Mar 4, 2024 By Eleanor Bailey 6 min read

Nazar Zouskovski of Upper St. Clair celebrates his victory in the 100-yard freestyle during the WPIAL Class AAA championships. The sophomore clocked a 45.80. The time was .05 faster than silver medalist Grant Regule from North Allegheny and .09 quicker than bronze medalist Patton Graziano from Penn-Trafford.

An exhausted Kaitlyn Connors takes a breather after racing to victory in the 100-yard freestyle race.

The best is yet to come for the Upper St. Clair swim team.

After a strong showing at the WPIAL championships held Feb. 29 to March 1 at Trees Pool on the University of Pittsburgh campus, the Panthers are prepared for the PIAA state championships March 13-16 at the Kinney Natatorium on the Bucknell University campus in Lewisburg.

“We expect to be faster,” said USC skipper Dave Schraven.

During the district meet, the Panthers swept the 100-yard freestyle, placing Kaitlyn Connors and Nazar Zoukovski on top of the podium, and took home the runner-up trophy in the boys division.

North Allegheny swept the boys and girls team Class AAA titles for the 13th time in 16 years.

The Lady Tigers won their 16th consecutive crown, racking up 477.5 points, compared to second-place Fox Chapel’s 295 score. Seneca Valley took third (220) followed by Mt. Lebanon (182) and USC (179).

The NA boys won their second straight crown and 11th in 13 seasons. Though the Tigers scored 402.5 points, the USC boys beat out rival Mt. Lebanon, 282-204.5, for runner-up honors.

Anchored by Zoukovski, the USC boys won the final race in dramatic fashion. The Panthers edged NA by .36 seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The unit of Max Shipley, Ben Whiteford, Whit Burns and Zoukovski clocked a 3:05.63, compared to NA’s 3:05.99 time.

“We knew it would be that kind of a battle,” Schraven said of the race. “NA is so good. We would not have been as good as we were if they hadn’t been there pushing us.

“My seniors (Burns and Shipley) really stepped up. They were phenomenal. With our two sophomore studs, we got it done. It’s really gratifying. I’m really proud of them, but we are not done yet.”

Individually, Zoukovski and Connors have big plans for the state championships. Both look to lower their WPIAL winning times.

Connors won the 100 free in 50.30. She also finished runner-up in the 50 free in 23.18.

“My goal is to improve on that,” Connors said.

Zoukovski won the 100 in dramatic fashion. He touched out NA’s Grant Regule by .05 and Penn-Trafford’s Patton Graziano by .09 with his winning time of 45.80.

“Words cannot explain how nervous I was,” Zoukovski said. “I just dove in and tried to get to the wall first in the first 50. I tried not to mess up the little details that I practiced over and over again. When it comes to race day, you just have to perform.

“At states, I’m hoping for bigger and better things. Maybe 44,” he continued.

Zoukovski noted how Connors pushes and motivates him in practices. Connors is a four-year WPIAL champion, three times in her specialty event.

“That’s a Hall of Fame career,” commented Schraven. “You can’t teach competitiveness and drive and desire to win. Kailtyn’s got it and it shows through in meets like this.”

Schraven looks for Connors to break 23 in the 50 at states. She swam a 23.01 on the relay leg and a 23.18 in finishing runner-up to Mt. Lebanon’s Sylvia Roy in the individual 50 free.

“That would be a huge milestone,” he said. “She is right on the cusp of two really big milestones. Hopefully we figure out a way to get her there.”

Connors was overjoyed to be on top of the podium again, especially after a close race. She sprinted out to the lead with a 23.92 in the first 50, and brought it home for victory in 50.30 time against Lauren Bell from Latrobe.

“My coach told me to dive in and if I go under 24 seconds, I would win after that, but Lauren is amazing. A great girl,” Connors said. “I saw her the entire race. She pushed me. I knew she was right there and I was happy about that because it helped me. I knew I had to go faster. I would not have gone as fast if she wasn’t right there.”

Of all her championships, Connors said, this year’s 100 meant the most.

“Having competitors is always better,” she said. “Because it’s such a personal sport, it is so much more fun. You feel proud of yourself.”

Connors was equally pleased with the 100 sweep. “Amazing,” she said. “It’s not just fun seeing yourself do well but your teammates, too.”

Because she and Zoukovski, who finished fourth in the 200 free, compete against one another, Connors said that she is not surprised by the sophomore’s progress.

“He has a great work ethic,” she said. “I have never seen anyone come in every day and work so hard. He cares about the sport and the team. He tells me little things he needs to fix in his race. That’s tremendous. He’s only going to keep improving. I’m excited for him because he’s going to be so good.”

When she enrolls at Duquesne University in the fall, Connors plans to be a champion swimmer. Her immediate goals are to drop times and help the team in general.

“It was great to finish off my WPIAL career on such a high note and go on to states but I can’t wait to go to (Duquesne),” she said. “I love the coaches, the team and the school.”

Schraven predicts Connors will have a great career at Duquesne but he is excited about Zoukovski’s future, too. He was particularly pleased with the way Zoukovski commanded the 100 free race as well as anchored the relay against seasoned sprinters.

“Nazar is a fierce competitor. He demonstrated that in both the 100 and the relay. He dug down deep.”

In addition to the victorious 400 free relay, the Panthers captured second places in the medley relay and the 200 free relay. Zoukovski, Shipley, Griffin Tomscheck and Burns comprised the 200 free unit. Whiteford, Tomscheck, Liam Tomb and Burns made up the medley.

“That was the best three relays that we have put together in any WPIAL probably since Ryan Dudzinki swam here and that was nine years ago,” said Schraven. “To go second, second and first is not easy to do. I’m really proud of those relays.

Other top performers to earn WPIAL medals for the Panthers included:

• Amanda Adair, who placed second in 200 individual medley. She also helped the 200 and 400 free teams, that featured Connors, Kendell Drew and Freja Kile, finish third; and the medley unit of Drew, Evie Sullivan and Clara Senchyshak secure sixth.

• Burns and Whiteford finished fourth in the 50 free and 100 butterfly respectively.

• Whiteford added fifth in the 100 backstroke while Tomsheck duplicated that showing in the breaststroke.

• Shipley added sevenths in the 100 and 200 free races.