Archive for the ‘Swimming’ Category

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

YORK-ADAMS LEAGUE

Final

The top local performances are listed in relays and in individual events. Times are based on information supplied to The York Dispatch by coaches and scorekeepers.

BOYS

200 medley relay — Dallastown (Brockway, Tate, Hine, Stauffer), 1:38.03.

200 free — Paine (Dt), 1:46.23; Hine (Dt), 1:47.12; Stauffer (Dt), 1:47.19.

200 IM — Hine (Dt), 1:53.25; Tate (Dt), 1:59.82; North (RL), 2:01.45.

50 free — Hensel (Dt), 22.08; Peckmann (C), 22.34; O’Conor (Dt), 22.51.

100 fly — King (RL), 53.28; Hine (Dt), 53.45; Brockway (Dt), 54.10.

100 free — Stauffer (Dt), 47.77; O’Conor (Dt), 49.37; Erne (Dt), 49.42.

500 free — Hine (Dt), 4:34.87; North (RL), 4:50.74; Boyer (Dt), 4:53.31.

200 free relay — Dallastown (Hensel, Brax Erne, Paine, Stauffer), 1:27.03.

100 back — Tate (Dt), 53.36; Brockway (Dt), 53.64; Paine (Dt), 54.86.

100 breast — Walker (YS), 1:00.73; Koehler (SW), 1:01.03; Grim (SW), 1:01.24.

400 free relay — Dallastown (Hine, Paine, Brockway, Stauffer), 3:09.49.

Diving (six dives) — Patil (C), 187.20; Staub (Dt), 180.75; Meisenhelter (C), 164.50.

Diving (11 dives) — Patil (C), 277.25; Staub (Dt), 271.25; Meisenhelter (C), 251.30.

GIRLS

200 medley relay — Dover (Dacheux, Link, Janosky, Smith), 1:49.89.

200 free — V Griffin (De), 1:50.71; Price (NE), 1:52.17; Gross (YS), 1:53.52.

200 IM — Price (NE), 2:05.45; Schaefer (RL), 2:07.22; Hoover (WY), 2:07.68.

50 free — Gross (YS), 24.10; E Wise (Dt), 24.39; Bixler (Dt), 24.64.

100 fly — Price (NE), 54.11; Merkle (YS), 56.57; Janosky (Do), 57.87.

100 free — V Griffin (De), 50.17; Bixler (Dt), 51.88; Price (NE), 52.21.

500 free — Merkle (YS), 4:57.88; Hoover (WY), 5:04.13; Kling (SG), 5:14.22.

200 free relay — York Suburban (Day, Gross, A Schmittle, Merkle), 1:37.55.

100 back — Bixler (Dt), 57.24; Price (NE), 58.51; Chalk (NO), 59.44.

100 breast — Price (NE), 1:04.33; Link (Do), 1:10.17; Sell (SW), 1:10.23.

400 free relay — York Suburban (Day, Gross, Merkle, Gunn), 3:33.79.

Diving (six dives) — Gross (NE), 286.25; Stambaugh (Do), 243.45; Rothrock (Dt), 218.40.

Diving (11 dives) — Gross (NE), 429.55; Stambaugh (Do), 405.85; Rothrock (Dt), 388.50.

KEY: – Biglerville (Big); Central (C); Dallastown (Dt); Delone Catholic (De); Dover (Do); Fairfield (F); New Oxford (NO); Northeastern (NE); Red Lion (RL); South Western (SW); Spring Grove (SG); Susquehannock (S); West York (WY); York Catholic (YC); York High (YH); York Suburban (YS).

By RYAN VANDERSLOOT 854-1575 x455 / @YAIAAscores

Northeastern coach Dan Schaberle has been fairly upfront with his lofty expectations for standout swimmer Niki Price.

Still, Schaberle was admittedly the more nervous of the two Friday.

The Bobcat coach, who predicted in the preseason that the junior would win several medals at states this season, felt some butterflies before Price competed in the finals of the 100-yard butterfly at the PIAA Class AAA Meet.

Price, who qualified first in the butterfly Friday morning at Bucknell University, found herself behind two other girls heading into the event’s final stretch. Much like she did in the preliminaries, where she made up ground to finish first, Price again made up that deficit — and then some — to earn a gold medal with a time of 54.11 seconds.

She capped off her history-making, two-day meet by capturing a sixth-place medal in the 100 breaststroke Saturday.

