South Hills swimmers earn PIAA medals
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan of Upper St. Clair demonstrates his versatility as he coasts through the water. The Upper St. Clair senior not only finished as a state runner-up in the butterfly and backstroke races at the PIAA championships, he swam legs on third- and fourth-place medley and 200 free relays. USC finished in the top 10 among Class AAA teams.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Sylvia Roy pushes off the starting blocks during 100-yard backstroke action. The Mt. Lebanon freshman finished fifth in the event at the PIAA state championships. She also secured sixth in the 50 freestyle.
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Ethan Neal comes up for air during the butterfly leg in the 200-yard medley relay race. Neal helped Upper St. Clair to a third-place showing in the event during the PIAA state championships.
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Ryan Senchyshak makes waves as he glides through the water doing the freestyle. He anchored Upper St. Clair to a bronze medal in the 200-yard medley relay race during the PIAA state championships. He also brought it home on the Panthers’ fourth-place 200 free relay.
Will Perham surfaces for air during the breaststroke leg of the 200-yard medley relay race. Perham helped Upper St. Clair grab a bronze medal in the event during the PIAA state championships.
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Katilyn Connors of Upper St. Clair secured sixth and seventh places in the 200- and 100-yard freestyle events during the PIAA Class AAA championships.
All that glittered was not gold for South Hills area swimmers competing in the PIAA championships held March 16-17 at Bucknell University. However, some of them took home colorful medals.
Ganesh Sivaramakrishnan shone with silver. The Upper St. Clair senior finished runner-up in the 100-yard butterfly and backstroke events.
Liberty’s Patrick Gilhool edged out Sivaramakrishnan in both events.
In the fly, Gilhool touched the wall at 47.69 while Sivaramakrishnan followed in 48.28. In the back, Gilhool won in 47.57 while Sivaramakrishnan clocked a 47.61.
In both races, Dom Cortopassi medaled. The Bethel Park senior finished fifth (49.38) in the fly and fourth in the back (50.06). He shattered school records in both events.
Cortopassi also helped the 400 freestyle relay team of Lenny DeMartino, Eammon Anderson and Nathan Stutzman to a seventh-place showing.
Mt. Lebanon’s Andrei Tudorascu took third in his consolation heat and placed 11th overall (50.35) in the fly.
Sivaramakrishnan also helped USC’s 200 medley relay team grab the bronze. The unit, which also consisted of Will Perham, Ethan Neal and Ryan Senchyshak, missed first by one-tenth of a second, against Conestoga and Liberty
Sivaramakrishnan swam the second leg on USC’s fourth-place 200 free relay. Daniel Wang, Andrew White and Seynchyshak also comprised the relay, which posted a 1:24.38 time.
Individually, White finished third in his consolation final and finished 11th overall in the 200 IM with a time of 1:54.65
Seneca Valley won the Class AAA boys team title with 188 points. La Salle College took second (174) and North Penn was third (155)
USC and BP finished in the Top 15.
With a score of 104, the Panthers placed ninth overall in the Class AAA team standings. BP placed 15th with 53 points.
Hatboro-Horsham (227) ran away with the girls title, finishing ahead of Conestoga (164) and North Allegheny (148). Mt. Lebanon (91) and USC (44) placed 10th and 16th.
The Roy sisters steered the Lebo ladies. Vivian and Sylvia Roy served as bookends on the bronze-medal 200 medley relay. Vivian swam the backstroke and Sylvia the freestyle while Marley Reese and Adrienne Hagins completed the breaststroke and butterfly segments.
In the 400 free relay, the Roy sisters switched leadoff and anchor positions and teamed with Mary Hoffman and Hagins for third in the consolation final. Overall, the unit finished 11th with a 3:31.71 time.
Individually Sylvia and Vivian Roy finished fifth and sixth in the 100 back. Sylvia was sixth in the 50 free.
Kailtyn Connors and Amanda Aidar led USC.
Connors secured sixth in the 200 free with a 1:51.24 time. The USC sophomore also added seventh in the 100 free (51.16)
Aidar won the consolation swim for the fly. She placed ninth overall though her time of 56.58 was faster than three finishers in the championship race.
Connors and Aidar combined with Rachel Fibbi and Kendell Drew for 14th in the 200 free relay.
Addison Burnette placed 13th with a 343.25 score in the diving for the Panthers.
NA’s Christina Shi won the title with a 428.45 point total
Maddie Berg finished seventh in the 500 free. The South Fayette sophomore clocked a 5:03.22 in the 20-lap race.