West Allegheny showed that it belongs in its first season competing in the WPIAL's largest classification. The Indians racked up 66 points at the WPIAL championships to place 13th overall among the 26 point-scoring teams in Class 3A. Michael Kocher, Derek Currey, Jeremy Ellis and Gary McMurtrie produced a ninth-place finish in the 200 medley relay. Kocher would go on to take sixth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 backstroke and qualify for states.

The Moon Area boys had a strong season too with Nick Settembrine, Zach Tomasic, Yaroslav Noskov and Colton Diges leading the way. All return next year with the exception of Noskov. The foursome took eighth in the 200 medley relay at the WPIAL Class 3A finals.

New Castle sophomore Zachary Bell gave the Red Hurricanes a fourth-place finish at WPIALs in the 100 freestyle in WPIAL Class 2A.

In Class 2A diving, Beaver Area sophomore Andrew Cestra totaled 360.10 points to win WPIAL bronze.

The East showcased its depth and balance in the WPIAL's largest classification this season with Hempfield Area topping 200 points and tying Upper St. Clair for third place in the WPIAL team standings. The Spartans were not alone in the top 10 at WPIALs. They were joined by sixth-place Central Catholic (143), seventh-place Franklin Regional (127), eighth-place Penn Hills (100), ninth-place Penn-Trafford (81) and 11th-place Woodland Hills (73).

Day by day at the PIAA swimming championships, Sead Niksic was rewriting the Obama Academy record book. On Thursday, the Obama Academy junior became the first swimmer in the school's short history to win a PIAA medal when he captured the bronze in the 100 butterfly. A day later, he became the first swimmer in program history to win a PIAA silver medal, when he took second place in the 100 backstroke. Niksic held the lead after the final turn through 75 yards of the 100 backstroke but was caught by Lower Moreland junior Connor Killian who clocked in at 49.64 to edge Killian by 0.64 seconds.

Penn Hills sophomore Kimani Gregory is a WPIAL champion after swimming the 100 butterfly in 50.17 to barely beat out Hempfield senior Zack Rulli by 0.01 seconds. Gregory also won WPIAL silver in the 100 freestyle. His older brother won WPIAL gold in the 100 breaststroke.

Peters Township has cemented itself as a program to be reckoned with in the fast and furious South Hills. It may have come as somewhat of a surprise when Peters Township edged Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair and Hempfield to finish in second place in the WPIAL Class 3A team standings. It was no surprise at states when Peters Township cracked the top 10 of the team standings at the PIAA Class 3A championships.

At states, the Indians' 200-medley relay finished seventh with juniors Paul Luniewski and Stephen Hopta joined by seniors John Martin and Mike Kehm. Kehm earned further points for Peters Township with his 11th place finish in the 50 freestyle and 16th place finish in the 100 freestyle. The top 16 finishers earn points for their team. The 200-freestyle relay capped the first day of the event with another high finish as Kehm, seniors Benon Brewer, Mitch Golias and Jake Rose placed fifth. Hopta is a WPIAL champion in the 100 backstroke.

There were old faces, old names and some new names and new faces climbing atop the podium representing the North zone this year in boys swimming.

The old faces, of course, belonged to the North Allegheny dynasty who captured a PIAA team title for the first time in seven years. North Allegheny essentially led the state meet wire-to-wire. It won the very first event, the 200-medley relay, with freshman Rick Mihm, junior Andrew Zhang and the Gonzalez brothers, junior Mason and senior Maxwell. Their individual depth was on display immediately with senior Eben Krigger, sophomore Jack Wright and Mihm placing 3-4-5 in the 200 freestyle, the first individual event of the meet. Max Gonzalez was fourth in the 200 IM, Zhang won silver in the 100 butterfly and Mason Gonzalez was nearly perfect, winning three gold medals.

As he has all season, Mason Gonzalez was at the center of it all for the Tigers. He won three state gold medals, the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and as part of the 200 medley relay. The disqualification denied him a rare four-for-four PIAA gold medal performance. His time of 19.99 in the 50 freestyle puts him in rarefied PIAA air. Only three swimmers have under broken 20 seconds in the event at the PIAA meet, Hershey's David Nolan and Haverford's Shane Ryan.

Sarah Spencerprofiles Obama Academy swim coach Mark Rauterkus.

"It's amazing how much progress can happen in 27 days.

"You were scared to let go of the wall, and now you're motorboating and jumping in," Obama Academy swim coach Mark Rauterkus says to his campers, the majority of which struggle to stay afloat in the pool at the beginning of camp. Though he's usually coaching teenagers to lower their times and perfect their technique, he spends the summers with beginners.

Rauterkus led swimming and water polo classes for Summer Dreamers, a Pittsburgh Public Schools summer program, ensuring his assigned campers build confidence in themselves and their ability to swim. Summer Dreamers aims to make camp an accessible option for all the city's youth, no matter their socioeconomic background. The 5½-week summer program couples academic classes taught by PPS teachers in the morning with more traditional camp activities, led by community partners or coaches such as Rauterkus, in the afternoon." 

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Las Vegas, Nevada’s Victoria Navarro has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Arizona’s class of 2022, where she will be joined by Alayna Connor, Madison Blakesley, and Monica Gumina.

A senior at Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada, Navarro is a NISCA All-American. She won the 200 free (1:50.08) and 100 free (51.32) at the 2017 NIAA 4A State High School Swimming and Diving Championships in May. She also anchored the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays, contributing the maximum points possible to Green Valley’s second-place team finish. She was also on a pair of winning relays in 2016.