It was a very good finish to a very satisfying high school season for Price, who competed only with her club team at the York YMCA during the previous two seasons. Price entered her first year with Northeastern already decorated, having been a part of a 200 medley relay team that broke the national record at the 2012 short-course YMCA National Championships. That same quartet also took first in the 400 medley relay.

But even though her high school season has ended, Price will move on to the YMCA Nationals in early April. She plans to swim in a number of events there, including her favorite, the 200 individual medley. Price became the first Northeastern girl to win a PIAA gold medal. We caught up with her for this edition of Sports Q&A.

What was your mindset heading into states this weekend?

“I was just going up there to have fun. I guess I had the goal to try to win the 100 fly and make the finals in the breaststroke and see what happens there. All of the work was already done for this season it was just a matter of putting it all together and seeing what happens.”

In the finals you were actually in third heading into the final leg. Did you realize where you were at that time?

“I realized at the 50 that I was behind and I had to swim really strong. When I hit the last wall for the last 25, I knew that I had to hit it really hard because there were a couple of girls that were at the top. So I did realize it when I hit the third wall and saw everyone. It was tough.”

What went through your mind when you realized that you had just won a PIAA gold medal?

“I was excited. That’s what I’ve been working for this season. I don’t really know what I felt. It was just kind of surreal, I guess.”

You wrapped up your first experience at states with a sixth- place finish in the breaststroke. Is the butterfly your favorite event of the two, or is there another event that you prefer?

“My favorite event is the 200 IM. Now I didn’t swim that because I have my championship meet for my club in a couple of weeks. But the 100 fly is probably my second-best event, or my second-favorite event. The 100 breaststroke is one that I don’t normally get to do, so that was just kind of for fun.”

So you’re even better in the 200 IM than the butterfly?

“Well, I don’t know. The 200 IM and the 100 fly are about equal, I’d say. But I like the 200 IM better. It’s hard to pick between those two.”

Why did your up coming club champion ship prevent you from swimming the 200 IM at states?

“Well we have Y Nationals coming up and I really wanted to save my better events for that. And it would have been tough to do the 200 IM and the 100 fly because they are so close together at states. So I was going to try to do one event a day and I picked the 100 breaststroke for my second event.”

Are you happy with your decision to swim with your high school team this year?

“Oh, yeah. Definitely. I really wanted to be a part of my high school and it was a lot of fun. It was definitely worth it.”

Is there any differ ence in the atmosphere and the competition between a PIAA event and a YMCA National event?

“Honestly, states and YMCA Nationals, the atmosphere is very similar. Everyone is real excited. Both of those meets are really exciting. And a lot of the girls that swim at states also will swim at nationals.”

“So in early April you’re going to nation als with the YMCA. Where is that held and what events do you plan to swim there?

“That’s held in Greensboro, N.C., this year. I’ll definitely do the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly. I’ll probably swim a couple of other events … probably the 100 backstroke and the 200 free or the 200 fly depending on what we decide when we get down there. And then we’ll have our relays down there, too.”

You were on a couple of those relays that set some records in the past, right?

“Yeah. Last year at nationals our 400 medley relay won, but I don’t think we set a record in that one. Our 200 medley relay finished second and broke the record, but the first-place team also did. So we finished second in that one, but still broke the national record.”

Obviously to wrap up your junior season with a gold and a sixth- place medal, what does that do for your goals heading into next year?

“I don’t know. I think that next year heading into states I’m going to have goals of possibly bringing home two gold medals. But it will depend on what events that I swim. There’s a lot of different opportunities for next year, but my goals are definitely going to be higher come next year.”

– Reach Ryan Vandersloot at sports@yorkdispatch.com.

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

LEWISBURG — With 11 individual medals already in their possession, York Suburban’s swimmers had one more award to collect before leaving Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium on Thursday night: a trophy for finishing second in the team standings at the PIAA Class AA Girls’ Championships.

The Trojans’ team of six delivered a series of outstanding performances during two unforgettable days.

“I had no idea this (back-to-back, medal-winning days culminating with the team award) was possible,” Suburban senior Helen Gunn said. “It surprised me. Everyone swam so well.”

Gunn did her part in the final event of the meet by combining with Zowie Day, Carson Gross and Erin Merkle to finish second in the 400-yard relay with a time of 3 minutes, 33.84 seconds. The Trojans were in last place at one point in the race, but they came on strong to take runner-up honors.

