Goettler shines in Butler swim sweep
BUTLER TWP — Butler swimmer Gideon Goettler knows his junior season will largely be defined by how he fares in postseason meets later this winter.
But so far, so good.
In a meet against Mars Wednesday night, Goettler won the 200-yard individual medley and butterfly while swimming a leg on the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.
The effort helped the Golden Tornado defeat Mars 91-71. Butler's girls were also winners, downing Mars 97-89.
Goettler's top two events are the IM and breaststroke, but he hit the water for the butterfly against the Planets.
“I can swim every event and it's good to branch out,” he said.
He previously swam at WPIALs as a freshman and sophomore, making a huge jump in his events.
He dropped his district time in the IM by more than five seconds, placing 13th last year at 1:59.46.
He just missed earning a medal in the breaststroke last March, finishing in 1:00.22. That effort was nearly four and a half seconds faster than the previous year.
“I am swimming times right now that I didn't hit until later in the season last year,” said Goettler. “I'm ahead of schedule and hopefully, that means going even faster at WPIALs than I did the last two seasons.”
Tornado coach Dave Bocci has seen Goettler's progress and believes he could be in for a big postseason.
“He could be looking at top five at districts and possibly earning a spot at the state meet. Gideon and Ben (Borvendeg) provide good leadership for us.”
Borvendeg, the defending WPIAL champ in the 50 freestyle, won that event and the 100 freestyle Wednesday. Drew Griffith was the other swimmer to win multiple individual events for Butler (3-1), taking the 200 freestyle and backstroke.
The Planets (1-2) closed the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay courtesy of Jacob Harsch, Kevin Butler, Leo Saver and Nate Silsby.
“We're double-A on the boys side and Butler is triple-A,” said Mars coach Todd Slobodnyak. “It was good to see us keep up with them in some events.”
Bocci was impressed with the effort of his girls team. Entering the season with a lot of question marks, the Tornado are now 3-1.
After Mars opened the night with a victory in the 200 medley relay, Tornado swimmers Emma Pflugh (200 freestyle), Abigail Vance (IM) and Ally Smith (50 freestyle) won the next three events.“I liked the collective effort, especially in the first half of the meet,” Bocci said. “We swam big when we needed to tonight and it was a team effort.“We're not a (girls) team filled with stars, but to be 3-1 with a young group, that's really good for us.”Dalayne Waterbec won the diving event with a score of 205.30.Mars' girls (2-1) kept the outcome in doubt until late thanks in large part to junior Riley Connelly, who won the butterfly and breaststroke and swam on two winning relay squads.Connelly has already met WPIAL cuts in the 50 freestyle, backstroke and IM.GirlsButler 97, Mars 89 200 medley relay: Mars (Riley Connelly, Sarah Hooper, Bryn Wilson, Reagan Connelly) 2:00.15 200 freestyle: Emma Pflugh (B) 2:08.29 200 individual medley: Abigail Vance (B) 2:23.10 50 freestyle: Ally Smith (B) 27.70 1-meter diving: Dalayne Waterbec (B) 205.30 100 butterfly: Riley Connelly (M) 1:03.76 100 freestyle: Reagan Connelly (M) 58.27 500 freestyle: Annabelle Turner (B) 5:43.74 200 freestyle relay: Butler (Ally Smith, Emma Pflugh, Addison Vance, Abigail Vance) 1:51.42 100 backstroke: Bryn Wilson (M) 1:10.58 100 breaststroke: Riley Connelly (M) 1:12.59 400 freestyle relay: Mars (Sarah Hooper, Bryn Wilson, Reagan Connelly, Riley Connelly) 3:57.36 BoysButler 91, Mars 71 200 medley relay: Butler (Drew Griffith, Gideon Goettler, Ben Borvendeg, Jackson Morgus) 1:46.91 200 freestyle: Drew Griffith (B) 2:00.23 200 individual medley: Gideon Goettler (B) 2:02.09 50 freestyle: Ben Borvendeg (B) 22.63 1-meter diving: Kellen Fletcher (M) 189.10 100 butterfly: Gideon Goettler (B) 55.68 100 freestyle: Ben Borvendeg (B) 50.83 500 freestyle: Jackson Morgus (B) 5:49.61 200 freestyle relay: Butler (Ben Borvendeg, Gideon Goettler, Drew Griffith, Dashiell Thieme) 1:39.67 100 backstroke: Drew Griffith (B) 1:03.01 100 breaststroke: Sean Muchnok (M) 1:09.07 400 freestyle relay: Mars (Jacob Harsch, Kevin Butler, Leo Saver, Nate Silsby) 3:40.82
