SV boys swim past Butler despite limited roster size

By Sam Tallarico Eagle Staff Writer

February 17, 2012 Last Updated: February 17, 2012 02:19 PM High School

Butler's Macie Pennington competes in the 200 freestyle Thursday night during the Golden Tornado's swimming loss to Seneca Valley,

BUTLER TWP — The Seneca Valley boys swimming and diving team has just nine athletes this season — but it's a very deep nine.

The Raiders have proved that all season, culminating in a 107-78 victory over Butler Thursday. The Raiders' girls team also prevailed 100-86.

“They're definitely strong. There's a lot of teams that don't expect that,” Raiders first-year coach Brian Blackwell said.

“They're a great group of guys. They work hard and, in close meets like this, the effort and practice really show.”

Mt. Lebanon needed the final relay to slip past the Raiders (6-5) earlier in the season while Fox Chapel also was able to eke out a victory.

“The one thing different this year is we dropped two (lower classification) teams and added Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic,” Blackwell noted. “We are probably one of the most undermanned teams.”

The Tornado boys (6-5) came out strong by sweeping the top three places in diving — led by Levi Cetti's score of 287.30 — then won the 200 medley relay, but still trailed 38-24 after the first five events.

Blackwell still gave his team a pep talk at the break.

“For the boys, we wanted to make sure we finished,” Blackwell said. “We struggled in that first relay.”

Mike Rhein would be the lone double individual winner in the boys meet as he won the 200 IM (2:10.42) and the 500 free (5:10.27).

Matt Myers won the 100 free (51.42), Brandon Nicklas the 200 free (1:55.41) and Michael Palaski the 50 free (23.22) and all three were members of the winning 200 free and 400 free relays along with Nick Wargo.

The Tornado's other winner on the night was Travis Myers in the 100 back (58.33).

“We haven't won against either team in years,” Butler coach Dacia Como said. “But, a couple more qualifiers is what we hoped to do. We were happy to qualify Travis in the 50 free and Macie Pennington in the (girls) 200 free and the boys 400 free relay (Myers, Hunter Dimmick, Levi Leyland and Dante Cicco).

“I had people dropping their times tremendously. I had kids come up to me with these super times and excited about looking forward to next year,” Como added.

Kathrine Miller was the big winner on the night in the girls meet as the Seneca Valley swimmer won the 100 free (56.17) and 200 free (2:03.41) and had a hand in the winning 200 and 400 free relays.

Alicia Zilka won the 50 free and was a member of those relays as were Katie Burkett and Madisen Tretter for the Raiders (7-4).

Taylor Campbell led the Tornado (5-6) with a win in the 200 IM (2:21.56) and 100 breast (1:11.29) while Macie Pennington won the 500 free (5:30.30) and Emily Bruce the 100 back (1:05.04).

The trio joined Kati Herr in the winning 200 medley relay.

“We're a very young girls team with no seniors and seven senior boys,” Como said. “I've already been scouting my classes in school for next year. We have to get those boys replaced.”

In all, the Raiders have 17 athletes qualified for the WPIAL championships while Butler numbered close to 20.

“It's a lot less left to qualify than I expected, so that's a good thing,” Blackwell said.

Notes: Both teams will try and qualify another one or two individuals at Saturday's Last Ditch Meet at North Allegheny ... Seneca Valley's Sarah Ritchie (girls 100 back) and Nicklas (boys 500 free) also qualified for the WPIAL meet.

GirlsSeneca Valley 100, Butler 86200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Emily Bruce, Taylor Campbell, Macie Pennington, Kati Herr) 1:59.05

200 freestyle: 1-Kathrine Miller (SV) 2:03.41

200 individual medley: 1-Taylor Campbell (B) 2:21.56

50 freestyle: 1-Alicia Zilka (SV) 26.60

100 butterfly: 1-Jackie Curtz (SV) 1:02.86

1-meter diving: 1-Caitlyn Kaufman (B) 216.45

100 freestyle: 1-Kathrine Miller (SV) 56.17

500 freestyle: 1-Macie Pennington (B) 5:30.30

200 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Alicia Zilka, Katie Burkett, Madisen Tretter, Kathrine Miller) 1:45.19

100 backstroke: 1-Emily Bruce (B) 1:05.04

100 breaststroke: 1-Taylor Campbell (B) 1:11.29

400 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Madisen Tretter, Katie Burkett, Alicia Zilka, Kathrine Miller) 3;48.15