Swimming sweep

By Sam Tallarico Eagle Staff Writer

January 22, 2013 Last Updated: January 22, 2013 01:27 PM High School

Butler's Ryan Deemer glides through the water on Monday night on his way to a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle during the Tornado's sweep of Blackhawk in a boys and girls swimming and diving dual meet.

BUTLER TWP — Stephanie O'Toole, as well as the rest of the Butler boys and girls swimming and diving teams, continue to impress.

O'Toole broke two more school and pool records — giving her seven and six, respectively, on the season — while the squads maintained their winning ways.

O'Toole set records in the 200 individual medley (2:04.71) and the 100 butterfly (56.45) and was a member of winning relays in the 200 medley and 200 free to key the Tornado girls' 95-83 victory over Blackhawk, while the boys also prevailed 99-58.

With the records, the only individual girls swimming school standard O'Toole doesn't have is the 500 free.

“What I liked about Stephanie's performance tonight was she came to perform,” Butler coach Dave Bocci said.

The school record for the 200 IM was 2:10.35 — held by Molly Evans in 2007 — and the previous pool mark of 2:09.27 was set in 2009 by Kristen Murslack of Pine-Richland.

“To do it in such a way she did is unbelievable,” Botti said. “This will make a lot of people around the WPIAL take notice.”

O'Toole broke another of Evans' school records, this time the 100 fly with a time of 56.45. Evans held the mark at 59.30, while Mars' Maggie Gruber had set the pool mark of 56.94.

Now, all that stands left is the 500 free, which Bocci believes she'll get another chance to break.

“We'll definitely swim it again,” Bocci noted. “She did a 5:15 (about 12 seconds off the school mark), but she wasn't ready for it yet. ... She's doing very well. I can't say enough about her performance.”

Taylor Campbell also keyed the Tornado girls success with wins in the 200 free (2:01.98) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.64) and was a member of those two winning relays.

Jillian McElhaney and Kati Herr also took part in the relays and McElhaney won the 100 free (57.59).

In the boys meet, Levi Leyland picked up a pair of individual wins in the 50 free (23.59) and 100 fly (59.04) and was a part of the winning 200 medley and 200 free relay teams, while Ryan Deemer, Tukker Uniatowski, Dante Cicco and Taylor Frankenstein each won an event and had a hand in two winning relays apiece.

The wins improved the girls team to 6-3, the boys to 5-4. Both squads will return to action on Thursday at Hampton.

“I'm liking the trajectory we're on,” Bocci said. “When you can swim fast when you're broken down, you'll be swimming really fast at the end.”

Girls

Butler 95, Blackhawk 83

200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Stephanie O'Toole, Taylor Campbell, Jillian McElhaney, Kati Herr) 1;53.26

200 freestyle: 1-Taylor Campbell (Bu) 2:01.98

200 individual medley: 1-Stephanie O'Toole (Bu) 2:04.71*

50 freestyle: 1-Alexis Lopez (Bl) 25.82

1-meter diving: 1-Claire Weiland (Bu) 184.55

100 butterfly: 1-Stephanie O'Toole (Bu) 56.45*

100 freestyle: 1-Jillian McElhaney (Bu) 57.59

500 freestyle: 1-Macie Pennington (Bu) 5:36.23