Feb 27, 2017 By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

During his decades-long swimming career as a collegiate, scholastic and club coach, Michael Meyers has never experienced anything like the District 7 championships to be held March 2-3 at the University of Pittsburgh.

“The WPIAL is the most exciting meet I have attended,” Meyers said emphatically. “The kids are so excited. The atmosphere is electric. The parents are at a fever pitch and it produces performances beyond expectations.”

Expectations are indeed high at Peters Township as Meyers coaches a contingent of star-studded athletes into the competition. Many of them are proven commodities that have already shattered the school’s and pool’s standards.

Abby Hay enters the championship as a two-time champion. And, she’s just a sophomore.

As a freshman, she won the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle races in 2016. Hay is the top seed in this year’s IM. She is ranked No. 3 behind Upper St. Clair’s Abby Matheny and Olivia Shaffer in the 500 free. Hay edged Matheny in last year’s final, swimming five minutes flat in the finals.

This season, Hay broke the USC pool record in the IM with a 2:07.37 time. She shattered the Moon pool record (5:12.56) in the 500 free. Hay holds the Peters Township pool records in the 200 IM (2:04.81) and 100-yard butterfly (56.51).

Steven Hopta leads a strong team representing the Peters boys. The junior helped the Indians win the Section 4 title with a 6-0 record that included victories against rivals such as Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. It was the Indians’ first section banner in eight years. Peters Township finished the dual meet season with a 14-0 overall record that included wins against Moon, Seneca Valley, West Allegheny, Thomas Jefferson and Pine-Richland.

In addition to breaking the Moon pool record in the 500 free (4:47.47) this season, Hopta led the team of John Martin, Mike Kehm and Jake Rose to the pool mark in the 200 medley. Hopta, Mitch Golias, Benon Brewer and Rose set the standard at Chartiers Valley for the 400 free relay. Hopta, Martin, Paul Luniewski and Jake Rose hold the Peters Township pool record (1:36.20) in the medley relay.

After the “great” dual-meet season, the Indians are looking forward to peak swims during the district finals. In fact, the Peters boys are ranked second behind North Allegheny in the opening and closing events, the 200 medley and 400 free relays.

“We think all of our qualifiers are going to do well and look forward to great swims from everyone,” Meyers said.

In addition to Hay and Hopta, Peters Township swimmers competing in individual events include:

• Benon Brewer, 200 and 500 free

• Kevin Martin, 200 and 500 free

• Carly Frizzell, 200 IM and 100 back

• Olivia Yocca, 50 and 100 free

• Devon Milley, 50 and 100 free

• Mike Kehm, 50 and 100 free

• Jake Rose, 50 and 100 free

• Mitchell Golias, 50 free and 100 free

• Cassidy Sweeney, 100 fly and breast

• Stephanie Wang, 100 fly

• Paul Luniewski, 100 fly and breast

• Alex Lepri, 500 free

• Kayla McClintock, 100 back

• Natalie Glover, 100 breast

• John Martin, 100 breast and 200 IM

• Bert Wang, 100 breast and 200 IM

Ryan Saunders qualified for the WPIAL diving championships. He finished eighth in the Class AAA competition. He broke the Peters pool record for one-meter diving this season with a 260.34 score. His score in the district finals was 374.