Thrice is nice
PITTSBURGH — Some elite swimmers have to look to opposing teams to be tested.
Brooke Zukowski gets that in practice.
Knoch's junior won her third consecutive WPIAL Class AA girls 100-yard breaststroke title at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool on Friday. Finishing in second place was her teammate, senior Abby Jones.
“Having somebody push you is the only way you're going to get better,” Zukowski said. “For me, that's every day in practice and it's great.”
Zukowski continues to improve with each district crown. As a freshman two years ago, she won the breaststroke with a time of 1 minute, 5.05 seconds. Last year, she turned in a 1:04.59. Her latest title came by swimming a school-record time of 1:03.43.
“For me, it's just about improving every year,” said Zukowski. “It's a constant goal.”
Zukowski led throughout the race, though she was unable to see that for herself.
“I couldn't see anything,” she said. “My goggles filled with water right at the start.”
“Nobody works harder than Brooke,” said Knights' assistant coach Pete Pivaronas. “She's very passionate about swimming.”
It was the second straight year that Jones finished runner-up to her teammate. Both automatically qualified for the state meet, as did Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic sophomore Brooke Carmazzi, who placed fourth.
“My times would not be anywhere near where they are if it weren't for Brooke,” Jones said. “We push and motivate each other. I just hope I'm lucky enough to have someone like that in college.”
In the boys' meet, Knoch's John Wilson was the defending champion in the breaststroke, but settled for second with a school-record finish of 58.88. Only Quaker Valley's Kyle Hrabovsky placed ahead of Wilson with a new WPIAL standard of 58.13.
Last season, Hrabovsky was second behind Wilson at WPIALs by .69 seconds.
“Kyle and I have been going back and forth this year with getting better times,” said an upbeat Wilson. “I knew it was going to be a shootout and he got the better of it today. Congrats to him. I'm very happy with my performance.”
Mars senior Joseph Folz will be swimming at states in four events. After moving on in the 200 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay on Thursday, he placed third in the 500 freestyle and joined up with Andrew Ivory, Andrew Pierre and Jimmy Pierre to take fifth place in the 400 freestyle relay.
Also advancing are Jimmy Pierre (fourth in 100 backstroke) and Andrew Pierre (fifth in 500 freestyle).
