close

USC sweeps second

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 5 min read
1 / 2

By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Olivia Shaffer raises arms in triumph after Upper St. Clair realized it had clinched the WPIAL Class AAA runner-up title after taking third in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final race of the two-day meet held March 1-2 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool

2 / 2

By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Abby Matheny, Abby Rutkowski and Olivia Shaffer cheer during the final leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay race. Upper St. Clair’s third-place showing in the event sealed second place and the runner-up trophy in Class AAA girls’ competition.

In the first of the two biggest meets of the scholastic swimming season, a silver lining shone through for Upper St. Clair. During the WPIAL championships, the boys as well as the girls brought home the runner-up trophies.

While North Allegheny ran away with the competition–capturing its 10th straight girls’ title and seventh concurrent boys’ crown–the Panthers took second in both team standings. While the Tigers won the boys’ title with a whopping 440 score, USC followed in second with 253 points. The girls, meanwhile, edged rival Mt. Lebanon for the runner-up trophy, 255-252. NA was first with a 327 score.

“The boys and the girls did real well,” USC skipper David Schraven said. “I’ve always said that we want to be at our best when it matters most. I’m very pleased.”

Schraven is most content with the girls. They rebounded from a disappointing start, finishing sixth in the medley relay, which was won in an upset by rival Mt. Lebanon. USC’s sixth-place relay team consisted of Lauren Connors, Claire Hsu, Ynyra Bohan and Elinor Connor.

“Momentum in swimming is everything,” said Schraven. “I was real nervous after the medley because that race was not good. Since it starts the meet, you worry about a race setting the tone. But I was proud of how we bounced back after that disappointment.”

USC rebounded by winning the 200-yard freestyle with Abby Matheny grabbing the gold. Connors picked up key points with ninth place in the 200 IM. Her showing scored nine points for the Panthers.

“When you win by three that makes a difference,” Schraven said.

“I was really proud of how we fought and didn’t roll over,” Schraven continued. “We moved up from where were seeded and that made a difference. After a bad start, we stepped up. They responded to the challenge. I was very happy with them.”

Schraven had to be most pleased with the Lady Panthers’ performance in the 500 free. With Abby Matheny, Olivia Schaffer and Sophia Schlichting, USC grabbed second, third and sixth places for a total of 49 points.

“The 500 free was key to winning the trophy,” Schraven said. “That is where we would have to make a move and they did. They all came through.”

The 500 is USC’s specialty noted Schaffer. It was important for the seniors because it would be their last race at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

“We wanted to go out and do well,” she said. “We wanted to have our best year because we all are not coming back.”

Upon graduation, Schaeffer will matriculate to Drew University. She will study nursing while also competing on the swim team. Fellow co-captains Kristen Benedict will attend Miami of Ohio University and study engineering and Matheny will swim at Drexel.

“It’s sad but exciting, too,” said Benedict of the threesome’s last meet at Pitt. “But we all are moving on to bigger and better things.”

Many of the USC girls have qualified for the PIAA meet to be held March 14-17 at Bucknell University. The top three finishers earned automatic berths in the state championships. The other slots will be filled by comparing the top times from around the state and other district championship meets.

“The goal at states is to swim faster,” said Matheny.

“Our eyes are always on states,” Schraven concurred. “We will be better there than we were here,” he assured.

While Abby and Josh Matheny were USC’s lone gold medalists, winning the 200 free and 100-yard breaststroke respectively (see related article) several other USC swimmers had solid showings and indeed look to improve upon their times at states.

Jack Fitzpatrick took home a pair of silver medals in the 200 IM and the 500 free.

“Jack’s best race is the 400 IM but they don’t swim that in high school,” Schraven said. “So he does the 500 free to help him and it will prepare him for the end of the season.”

Fitzpatrick also helped the medley relay team secure second place. Matheny, Reese Samuel and David Frauen also comprised the unit. The 400 free team of Brandon Novak, Ben Diffendal, Matheny and Fitzpatrick finished fourth.

Among the other top individual male performers for the Panthers were:

  • Novak, eighth, Diffendal, 9th and Brendan Neal, 13th -200 free.
  • Matheny, third; Nick Murdy, fifth; Frauen, ninth–200 IM
  • Novak, Graham Kretschmar, Frauen and Diffendal-fifth, 200 free relay
  • Novak, 10th in 100-yard free.
  • Neal, 12th, 500 free.
  • Diffendal, fourth and Kretschmar, seventh, 100 back.
  • Murdy, 11th, 100 breast.

Among the other top female performers for the Panthers were:

  • Olivia Shaffer, sixth, 200 free.
  • Lauren Connors, ninth, 200 IM.
  • Taylor Connors, fourth, Elinor Connor, 10th, Abby Rutkowski, 14th-50 free.
  • Ynyra Bohan, fifth, and Maddie Suter, 12th–10
  • 0 fly.

NA won the 200 free relay followed by USC in second. Taylor Connors, Abby Rutkowski, Olivia Shaffer and Abby Matheny clocked a 1:36.50, .34 off the winning pace set by Tigers.

“We’ll celebrate what we accomplished but there is still more out there that we want to get,” said Schraven. “There is still work to do.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today