Villa Maria Academy, of District 1, which was crowned the team champion, won the 400 relay with a state-record performance of 3:29.90.

“It was my last race ever, and I just wanted to do my best,” Gunn said. “The team has so much heart, and that’s why we’re having the success we’re experiencing now.”

The 400 relay team members weren’t the only ones to strike silver on Thursday. Merkle finished second in the 500 freestyle, and Victoria Griffin of Delone Catholic placed second in the 100 freestyle to go with a third-place finish she earned the night before in the 200 freestyle.

West York freshman Taylor Hoover just missed getting on the awards podium when she finished ninth in the 500 freestyle.

Merkle recorded a career best of 4:57.88 in the 500, taking second behind Scranton Prep’s Mia Nonnenberg, who touched home in an excellent time of 4:48.18.

“I knew she (Nonnenberg) was going to have a great swim,” Merkle said. “She pushed me to go even faster. I’m happy, and I’m really pleased that I got that time drop (from 5:01.83 in the prelim to 4:57.88 in the final).”

Merkle, who plans to swim next year at Villanova University, closed her high school career by winning four state medals (two in individual events and two in relays). Gross, a freshman, captured three medals (two in relays and one in an individual event).

“Since my freshman year, I’ve been coming to states, and this is one of the best ones yet” Merkle said. “It was so much fun coming out second as a team with just six girls. I don’t think we realized what impact we could have.”

The Trojans won the team title at the District 3 Meet.

“I can’t compare the two (district championship and state runner-up), they’re so special, both of them,” Gunn said.

The team also reached the goal that fourth-year coach, Craig Brennan, set for it.

“I just wanted to try and make our team better each year, and we’ve gotten better,” said Brennan, a former Trojans’ swimmer. “I love coaching these kids. What they accomplished is a reflection of all the hard work, in the weight room, mornings (morning practices) and putting up with me. They definitely deserved it.”

Brennan recalled that his coach, the legendary Dick Guyer, once said that everything that happens at states is just icing on the cake (after having to qualify for states at the district meet).

“That was a lot of icing (this year),” Brennan said.

– Reach Dick VanO linda at dvanolin da@yorkdispatch.com.

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

LEWISBURG — York Suburban’s 200-yard freestyle relay team delivered a dramatic, gold-medal-winning performance on Wednesday to close out the first day of the PIAA Class AA Girls’ Swimming Championships.

The Trojans’ quartet of Zowie Day, Carson Gross, Anna Schmittle and Erin Merkle nipped Villa Maria Academy’s team by eight-hundredths of a second, 1:37.55 to 1:37.63, in the last event of the evening. The finish was so close that the swimmers and spectators in Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium had to check the scoreboard to see which team won.

When the No. 1 came up on the board next to Suburban’s time, the Trojans’ contingent in the stands and on the pool deck erupted in cheers.

“I thought I got it (first touch), but I wasn’t certain,” said Merkle, who swam the anchor leg. “As soon as saw my teammates, I knew that we won.”

Merkle trailed Villa Maria’s anchor swimmer by a almost a body length with 25 yards remaining, but the Suburban senior wouldn’t be denied and she found a way to get to the wall ahead of everyone else.

“We went after it (the gold medal),” Merkle said. “Zowie had a great start, and Carson and Anna in the middle were amazing. They gave me the confidence to finish it off. To be able to share this victory with them is incredible.”

Suburban coach Craig Brennan said he knew that Merkle, in lane four, could see the Villa Maria swimmer in lane 3 because Merkle breathes to her left, but Brennan, like everyone else, wasn’t certain which swimmer touched first.

“I didn’t know who won until the thing came up (on the board),” he said. “That’s a really solid group of girls, and they did a fantastic job.”

Brennan borrowed a page from Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski before the meet when he spoke to his team.

“I told them something Coach K said back in ’92,” Brennan said. “I’ve taken you as far as I can take you. The rest of the way is on your own.”

Brennan supplied the inspiration, and the swimmers did the rest.

In addition to Suburban’s gold medal in the relay, Delone Catholic’s Victoria Griffin won a bronze medal in the 200 freestyle. Griffin put up a time of 1:50.71, nearly three seconds better than her performance in the preliminaries. Adrianna Grabski of Mifflinburg won the event in a state-record time of 1:47.05.

