. We were both No. 1 today.”
“This group of seniors was close two years ago, beating them (Parkland) in the regular season but not holding up in districts,” said O’Connor. “I told the girls we’ve down this path and you can’t just sit on your laurels. They had two weeks to prepare and they were focused. They really came together and that’s where the senior class was evident.”
Chelsea, Reilly King, Abby Heilenman, Katie and Maggie Champagne, Jordyn Yerger and Caroline Nelson they all really rallied the kids. They never experienced this before. What a great night and moment for these seniors . That’s what’s it all about.”
Gravereaux won gold in the 100 butterfly and was also part of the Hornets winning 200-medley relay along with the Champagne sisters and freshman Lauren Sharp. Emmaus also won the 200 free relay with both Champagnes teaming with Heilenman and sophomore Peyton Rautzhan.
Sharp, competing in her first district competition, also won gold as she finished first in the 100 breaststroke.
In the boys race, the Hornets ran away with the team title posting 511 points, easily outdistancing themselves from second place Parkland (302).
“I’m really, really thrilled for them and I’m glad they could enjoy this meet and be successful because that’s why I push everybody hard for moments like this,” said O’Connor. “The guys showed up and they did what they needed to do and it was a great meet all around.”
Sophomore standout Michael Iacobelli had an outstanding two days for the Hornets as he won a pair of gold medals (200 IM and 100 breaststroke) to go along with two silvers in the Hornets 200 medley and 200 free relay teams.
“Our goal from the beginning of the year was be better than last year and I think we showed that today,” said Iacobelli. “Our freshmen class came up and grew tremendously throughout the year. They were motivated to make this district team and help us win a 12th straight district title.”
Iacobelli’s classmate, Luke Rautzhan, also won gold in the 500 freestyle, while senior Evan Bova, junior Devin Metzger and sophomores Connor Shriver and Nick Soares all had standout performances for the Hornets.
Next up for Emmaus will be the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships which get underway on March 13 and continue through March 16 at Bucknell University.
Like Emmaus Swimming on facebook, follow @Emmaussports on twitter for continued updates on the team.
District XI Class 3A Swimming Championships (@ Parkland HS)
RESULTS (GIRLS):
200 medley relay – 1. Emmaus (Katie Champagne, Lauren Sharp, Chelsea Gravereaux, Maggie Champagne), 1:45.02
200 free – 1. Parkland – Kayla Johnson, 1:55.35; 2. Emmaus – Reilly King, 1:57.38; 3. Avery King, 1:57.73
200 IM – 1. Parkland – Ally Lin, 2:05.25; 2. Emmaus – Katie Champagne, 2:07.11; 3. Northampton – Sarah Hosking, 2:09.04
50 free – 1. Nazareth – Raquelle Roesch, 24.13; 2. Emmaus – Abby Heilenman, 24.17; 3. PM East – Lauren Fenn, 24.37
100 butterfly – Emmaus – Chelsea Gravereaux, 56.54; 2. Emmaus – Mya Puentes, 59.27
200 free relay – 1. Emmaus (Katie Champagne, Abby Heilenman, Maggie Champagne, Peyton Rautzhan), 1:36.87
100 free – 1. Nazareth – Raquelle Roesch, 52.02 2. Emmaus – Chelsea Gravereaux, 52.40; 3. Parkland – Kayle Johnson, 53.67
500 free – 1. Parkland – Ally Lin, 4:59.78; 2. Parkland – Olivia Stevenson, 5:11.96; 3. Emmaus – Reilly King, 5:13.41
100 back- 1. PM East – Lauren Fenn, 56.75; 2. Emmaus – Katie Champagne, 57.18; 3. Liberty – Sam Taylor, 58.63
100 breast – 1. Emmaus – Lauren Sharp, 1:04.91; 2. Northampton – Sarah Hosking, 1:05.99; 3. Emmaus – Chloe Vlaeminck, 1:08.07
400 free relay – 1. Parkland (3:34.29); 2. Emmaus (Avery King, Reilly King, Peyton Rautzhan, Chelsea Gravereaux), 3:34.50; 3. Liberty – 3:39.06
Team scores – 1. Emmaus 509.5, 2. Parkland 434, 3. Liberty 208, 4. Nazareth 193, 5. Northampton 159
RESULTS (BOYS):
200 medley relay – 1. Nazareth (1:33.62), 2. Emmaus (Michael Iacobelli, Evan Bova, Gio Germano, Devin Metzger), 1:35.83
200 free – 1. Solehi – Janik Wing, 1:43.59, 2. Emmaus – Nick Soares, 1:44.03; 3. Emmaus – Luke Rautzhan, 1:44.13
200 IM – 1. Emmaus – Michael Iacobelli, 1:54.00; 2. Parkland – James Zhang, 1:58.14; 3. Emmaus – Evan Bova, 1:59.56
50 free – 1. Liberty – Jake Evert, 20.32; 2. Nazareth – Brendan Alvino, 21.94; 3. Emmaus – Devin Metzger, 22.07
100 fly – 1. Nazareth – Gabe Laslo, 50.66; 2. Solehi – Janik Wing, 50.97; 3. Freedom- Al Bell, 51.44
200 free relay – 1. Nazareth (1:26.76); 2. Emmaus (Devin Metzger, Michael Iacobelli, Connor Shriver, Nick Soares), 1:27.28; 3. Liberty (1:27.28)
100 free – 1. Liberty – Jake Evert, 44.50; 2. Emmaus – Connor Shriver, 47.89; 3. Freedom – Al Bell, 47.96
500 free – 1. Emmaus – Luke Rautzhan, 4:41.44; 2. Parkland- Gavin Webb, 4:43.42
100 back – 1. Nazareth – Logan Holt, 50.20; 2. Nazareth- Blake Nesbitt, 51.38; 3. Emmaus – Nick Soares, 52.24
100 breast – 1. Emmaus – Michael Iacobelli, 59.09; 2. Emmaus- Evan Bova, 1:00.48; 3. Parkland – Shawn Kushner, 1:00.87
400 free relay – 1. Nazareth (3:10.29); 2. Emmaus (Connor Shriver, Jack Sharp, Luke Rautzhan, Nick Soares), 3:11.62; 3. Liberty (3:14.30)
Team scores – 1. Emmaus 511, 2. Parkland 302, 3. Nazareth 264.5, 4. Solehi 228.5, 5. Liberty 188