Mt. Lebanon duo breaks WPIAL record
The Mt. Lebanon boys finished runner-up to North Allegheny in the WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships. The Blue Devils tallied 295 points while the Tigers won with a 442 score. Lebo had three individual champions in Brian Ramsey (IM), Jack Rice (50 free) and Jack Lanphear (100 breast).
Mt. Lebanon earned the WPIAL Class AAA runner-up trophy for girls’ swimming, finishing second to North Allegheny, 348-313.5. The Blue Devils were powered by victories in the 200- and 400-free relays as well as individual triumphs by Angie Gyurina in the 50 free and Trinity Ward in the 100 butterfly.
Four years ago, as a freshman, Jack Lanphear failed to make the cut in the 100-yard breaststroke for the WPIAL championships. Today, the Mt. Lebanon swimmer not only tops the podium in the event, he also is the district record-holder with his teammate Brian Ramsey, whom Lanpher thanks for his meteoric rise.
“Honestly I wouldn’t be the breaststroker that I am without (Ramsey)” said Lanphear. “He pushes me. We go hard against each other. I’m thankful to have had four years swimming with and against him.”
During their final WPIAL Class AAA championship appearance on March 4, the pair again went head-to-head. Both shattered the district record (56.26) for the race set by Casey Melzer of North Allegheny. However, Lanphear exited the pool with a gold-medal time of 54.82 while Ramsey secured second, a mere 12 hundreds of a second behind, with a silver-medal mark of 54.94.
“I know that Brian is devastated because ultimately he wants to be the best but when you stop and think that two swimmers on the same team broke the record. Well,” continued Lebo skipper Tom Donati, “that’s unheard of. But Brian and Jack are true teammates. They’ve pushed each other all year.”
Prior to the district meet, both left their marks in the event. Ramsey was the 200-meter winner and 100-meter runner-up during the USA Swimming Futures Championships, which features some of the top talent in the nation. Lanphear submitted a record-breaking performance during the Team Pittsburgh Invitational Meet. Racing for the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club, he smashed the Allegheny Mountain Swimming men’s mark in the 200-yard breaststroke. The competition was held at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool, also the site for the WPIAL championships.
Of the Pitt facility, Lanphear said, “I’m confident in this pool. It’s like home to me. I’ve had my big championship meets in this pool.”
Taking advantage of the new racing blocks, which features hand grips and setbacks for the feet, Lanphear immediately began his assault on the record. “I thought they gave me an edge,” he said.
So did freshness. On the opening day of the competition, Lanphear and Ramsey combined with Jackson Kish and Gabe Nass for third place in the 200-yard medley relay. Individually, Lanphear also finished sixth in the 200-yard IM, which Ramsey won.
“Competition-wise Day 2 was easier for me than Day 1. All I had to do was the breaststroke,” said Lanphear. “I looked forward to the event. It’s what I do.”
After competing in the 200 IM and 500-yard freestyle events as a freshman, Lanphear decided he “really wanted” to make the breast his signature stroke. By his junior year, he was challenging Ramsey. He finished third in the district and eighth at states, one slot behind Ramsey. The pattern continued this year until the WPIAL finals.
Strong pushes off the wall proved the difference for Lanphear. “I was great on my walls, particularly the last one,” he said. “I just kept pushing though. The last 25 I was completely numb.”
When he stops and thinks how his name is now in the record books and will appear in next year’s programs, Lanphear’s mind goes numb. “Wow,” he said. “That’s awesome. Amazing when I think how I remember wanting the record because Casey (Melzer) is such a huge role model of mine.”
When he travels to Bucknell University between March 15-19, Lanphear will attempt to emulate Brendan Hanson during the PIAA championships. The former Haverford swimmer set the state record of 53.67 in 2000.
“I have no idea what I will do at states. I’d really like a top time,” said Lanphear, who has listed among his college choices: Texas Christian, Pitt and West Virginia universities. “I want to go as fast as I can go in the breast. It’s my best race.”
Meanwhile, Donati is hoping all of the Blue Devils’ best racing is ahead. The Lebo boys, as well as the girls, are fresh off a runner-up showing to North Allegheny in the team standings. The Tigers took the top honors in the boys’ division with 442 points and in the girls’ league with a 348 score. Lebo totals were 295 for the men and 313.5 for the ladies. Upper St. Clair took third in both divisions with 262 points for the boys and 265 for the girls.
“It’s just awesome what these kids did,” Donati noted. “A lot of hard work went into this and the kids have had a lot of great support. They love each other and they love Lebo. They are true believers in the program.
“I’m psyched,” continued Donati. “Deep down, I am excited. The best is yet to come.”
Lanphear and Lebo were not the only ones submitting best performances on the second day of competition during the WPIAL swimming championships.
Abby Hay added a second gold medal to her collection. The Peters Township freshman won the 500-yard freestyle event in five minutes flat. Abby Matheny followed in second place with a 5:01.37 time. The Upper St. Clair sophomore had won the 200 free the day before.
Lebo’s Trinity Ward, a champion in the 100-yard butterfly, finished runner-up in the 100-yard backstroke. Her time of 56.30 was a shade off the pace (56.06) set by Oakland Catholic’s Sarah Mautino.
Upper St. Clair finished 1-2-3 in the 100-yard backstroke with Kevin Liu (48.97), Braedon Wong (50.36) and Jack Fitzpatrick (50.89). Stephen Hopta of Peters Township followed in fifth place while USC freshman Graham Kretschmar rounded out the top 10.
Lebo coasted to victory in the girls’ 400-yard freestyle relay. Trinity Ward, Emma Buerger, Alison Shapiro and Hannah Bumgarner won in 3:27.01, just shy of the WPIAL record of 26.41. Lebo secured second in the boys’ 400 free relay. Jake Bumgarner, Jack Rice, Gabe Nass and Brian Ramsey comprised the foursome.