“I was happy with it (the finish),” Griffin said. “I did my best time. I was seeded seventh, and I came in third. Hopefully, I’ll win the 100 (freestyle) tomorrow.”

Griffin owns the top-seeded time heading into the 100 free.

Asked what enabled her to shave her time in the 200 freestyle from 1:53.23 in the morning (preliminaries) to 1:50.71 in the evening (finals), Griffin said, “I took a nap.”

The Squirettes’ senior will undoubtedly make sure she gets enough rest in her bid for gold in the 100 freestyle.

Gross and another freshman making her debut at states, West York’s Taylor Hoover, won medals by placing fifth in the 50 freestyle and 200 individual medley, respectively. Merkle gained a second medal by placing fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Allie Szekely of Gwynedd Mercy Academy captured the 200 IM in a state-record time of 1:59.66, and Sarah Hitchens of Villa Maria Academy also broke the state mark in the 50 freestyle by covering the distance in :22.91.

“I expected some records to be broken, but I didn’t expect every record to go down,” Hoover said following record-breaking performances in the first four events (200 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 200 IM and 50 freestyle). “The quality of competition is very high here.”

– Reach Dick VanO linda at dvanolin da@yorkdispatch.com.

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

When she was growing up, Niki Price wanted to be just like her big sister, Courtney.

Courtney, who’s seven years older than Niki, began swimming with the Bobcat Aquatic Club in Manchester.

When Niki was old enough, she followed her sister’s lead.

“I’ve been at swimming meets practically since I was born,” Price said. “I really enjoy racing, and that’s why I’ve focused on swimming as my sport.”

Price is in her third year of high school at Northeastern, but her first year as part of the school’s swimming and diving team. She competed exclusively for the York YMCA swimming team in her freshman and sophomore years of high school.

“I had goals elsewhere with my club team, but this year, I decided it’s time to get with the high school team,” Price said. “I’ve been swimming with these kids since I was little (back in her Bobcat Aquatic Club days), so it wasn’t a big change coming over to the high school team.”

Price made an immediate impact with the Bobcats. She recorded the best times this season among York-Adams female swimmers in four of the eight individual events: 1 minute, 52.17 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle; 2:05.45 in the 200 individual medley; :55.62 in the 100 butterfly; and 1:06.10 in the 100 breaststroke. Her :58.51 performance in the 100 backstroke is second to the :57.24 turned in by Dallastown’s Alyssa Bixler.

Price didn’t compete in the York-Adams Meet because she was swimming at a national meet in Orlando, Fla. The Northeastern star, though, won a gold medal in the 100 butterfly at the District 3 Meet and finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke at the same meet.

She’s seeded third in the butterfly for the PIAA State Class AAA Championships, which are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Bucknell University.

Christina Leander of West Chester East holds the fastest time in the butterfly at :54.67, and Mackenzie Hornbrook of Unionville is second with a time of :54.90. Price is next at :55.62.

“In the 100 fly, I would like to go sub 55, and in the 100 breast, I’ll see what I can do,” Price said. “I raced there (Bucknell’s Kinney Natatorium) one time, and I liked it. It’s a good pool.”

Price said that having competed in national meets, including YMCA Nationals, should help her deal with having to go up against the top high school swimmers in the state.

“I usually perform well under pressure, but I still get nervous,” she said. “There are going to be a lot of fast kids there.”

Other locals: Dallastown junior Trevor Hine will enter the boys’ Class AAA state meet with the second-fastest time in two events.

Gabriel Larson of Penn Hills is seeded first in the 200 IM with a time of 1:51.41. Hine checks in at 1:53.25.

Hershey’s Zach Luttrell and Hine are seeded one-two in the 500 freestyle with times of 4:34.84 and 4:34.87, respectively. The two could renew their outstanding District 3 duel at states, although last year’s state bronze medalist, Zachary Buerger of North Allegheny, is back this year. Buerger is in the eighth-seeded spot with a time of 4:37.01.

Bixler, meanwhile, will return to the state girls’ meet after earning a medal last year with a seventh-place finish in the 100 freestyle. The Wildcats’ junior is seeded ninth in the 100 free (:51.88) and 12th in the 100 backstroke (:57.47).

Bixler, Julia Casolo, Justina Thornley and Erica Wise are seeded ninth in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:37.62.

– Reach Dick Vanolin da at dvanolinda@york dispatch.com.

