Swimmers set for WPIAL AAA championships
Jason Zhang is one of the Top 10 seeds for the 100-yard butterfly during the WPIAL swimming championships set for Feb. 27-28 at the University of Pittsburgh.
Hannah Morelli of Mt. Lebanon is seeded third behind Abbie Duncan of South Fayette and Talia Bugel from Fox Chapel for the 100-yard backstroke during the WPIAL championships set for Feb. 27-28 at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.
Who says the WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships will be less than thrilling because North Allegheny is expected to pocket its ninth straight boys and 12th consecutive girls team titles?
The two-day meet spanning Feb. 27-28 will be held at University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool. Competition commences at 9:45 a.m.
While the Tigers are seeded first in all six relays, giving them a huge edge as they garner twice as many points as individual races, there could be epic encounters. The 200-yard individual medley promises to be the premiere event as it features NA’s Rick Mihm against Upper St. Clair’s Josh Matheny.
A senior, Mihm is bound for Stanford University. A three-time WPIAL and PIAA champion, he is best known for his freestyle, particularly at the longer distances.
A junior, Matheny is already committed to Indiana University. A two-time district and state champion, he is best known for his breaststroke. Not only has he shattered the state record held previously by Olympian Brendan Hansen, Matheny is a junior world champion and a member of the U.S. national team.
Mihm is seeded first in the IM with a 1:47.04 time. Matheny follows with a 1:49.27.
Dom Cortopassi, who is also entered in the 100-yard backstroke, should make things interesting in the race as the Bethel Park sophomore is seeded fifth.
While Mihm is expected to dominate the 500-yard freestyle, area swimmers such as Andrew Klepchick from Mt. Lebanon and Ethan Neal from USC expect to provide stiff competition as they are seeded second and third. Lebo’s Caden Smith is ranked fifth.
Matheny is expected to walk away with his third title in the breast as his seed time is 53.02, five seconds faster than his nearest competitors, which also includes Apostoli Kallaur. The Bethel Park senior is rated fourth with a 58.86 mark.
Taylor Connors could dominate the girls events. The USC junior comes into the 200 free with the No. 1 time of 1:52.44. USC’s Abby Rutkowski is seeded fourth, while Bethel Park’s Sally Hathaway is fifth.
Connors faces her stiffest competition in the 100 where she will battle three-time champion Olivia Livingston. The Gateway senior has a seed time of 52.09, two-tenths of a second faster than Connors. Mary Hoffman also expects to contend in the race. The Lebo sophomore is seeded sixth.
Livingston looks for her fourth title in the 50 free, but Lebo senior Maddie Dorish is seeded second with a time of 23.81.
USC’s Ryan Senchyshak is seeded fifth in both the 50 and 100 free boys events. Peters Township’s Ryan Rose is seeded sixth in the 50. Abbie Duncan, who is ranked fifth in the 100 free, is favored to win the 100 backstroke. The South Fayette senior comes into the race with a 55.71 time. Lebo’s Hannah Morelli is seeded third with a 56.40.
Maddie Dorish is the favorite in the 100 breast. The Lebo senior entered the race with a seed time of 1:04.32.
Zoe Rebol of Lebo and Sophia Schlichting from USC are ranked second and third behind NA’s Molly Smyers in the 500 free. In the fly, Cassidy Sweeney is the third seed. The PT senior is just .34 off the pace of Sophie Shao (55.12) from Fox Chapel.
USC’s Ali Hays, BP’s Sadie Coda and PT’s Garrett Buzzelli competed in the WPIAL Class AAA diving championships at North Allegheny.