Delay no big deal
PITTSBURGH — The WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships normally are held on consecutive days.
But Seneca Valley coach Tom Donati and Butler's Jeff Armstrong insist the postponement of Wednesday's events to Thursday because of bad weather did not have a negative impact on their teams.
Donati watched freshman phenom Abby Myers qualify for states in her second individual event, placing third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.8 seconds Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.
The Raiders practiced Wednesday after school.
"We didn't go hard at all in practice — just loosened up and stretched out a bit," said Donati.
"We just needed to get over that relay," Donati said, referring to the girls 200 freestyle relay team that finished second Tuesday but was disqualified for a false start. "That took away a lot of our momentum. But I think the layoff allowed more rest for our kids."
Armstrong was pleased with the performance of both the boys and girls 400 freestyle relay teams.
The boys squad, made up of Alex Bauer (53.8), Erik Bergh (53.7), Hans Bergh (53.1) and Jason Clouse (51.1), saw all four swimmers reach their career best in the event.
The Golden Tornado finished in 17th place with a total time of 3:31.72.
"They dropped seven seconds off of their previous best," said Armstrong. "The guys had a great meet."
Erik Bergh also had his best times in the 500 freestyle (5:10.47) and 100 backstroke (59.07).
Butler's girls also dropped seven seconds from their top time in the 400 freestyle relay.
The quartet of Brianna Keelan, Jordan McElhaney, Morgan Morrison and Brittany Vogel placed 13th with a time of 3:48.96.
Other medalists included SV's Emily Wolfarth (fourth in 500 freestyle), Rose Snyder (fifth in 100 freestyle) and the Raiders girls' 400 freestyle relay team of Wolfarth, Julie Titley, Angela Panza and Myers finished fourth.
Those efforts helped SV place fourth in the final girls team standings with 177 points.
Butler's best finish in the girls individual events was senior Brittany Vogel, who was ninth in the 100 backstroke.
Clouse managed a 12th place effort for Butler's boys in the 500 freestyle and SV's Dan Gutmann was 10th in the breaststroke event.
The PIAA Class AAA championship meet will be held March 12 and 13 at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg.