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

Breaking a school record at the District 3-AA Swimming Championships earned a York Suburban girls’ relay team more than gold medals.

The time of 1 minute, 37.68 seconds turned in by Zowie Day, Carson Gross, Helen Gunn and Erin Merkle in the 200 freestyle relay also gained them the top seed in the event for the PIAA State Meet.

Delone Catholic’s Victoria Griffin is the only other York-Adams swimmer who will enter states with the fastest time in an event. Griffin will check with a :51.48 in the AA 100 freestyle on her resume.

The Class AA portion of the state meet is set for Wednesday and Thursday at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium. The Class AAA swimmers and divers will compete on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16, at the same venue.

Day, Gross, Gunn and Merkle established another school record in winning the 400 freestyle relay at districts in 3:33.79. The quartet is seeded second at states in that event behind Villa Maria Academy.

“We had our eye on them (the relay records) every single practice,” Merkle said. “Coming in (to the 2013 season), we thought those records were untouchable, but this season, we worked toward them. It was so exciting to be able to break the records.”

In keeping with the Trojans’ record-breaking theme at districts, Merkle put up new school standards in capturing the 100 butterfly (:56.57) and 500 freestyle (4:59.88) races. She’s seeded second in the butterfly and third in the 500 for states.

“Getting under five (minutes in the 500), that was a goal of mine,” Merkle said. “I don’t really have a time goal for states. I just want to go out there and swim the best race I can and hope I can do better than before.”

Merkle is one of 12 Suburban swimmers (six girls and six guys) who qualified for the biggest meet of the season.

“All the mornings (at practice), all the weight room work pay off when it counts,” Trojans’ head coach Craig Brennan said. “It was amazing how many things came together (at districts). It was a wonderful weekend, and it was nice to see everyone happy.”

Merkle is happy she’ll have so much company at states.

“Individually, I’m excited for my last state meet, but as a team, I think we’re bringing the largest group to states in my four years, so it’s going to be even more fun,” she said.

Day and Gunn will also take part in their final state meet this year. Gross, though, is only a freshman. She’s seeded fifth in the 50 freestyle (:24.10) and eighth in the 200 freestyle (1:53.52).

“We love Carson,” Merkle said. “She’ll be there (at states) the next three years, too.”

Merkle will never forget her first state meet.

“I was nervous being this little freshman,” she said. “It was the biggest meet I’ve ever been to. It’s an amazing venue, and I’m still amazed by it, but you have to remember that it’s just a pool.”

Class AAA: Dallastown star Trevor Hine holds the second-fastest times in the Boys’ Class AAA 200 IM (1:53.25) and 500 freestyle (4:34.87) Hine’s 500 time is just three-hundredths of a second behind top-seeded Zach Luttrell of Hershey.

Northeastern’s Niki Price, who’s recorded four best times on the York-Adams Honor Roll in her first season with the Bobcats, is seeded third for states in the Girls’ Class AAA 100 butterfly (:55.62).

– Reach Dick VanO linda at dvanolin da@yorkdispatch.com.

Dallastown swimmers rediscover the sun

Posted: February 28, 2013 in Swimming

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

Dallastown’s swimmers recently rediscovered the sun.

The boys and girls on the Wildcats’ team have spent most of the winter traveling to morning practice and home from afternoon practice in the dark.

Howley cut out the morning practice and shortened the afternoon practice when the swimmers began tapering for the championship meets — York-Adams, District 3 and PIAA.

“We cut out morning practices, we cut out our cross-fit, dry-land work, and we cut yardage,” Howley said. “That’s worked well for us, and the kids have responded to it. The first thing I remember hearing is, ‘my God, coach, there is a sun.’”

Howley feels that all the laps and dry-land work the swimmers do during the regular season allows him to ratchet down the preparation work going into the big three, season-ending meets.

“When we hit this part of the season, if the hay isn’t already in the barn, it’s too late,” he said. “You can’t expect to go out now and swim an incredible number of yards and think you’re going to be ready for the championship meets. You have to be doing the work all season, and the kids have done it.”

Dallastown’s guys delivered an outstanding performance at the York-Adams Meet, winning 10 of 11 events, including all three relays. The Wildcats’ girls earned four first-place finishes.

Next up is the District 3 Meet on Friday and Saturday at Cumberland Valley High School. Dallastown’s teams are entered in Class AAA.

