Jul 18, 2017 3 min read

With four nominations, Trinity Ward of Mt. Lebanon led the list of area athletes earning national All-America honors for high school swimming.

The 2016-17 list was released recently by National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. The team is made up of the top 100 swimmers in the United States by event.

The rising junior, who won the state title in the 100-yard butterfly, gained recognition in that event as well as the 100 freestyle. She ranks 37th in the nation in each event with respective times of 54.14 and 49.98.

Ward also earned acclaim in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay, which broke the WPIAL record this winter. The medley also won the WPIAL title. Ward led off the medley, swimming the backstroke leg, and anchored the free relay.

Also on that All-America medley were Maddie Dorish, Sophia Donati and Emma Graham, who is the only graduate among the foursome. Alabama recruit Kathryn Nicholson, Donati and Graham joined Ward on the All-America free relay unit, which posted the nation’s 24th best time of 3:25.76. The medley group ranks No. 34 with a 1:43.90 time.

Lebo’s 200 free relay team of Nicholson, Donati, Dorish and Graham also merited All-America distinction with a 1:36.16 time.

Additionally, Owen Johns made the All-America cut for one-meter diving. The rising junior was the WPIAL runner-up and a ninth-place finisher in the PIAA.

“This is exciting news,” said Lebo skipper Tom Donati. “Mt. Lebanon did well and this is a great reward for all the hard work these swimmers put into their sport.”

Michael Meyers from Peters Township agreed.

“Our swimmers did very well,” he said. “Peters Township is well represented (on this list).”

Abby Hay and Steven Hopta led the list of Indians earning All-America acclaim.

Hay, who was the WPIAL champion in the 500 free, made the cut with her time of 4:54.78, which ranked No. 95 on the list. The rising junior also earned All-America status in the 200 IM. She ranked No. 38 in the nation.

Hopta won the WPIAL title in the 100 backstroke. His time of 50.03 was the 69th-best mark in the nation.

Hopta also guided the medley relay team of John Martin, Paul Luniewski and Michael Kehm, to honors. The group’s time of 1:34.22 ranked No. 81 in the nation.

Additionally, Kehm, Benon, Brewer, Mitch Golias and Jake Rose landed in 68th position on the 200 freestyle relay list with a time of 1:25.28.

At Upper St. Clair, Jack Fitzpatrick earned individual All-America honors in the backstroke. His time of 50.21 ranked No. 81 in the nation.

The Lady Panthers placed two relay teams in the Top 100 to earn the All-America distinction. The medley relay, which rated 65th, consisted of Maeve Lersch, Maddie Yoos, Ynyra Bohan and Neele Minuth. The 200 free relay, which ranked 78th, comprised Lersch, Minuth, Olivia Shaffer and Abby Matheny.

Head coach Dave Schraven noted that USC had a handful of swims that were just outside the All-America constraints by a two tenths or less and the Panthers combined swim club with Chartiers Valley High School (PEAQ) had several other performers that were also “very close” to All-America times, which bodes well for the future. “None made the top 100,” he said, “but we plan to have a lot more next year,” he added optimistically.