Bethel Park young but ready for swim finals
With 19 qualifiers, 13 of them underclassmen, Bethel Park may be the swim team to watch long after the WPIAL Class AAA championships.
“We had some inexperienced swimmers really step up and help the team,” said BP head coach Dave Kutrufis. “Our sophomore and freshmen classes, particularly on the girls’ side, have a lot of potential and it will be fun to watch them grow and succeed.”
Some of that young talent to watch Feb. 20 and 21 at Trees Pool includes ninth-graders Kaylee Vanhorenbeck, Sarah Russell and Candice Chalus, as well as 10th-graders Cassie Shelpman, Krista Wycinsky , Jake McCormick and Steven Sell. Chalus will swim the 100-yard breaststroke and relays. Russell is entered in the backstroke while Vanhornbeck qualified for the 500 freestyle. Shelpman is a relay participant as is Wycinsky, but she will also race in the 200 and 500 free events. Sell duplicates those races on the boys’ side. McCormick will swim relays.
Seniors Becca Yonek, Vincent Tavoletti, Keith Powell, Isaac Penascino, Cole Blair and Steven Davis are competing in their final district championships. In addition to finishing 32nd in the diving, Penascino will race in relays with Blair, Davis, Powell and Tavoletti. Individually, Powell is entered in the IM and butterfly while Tavoletti qualified for the fly and back. Yonek is a freestyler, competing at the 200 and 500 distances.
Nick Friday will swim the 50 and 100 free as well as relays.
Maria Vighetti will swim the fly and the back while Emily Russell is ensconced in relay action.
“For the individuals on the team, I expect them to compete to the best of their abilities,” Kutrufis said. “They have all put in a tremendous amount of hard work and it will be fun to watch all that work pay off.
“As for our team expectations, we haven’t really set any. We just plan to get there, swim fast and hopefully get some kids and relays on the podium. We are a young team, so we’re looking for some of these kids to get some great experience at WPIALs and seeing what a fast meet it is.”
Juniors Brionna Litwin, Ashley Wentz and Maria Capozzi competed earlier this week in the diving.
“Our divers have been very good all year long,” said Kutrufis. “Eric Becker has done a fantastic job in helping our kids succeed at a high level.”