“We’re going to be going against great competition, which brings out the best in us,” Howley said. “The top three finishers (in each event) advance to states.”

Howley said there’s more pressure at the district meet than the state meet because you can’t get to states without a quality performance at districts.

“You could have the best time in the state, let’s say in the 50 freestyle, entering the district meet, but if you have a bad start or a bad turn, then you’re not going to states,” Howley said.

Hine looks strong: Dallastown’s Trevor Hine will enter the district competition with the best times in the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle. The junior won both events at the York-Adams Meet, setting a pool, meet and league record in the IM with a 1 minute, 55.38-second performance.

Hine finished second at districts in the same two events last year.

“I want to try and win both of them this year,” he said. “I’m aiming to go under 4:40 in the 500 and under 1:55 in the IM,” he said.

Hine is among a group of 25 Dallastown swimmers (14 guys and 11 girls) who qualified for districts.

“It’s nice that we’re going to have that many people going,” he said. “It will be exciting to see how much people are going to drop (their times).”

Hine and his teammates are enjoying the opportunity to sleep in a little longer each morning.

“Everyone loves tapering,” he said.

Other local tops seeds: Hine is one of three swimmers from York-Adams schools who earned No 1-seeds in two district events.

West York freshman Taylor Hoover is seeded first in the Girls’ AA 200 IM and 500 free, and Delone Catholic senior Victoria Griffin holds the fastest qualifying times in the Girls’ AA 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle.

The other top-seeded York-Adams swimmers are: Niki Price, Northeastern, Girls’ AAA 100 butterfly; Erin Merkle, York Suburban, Girls’ AA 100 butterfly; York Suburban Girls’ AA 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay; and York Suburban boys’ AA 200 medley relay.

Hoover and Merkle are one-two in the Girls’ AA 500 freestyle with times of 5:05.42 and 5:06.05, respectively.

– Reach Dick VanO linda at dvanolin da@yorkdispatch.com.

York Dispatch Staff Report

Central York’s Gabe Patil and Dallastown’s Elizabeth Rothrock captured York-Adams League diving championships on Thursday night at Central York High School.

Patil won the boys’ competition in his home pool with 259.90 points, a little more than eight points ahead of teammate Josh Meisenhelter (251.30). Dallastown’s Ben Staub captured third place at 247.60. He was followed by South Western’s Andrew Feeser (236.85), Spring Grove’s Tyler Beckman (207.65), Northeastern’s Josh Writer (203.23) and Spring Grove’s Hunter Smith (191.15).

Rothrock captured the girls’ crown with a 388.50 total, just less than 12 points clear of second-place Morgan Stambaugh of Dover (376.60). Another Dover diver took third — Taylor Bahoric (306.55). She was followed by Central York’s Courtney Seitzinger (296.65), South Western’s Maison Hammen (286.35), South Western’s Gabrielle Heilman (269.65), Northeastern’s Olivia Thornton (261.80), Central York’s Braelen Kraelowetz (260.95) and Northeastern’s Lindsey Pope (240.65).

Patil, Meisenhelter and Staub will compete in the District 3-AAA Championships on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Gov. Mifflin. Also competing at that meet on the girls’ side will be Rothrock, Stambaugh and Bahoric.

Writer was the only AA boys’ participant and will compete in the District 3-AA Championships on Wednesday at Big Spring. The defending league girls’ champion, Northeastern’s Becca Gross, missed Thursday’s meet with an injured foot, but she’s also expected to compete in districts.

By DICK VANOLINDA 505-5407 / @ydsports

Dover’s Bree Link is preparing for her final high school swims with mixed emotions.

“It’s exciting getting ready for the county meet, but it’s kind of sad knowing the last weeks (of the season) are here,” the Eagles’ senior said during practice on Tuesday afternoon.

Link and two teammates, senior Aniella Janosky and junior Nicole Smith, earned top seeds in their events for the York-Adams League Swimming Championships. The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Central York High School.

The District 3 Meet and the PIAA State Meet follow the York-Adams Championships on March 1-2 and March 13-16, respectively.

Link, the defending champion in the 100-yard breaststroke, will enter this weekend’s meet with a seeded time of 1 minute, 12.55 seconds, just ahead of South Western’s Alison Sell, who turned in a 1:12.65 performance.

Link gained the gold medal last year in 1:09.75.

“I’m hoping to get the same time as last year or even better,” she said.

