Butler offering solid 1-2 punch

January 14, 2021 Last Updated: January 14, 2021 08:24 AM High School

Butler's David Bocci looks to have a standout senior season for the Golden Tornado swim team.

Deemer, Bocci set big goals for 2021 season

BUTLER TWP — Sam Deemer and David Bocci have one final season to add to already-decorated swimming careers.

The current Butler seniors both swam last March in the PIAA championship meet at Bucknell University before it was shut down due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

While there, Bocci set school records in the 100-yard butterfly (49.64 seconds) and 500 freestyle (4:36.36).

He made the most of the off-season, even though it was far different from what he was used to.

He went five months without swimming following the state meet.

“I ran and lifted as much as I could and got into the best shape of my life,” Bocci said. “There's a lot of uncertainty about the (current) season. Who knows what things are going to look like in the next few weeks, but it's out of my hands.”

Bocci said he's eyeing WPIAL titles in both of his events and believes he has a shot at a state title in the butterfly.

Deemer, who will focus on the backstroke and individual medley this season, is working toward a school record in the former.

His best backstroke time is 51.07, which is .59 seconds from Butler's standard.

“I've been working for that record for six years,” said Deemer. “I'm working my tail off.

“We don't have as much of a base this year because of the lost time in the pool, but it should still be enough to do well.”

Assuming the district and state meets are held over the next two months, Butler coach Dave Bocci believes special careers can be capped in style.

Deemer and Bocci have never failed to reach the state meet.

“They've been swimming with me since the eighth grade,” Coach Bocci said. “I know they want to end on a high note and I'm interested to see how they can close it out.”

Following are information capsules for Butler County's high school swim and dive teams.

(*) Returning state qualifier

Coach: Dave BocciGirls2019-20 record: 6-4Returning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Abbie Griffith* (butterfly/backstroke) and Katelyn Knights (relays); sophomores Ally Smith (relays) and Annabelle Turner (relays).Boys2019-20 record: 5-5Returning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors David Bocci* (butterfly/500 freestyle), Tanner Vietmeier* (freestyle) and Sam Deemer* (backstroke/IM); junior Ben Borvendeg* (50/100 freestyle); sophomore Gideon Goettler* (IM/breaststroke).Bocci says: Girls — “We're a little lighter on the girls side this year, but we have the next group coming through. We'll see who can step up.”Boys — “We have a good chance to compete for the top three spots in relays at the WPIAL meet.”

Coach: Nikki HeasleyGirls2019-20 record: 7-5Returning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Brooke Welling* (freestyle) and Madison Moretti* (freestyle/butterfly); junior Alexis Schrecongost* (multiple events)Boys2019-20 record: 2-10Returning WPIAL qualifiers: NoneHeasley says: “The cut times to qualify for the WPIAL meet have been lowered, more so than usual, to cut down on the number of swimmers at the championships (because of COVID-19).“In some cases, our swimmers will have to swim their career-best times to qualify.”

Coach: Shane FrishkornGirls2019-20 record: not availableReturning WPIAL qualifiers: senior Isabella Froedtert (relays); sophomore Maria Wilson (IM).Boys2019-20 record: not availableReturning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Zach Wilson* (50 freestyle/backstroke) and Caden Traggiai* (200/500 freestyle).Frishkorn says: Girls — “We're hoping to put some girls' names on the WPIAL board.”Boys — “We have a small team with just six boys, but our talent will show.”

Coach: Todd SlobodnyakGirls2019-20 record: 7-6Returning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Megan Smith (IM/breaststroke) and Abigail Scott (breaststroke); juniors Kirsten Maybach (diving) and Sarah Hooper (relays); sophomores Riley Connelly (50 freestyle/breaststroke) and Natalie Stasiowski (relays).Boys2019-20 record: 2-11Returning WPIAL qualifiers: senior Aidan Wolf (200/500 freestyle); juniors Jacob Harsch (freestyle) and Kevin Butler (diving); sophomore Leo Saver (50 freestyle).Slobodnyak says: Girls — “We have a strong core of WPIAL qualifiers and have added some good depth.”Boys — “Our goal is to be more competitive in meets. We're hoping some freshmen can step up and make WPIAL cuts.”

Coach: Joella BakerGirls2019-20 record: not availableReturning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Brittney Carmazzi* (butterfly/backstroke), Ainsley Bissett* (freestyle/breaststroke), Lily Lamb (backstroke); junior Katie Ravasio (freestyle/IM); sophomores Maddie Manczka* (freestyle/backstroke) and Maggie Foley* (defending WPIAL champion in diving).Boys2019-20 record: not availableReturning WPIAL qualifiers: senior Zac Baker (200/500 freestyle); juniors Julian LaPietra* (freestyle) and Ben Capozzi (freestyle); sophomores John Lamb* (IM/backstroke), Jackson Kress* (IM/backstroke/butterfly) and Matt Littleton* (IM/backstroke/butterfly).Baker says: Girls — “We have a strong team and have depth with some younger athletes.”Boys — “We lost Kyle (Maziarz, two-time WPIAL diving champion to graduation) and that is a big hit from a points standpoint. We still have a promising team and want to maintain a high level.”

Coach: Brian BlackwellGirls2019-20 record: 12-1Returning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Kristen Bedell (sprint freestyle), Carly Brunello (breaststroke), Kendall Craig* (IM/freestyle), Emma Kreber (distance freestyle); Rylie Smith (diving), Annabel Morrisard (backstroke), Edie Sawyer* (IM/breaststroke), Bella Stefanowicz (freestyle), Sydney Sweger (breaststroke); juniors Cara Della Toffalo (distance freestyle), Ria Dietz* (butterfly, backstroke), Ashley Felitsky (diving) and Abby Perry (distance freestyle).Boys2019-20 record: 12-1Returning WPIAL qualifiers: seniors Matt Stevens (distance freestyle), Connor Anderson (freestyle), Trevor Elliott* (diving), Matt Laslavic* (diving), Renhan Xu (freestyle); juniors Daniel Simoes* (IM/butterfly), Kevin Donaldson* (freestyle), Zach Lozowski* (freestyle), Owen Tekelenburg (backstroke), Sam Skeen (diving); sophomores Jeremiah Laslavic (diving), Gavin Blazer* (butterfly/backstroke), Connor Seely (backstroke), Haihan Xu* (IM/breaststroke).Blackwell says: Girls — “We're going to be losing a lot of seniors from this year's team. We'll be watching to see how they can go out. We have high expectations for this group.”Boys — “Our goal is to at least be as strong as least year, but we'd like to push toward a (WPIAL) team championship.”

Coach: Kirby BurnsGirls2019-20 record: 9-5Returning District 10 qualifiers: Alana Colvin (relays), Natalie Double (IM/500 freestyle), Alyssa Olshanski (backstroke), Grace Olshanski* (50/100 freestyle), Maggie Massella (IM/butterfly), Sarah McCandless (500 freestyle) and Reagan Suorsa (butterfly/backstroke).Boys2019-20 record: 2-12Returning District 10 qualifiers: Connor Wallace (100/200 freestyle) and Landen Suorsa (relays).Burns says: “All of our practices are being held at the Grove City YMCA. Our home meets are normally at (Slippery Rock University), but their pool is unavailable, so we're swimming all of our meets on the road.”