Butler swimmers sweep

December 13, 2018 Last Updated: December 13, 2018 09:39 AM High School

Butler's Laura Goettler takes first place in the girls' 200 individual medley during the Golden Tornado's swimming sweep of Indiana Wednesday night.

Freshmen Borvendeg, Holt contribute to triumphs

BUTLER TWP — Both Butler swimming and diving teams have talented members who know what high school swimming is all about.

But it never hurts for a program to field freshmen who are ready to make their mark.

The Golden Tornado appear to have at least two of them.

Freshmen Ben Borvendeg and Savannah Holt both earned two individual wins to help the boys and girls squads to wins of 107-76 and 98-88, respectively, in Wednesday's season-opening meet against Indiana.

Borvendeg's times of 22.47 in the 50-yard freestyle and 56.93 in the backstroke both qualified him for the WPIAL championship meet later this season.

Holt won the 200 freestyle (2:05.2) and 500 freestyle (5:33.52).

“I worked with both of them as eighth-graders last year, so I knew about them coming into this season,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “Ben has a lot of natural talent and he blends in well with our experienced guys. He is the missing piece to both freestyle relays for us, with Alex and Sam (Deemer) and David (Bocci).”

That quartet won both events on Wednesday.

Borvendeg has not set hard goals for himself this season, but admitted, “Getting out to PIAAs sounds pretty good. I just want to give it 100 percent and see what happens.

“Winning two events in my first varsity meet does boost my confidence, but I know there are going to be meets against teams like (North Allegheny) when I'm just going to have to tough it out.”

Borvendeg has been swimming competitively for six years, the last three for Butler's YMCA team.

“I was 11-years old when I realized that sprint freestyle and the backstroke were the events I was going to focus on.”

Holt began swimming just three years ago to, as she put it, “Get in shape. I started out with the breaststroke, but I made the transition to the freestyle with Coach Bocci's help.”

“Savannah has talent and a lot of potential,” Bocci said. “Once she learns the difference between age group swimming and high school swimming, she'll get a lot better.”

Also winning a pair of individual events for Butler's girls were Laura Goettler (200 IM, breaststroke) and Abbie Griffith (butterfly, backstroke) as the Tornado beat Indiana for the first time in seven years.

Alex Deemer (100, 200 freestyle), Sam Deemer (200 IM, butterfly) and David Bocci (500 freestyle, breaststroke) did so for the boys.

Butler will not be in action again until it hosts Mars on Jan. 4.

Girls

Butler 98, Indiana 88

200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Abbie Griffith, Laura Goettler, Rachel Ledford, Savannah Holt) 1:53.5

200 freestyle: 1-Savannah Holt (B) 2:05.2

200 individual medley: 1-Laura Goettler (B) 2:09.73

50 freestyle: 1-Hunter Fanella (I) 27.19

1-meter diving: 1-Dalayne Waterbec (B) 181.4

100 butterfly: 1-Abbie Griffith (B) 59.97

100 freestyle: 1-Rachel Ledford (B) 57.76

500 freestyle: 1-Savannah Holt (B) 5:33.52