The Eagles’ standout, who has narrowed her college choices to Kutztown University and Millersville University, battled illness this year.

“I missed my first meet ever, and I was sick for two weeks straight,” she said.

Janosky also missed a meet for the first time in her career because of an illness.

“I went to school that day (of the meet) hoping I could fight my way through it, but I was sent home after the first period,” she said.

Janosky’s time of :58.29 in the 100 butterfly is just more than a half second better than Erin Merkle of York Suburban. Smith owns almost a two-second advantage over Jade Arganbright of Central York in the 200 freestyle, 1:57.71 to 1:59.39.

Merkle won the 100 butterfly last year, Jesse North of Red Lion placed second and Janosky was third. Merkle and North, like Janosky, are seniors. Merkle also triumphed in the 500 freestyle at the 2012 meet.

“It (the butterfly) will be a good race,” Janosky said. “Erin will be there and Jesse North will be right there.”

Janosky, Link and diver Morgan Stambaugh, are the key senior performers on a junior-dominated Dover team which captured its third straight York-Adams Division II title this season and went 9-0-0 overall in dual meets.

“When I tell people I’m a swimmer, they say that’s an individual sport,” Janosky said. “It’s a team sport, too. One of the things I’ll remember about swimming here is discovering what’s bigger than you. Learning what a team is.”

Speaking of team, all three of Dover’s relay teams (200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle) are seeded first for the York-Adams Championships.

“We’ve been pretty solid with our relays,” said Dover coach Rich Janosky, who is Aniella’s father. “It’s case of which ones (relays) we choose to go after.”

Janosky likes the format of the York-Adams Meet.

“They don’t keep team scores at the county meet, it’s just for the individuals,” he said. “Do we want to see our swimmers win? Sure. But, I’m really happy to watch fast swimming.”

Dallastown’s Alyssa Bixler holds two top seeds in the girls’ meet (100 freestyle and 100 backstroke). The other top-seeded swimmers in individual events are: Courtney Schaefer, Red Lion (200 IM); Erica Wise, Dallastown (50 freestyle); and Merkle, 500 freestyle.

Boys’ meet: Swimmers from Dallastown’s powerful team, which captured Division I honors, dominate the boys’ seeds.

Corey Stauffer is listed first in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, Trevor Hine owns the fastest times in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle, and Mason Tate is first on the list in the 100 backstroke. Two Central York swimmers, Erik Peckmann and Jesse Tate, have the fastest times in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly, respectively. South Western’s Kieran Koehler will come in with the best time in the 100 breaststroke. Dallastown teams recorded the fastest times in all three relays.

Swimmers seeking to repeat last year’s championship performances are: Merkle (girls’ 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle); Bixler (100 freestyle) and Link (100 breaststroke). Bixler captured the 200 freestyle last year, but the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke are her two individual events this year.

Northeastern junior Niki Price, who’s recorded the fastest York-Adams times this season in six of the eight individual events, will not be competing in the league meet. Price, a member of the York YMCA team, is entered in the Orlando (Fla.) Grand Prix. The Grand Prix features many of the elite swimmers in the country, including Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin.

– Reach Dick VanOlinda at dvanolinda@yorkdispatch.com.

York-Adams League swimming seeds

Posted: February 11, 2013 in Swimming

York Dispatch Staff Report

YORK-ADAMS CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Following are the top-five-seeded swimmers in individual events and the top-three-seeded teams in relays for the 2013 York-Adams League Swimming Championships. The event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Central York High School).

Boys

200 medley relay — 1. Dallastown (Brockway, Tate, Hine, Stauffer), 1:40.25; 2. Central (Peckmann, Wilson, Tate, Johnson), 1:43.77; 3. Red Lion (North, Moritz, Brandt, Aggen), 1:43.84.

200 free — 1. Stauffer (Dt), 1:48.90; 2. Boyer (Dt), 1:51.06; 3. Paine (Dt), 1:51.18; 4. Foery (WY), 1:53.5. Posenau (YS), 1:53.61.

200 IM — Hine (Dt), 1:57.68; 2. North (RL), 2:01.78; 3. Tate (Dt), 2:04.94; 4. Tate (C), 2:05.95; 5. Grim (SW), 2:05.98.

50 free — 1. Peckmann (C), 22.40; 2. Brax Erne (Dt), 22.56; 3. Hensel (Dt), 22.72; 4. O’Conor (Dt), 23.01; 5. Mart (SW), 23.27.

