Jones leading Knights in pool

By Derek Pyda Eagle Staff Writer

February 10, 2016 Last Updated: February 10, 2016 02:19 PM High School

Knoch's Abby Jones wins the 200 meter freestyle during a meet against Butler Tuesday night in the Golden Tornado pool.

Knoch, Butler split

BUTLER TWP — Two individual wins and a hand in a pair of relay victories.

It is the type of effort Knoch swimming coach Rick Hassler has come to expect out of senior Abby Jones.

Jones won the 200 and 500 freestyle events and helped the Knights' girls capture the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays in wins over Butler (57-45) and Burrell (60-38) Tuesday at the Butler pool.

“She's been phenomenal for us,” Hassler said of Jones. “She's a veteran and has been through the wars. The goals are out there for her at WPIALs.”

Jones has qualified for the WPIAL meet (March 3-4 at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool) in every individual event but the 100 butterfly, but said she will focus on the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

“I used to never swim the breaststroke,” said Jones. “I started putting time into it two years ago. My best time in it this year is 1:08 and that's a lot better than where I was at this time last year.”

That bodes well for Jones, considering she placed second at the district meet and seventh at states in the event as a junior.

“Brooke (Zukowski) won the breaststroke at WPIALs last year and I was second,” said Jones. “It would be cool if we could do that again.

“I focus somewhat on my seed for the WPIAL meet. I want to get into the fastest heat so we can all push each other.”

Jones began swimming for the Butler YMCA when she was 5 years old. She has since added Penn Valley to her duties outside of high school swimming.

“The (Knoch) team is like family,” she said. “We fight like brothers and sisters. It's going to be sad to leave that, not just for the high school team, but the YMCA team as well.”

Zukowski earned two individual wins in the 200 IM and the breaststroke. She and Jones teamed with Lindsey Fanton and Maya Wirtz to win the 200 medley relay. Rachael Wittmer joined Fanton, Jones and Zukowski in the 400 freestyle relay win as Knoch improved to 11-2.

Butler's Jillian McElhaney took first place in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke and swam a leg of the winning 200 freestyle relay team, which also featured Rachel Ledford, Emma Weiss and Morgan Keelan.

Butler is now 2-8 this season.

“Considering the size of these teams, this was a good meet for us because our numbers are down on the girls side this year,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci, who saw his team defeat Burrell 52-48. “I thought our girls competed well and I'm pleased with the effort.”

Butler's boys earned a sweep with a 54-47 win over Knoch and a 48-11 win against Burrell.

The Golden Tornado (8-2) received two individual wins from Joey Deemer in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

Deemer also joined forces with brother Alex, Nathan Callithen and Tukker Uniatowski to win the 200 medley relay.

Knoch's John Wilson won the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.92 — .51 seconds shy of breaking the pool record — as the Knights (11-2) earned a split with a 46-16 win over Burrell.

[naviga:h3]Girls[/naviga:h3]

Knoch 57, Butler 45

Knoch 60, Burrell 38

Butler 52, Burrell 48

200 medley relay: 1-Knoch (Maya Wirtz, Brooke Zukowski, Lindsey Fanton, Abby Jones) 2:01.07

200 freestyle: 1-Abby Jones (K) 2:05.92

200 individual medley: 1-Brooke Zukowski (K) 2:13.29

50 freestyle: 1-Jillian McElhaney (Butler) 25.82

1-meter diving: 1-Julianna DiPippa (Butler) 197.55

100 butterfly: 1-Emma Weiss (Butler) 1:03.53

100 freestyle: 1-Morgan Keelan (Butler) 59.38

500 freestyle: 1-Abby Jones (K) 5:38.29