100 fly — 1. Tate (C), 55.75; 2. Brockway (Dt), 55.93; Hill (Dt), 56.05; 4. Brandt (RL), 56.60; 5. Massey (YS), 56.91.

200 free relay — Dallastown (Brax Erne, Hensel, Paine, Stauffer), 1:29.38; 2. Spring Grove (Trettel, Kling, Liberatore, Jenkins), 1:35.02; 3. York Suburban (Fridman, Thomas, Holsinger, M Spinello), 1:35.74.

100 free — 1. Stauffer (Dt), 48.45; 2. Brax Erne (Dt), 50.03; 3. O’Conor (Dt), 50.52; 4. Mart (SW), 50.71; 5. Peckmann (C), 51.68.

500 free — 1. Hine (Dt), 4:41.77; 2. North (RL), 4:53.11; 3. Boyer (Dt), 4:57.88; 4. Posenau (YS), 5:06.67; 5. French (WY), 5:08.09.

100 back — Tate (Dt), 54.66; Trettel (SG), 56.00; Brockway (Dt), 56.08; 4. Paine (Dt), 56.84; 5. Massey (YS), 58.46/

100 breast — 1. Koehler (SW), 1:03.53; 2. Walker (YS), 1:03.65; 3. Grim (SW), 1:03.67; 4. Defelice (Dt), 1:04.35; 5. Jenkins (SG), 1:05.77.

400 free relay — 1. Dallastown (Hine, Paine, O’Conor, Brockway), 3:17.15; 2. Dallastown (Boyer, Hill, Brax Erne, Tate), 3:26.92; 3. Spring Grove (Myers, Kling, Liberatore, Smith), 3:30.42.

Girls

200 medley relay — 1. Dover (Dacheux, Link, Janosky, Smith), 1:55.85; 2. Northeastern (Hoffmaster, Kobus, Rode, Almoney), 1:56.81; 3. Central (Sopko, Michaels, Vaughn, Arganbright), 1:57.26.

200 free — 1. Smith (Do), 1:57.71; 2. Arganbright (C), 1:59.39; 3. Spaulding (Do), 2:00.51; 4. Thornley (Dt), 2:02.13; 5. North (RL), 2:02.33.

200 IM — 1. Schaefer (RL), 2:11.00; 2. Hoover (WY), 2:13.61; 3. Vaughn (C), 2:19.62; 4. Hess (Dt), 2:20.77; 5. Link (Do), 2:21.19.

50 free — 1. Wise (Dt), 25.06; 2. Gross (YS), 25.40; Miller (SG), 26.18; 4. Cable (SG), 26.29; 5. Luckenbaugh (NE), 26.30.

100 fly — 1. Janosky (Do), 58.29; 2. Merkle (YS), 58.80; North (RL), 1:00.54; 4. Chalk (NO), 1:01.59; 5. E Schmittle (YS), 1:03.80.

200 free relay — 1. Dover (Spaudling, Staub, Bierschmitt, Becker), 1:41.90; 2. Dallastown (Bixler, Casolo, Thornley, Wise), 1:42.24; 3. York Suburban (Day, Gross, Gunn, Merkle), 1:42.34.

100 free — 1. Bixler (Dt), 53.20; 2. Arganbright (C), 54.24; 3. Schaefer (RL), 54.29; 4. Smith (Do), 54.67; 5. Janosky (Do), 55.46.

500 free — 1. Merkle (YS), 5:06.33; 2. Kling (SG), 5:19.09; 3. Hoover (WY), 5:19.67; 4. Gross (YS), 5:20.79; 5. Spaulding (Do), 5:23.27.

100 back — 1. Bixler (Dt), 59.74; 2. Dacheux (Do), 1:01.07; 3. Chalk (NO), 1:02.84; 4. Hess (Dt), 1:03.39; 5. Gunn (YS), 1:05.03.

100 breast — 1. Link (Do), 1:12.55; 2. Sell (SW), 1:12.65; 3. Michaels (C), 1:15.02; Reed (SG), 1:15.32; 5. Reed (C), 1:16.29.

400 free relay — 1. Dover (Spaulding, Dacheux, Smith, Janosky), 3:41.31; 2. Dallastown (Casolo, Wise, Thornley, Bixler), 3:45.07; 3. York Suburban (Day, Gross, Merkle, Gunn), 3:45.23.