Navarro swims on the year-old club team Bluefin Aquatics. Her sweet spot is in the mid-distance freestyle but she has a good range (23.6 in the 50) and is a strong butterflyer as well. She raced the 100/200 free and 100/200 fly at Pro Swim Series Santa Clara this summer, getting second swims in both butterfly events. Her best SCY times are:

• 200 free – 1:47.48
• 500 free – 4:48.04
• 1000 free – 9:56.11
• 100 fly – 54.98
• 200 fly – 1:59.08

I'm so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Arizona! I can't wait to be a wildcat ❤️

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

With the stated objectives of maximizing medal outcomes in Olympic events in Glasgow, while pushing forward towards podium success in Tokyo 2020, the British Swimming Federation has released its qualifying criteria for the 2018 European Championships.

The 2016 edition of the event saw Britain’s entire Olympic roster compete at the London-hosted competition, while this time around up to 46 swimmers may be selected, subject to available funding. Up to 4 swimmers per individual event and one squad per relay event may be selected to compete in Glasgow.

The first and second highest placed British swimmer in each individual Olympic event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games set for April 5th-10th in Gold Coast, Australia, will be selected, provided the athlete meets the minimum qualification times. The QTs must be achieved during the long course time period designated as June 1, 2017 to April 10, 2018.

Remaining roster spots will be chosen at the discretion of Great Britain’s Head Coach, National Performance Director and Head of Elite Development, with the men’s 800m free and women’s 1500m free participants falling within this discretionary process.

You can view the table of qualification times below, while reading the official Selection Criteria in its entirety here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Britain’s Qualification Times For 2018 European C’ships Published

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Photo courtesy of Cleopatra Lim

Cleopatra Lim has announced her verbal commitment to the application process at Columbia University.*

“Right after my trip, I knew I wanted to commit to Columbia. The campus, the city, the coaches and the bright personalities on the team completely won me over. Coach Diana and Demerae are perfect complements of a whole and it’s obvious that they truly work hard to help every swimmer reach their potential. I fell in love with the city for the first time, despite having lived so close to it my entire life.  The most important factor for me, though, was the team. Every single swimmer considered their team as their family and was unbelievably passionate about their major. I’m so fortunate to join a family of diverse, genuine, and hardworking people next year. I’m excited to be a Lion for not only four years, but for the rest of my life.”

Lim is from Tenafly, New Jersey, just a few miles up Hudson River from the Columbia campus. She attends Tenafly High School and swims for Wyckoff YMCA where she specializes mainly in butterfly and IM. At 2017 YMCA Short Course Nationals, she placed 19th in the 200 fly and 24th in the 200 IM, and a month earlier, at the New Jersey YMCA State Championships, she earned her best times in the 50 free, 100 breast, and 200 fly. Lim had an excellent long course season, finishing 11th in the 200 fly (2:20.84 PBx2) 13th in the 100 fly (PB of 1:03.61), 14th in the 200 IM (2:24.86 in prelims, PBx2.5), and 15th in the 400 IM, at YMCA Long Course Nationals.

Top SCY times:

• 100 fly – 55.62
• 200 fly – 2:02.47
• 200 IM – 2:04.40
• 400 IM – 4:24.19

Lim’s times would have placed her in the B finals of the 200 fly and 400 IM, and the C finals of the 100 fly and 200 IM, at 2017 Ivy League Women’s Championships. Also committed to Columbia’s class of 2022 is Washington’s Yanran Le.

*IVY LEAGUE DISCLAIMER: A “verbal commitment” by a coach is not an offer of admission, as only the Admissions Office has that authority. An Ivy League coach can only commit his or her support in the admissions process. Moreover, an Ivy League Likely Letter is not an offer of admission to the university.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Columbia Lions Secure Verbal Commitment from Butterflyer Cleopatra Lim

By Loretta Race on SwimSwam

Differing from years past, the 2018 British Championships will be held in conjunction with the annual Edinburgh International Swim Meet, with competition taking place across 4 days at the Royal Commonwealth Pool. In previous years, including 2017, the two meets have been separated by just under a month. The 2017 Edinburgh Int’l meet took place March 10th-12th, while the British Championships were held separately in April 18th-23rd.

At the 2018 edition of the British Championships combined with the EISM, over 500 competitors are expected to compete, both from near and far. High-profile foreign talent such as Danish Olympic champion Pernille Blume and Dutch world record holder Ranomi Kromowidjojo have made appearances in the past.

All swimming events at the combined meet are set to follow the standard format of prelims and finals, containing both open events and youth, with the latter holding women aged 14-17 and men aged 15-18. Adding to the excitement, 50m events in all strokes will hold skins finals for the open segment, with the first round having 8 swimmers, which then are reduced to 6, then 4, then 3, then 2, alternating between male and female per evening.

Pending FINA approval, the meet will most likely serve as qualification for the 2018 European Championships, the Youth Olympic Games, as well as the European Junior Championships. British Swimming just released the selection criteria for the 2018 European Championships, with swimmers needing to have notched qualifying times during the period of June 1, 2017 and April 10, 2018.

Entries remain open until January 22nd, but you can review the meet information here in the meantime.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2018 British Championships To Be Held With Edinburgh Int’l Swim Meet

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Photo courtesy of Hunter Hitchens

Southern California sprinter Hunter Hitchens has announced his verbal commitment to the application process at Cornell University.*

“I am proud to share my verbal commitment to Cornell University to be a student-athlete.  I researched and visited some of my top schools and found that Cornell represented the whole package.  The combination of world class academics, outstanding swimming environment, and an unbelievable beautiful campus made me feel as though I could reach my fullest potential at Cornell.  I feel very honored to be part of the Cornell family. Thank you to those who have supported me in this journey.

“Go Big Red!!!”

Hitchens swims for Irvine, California’s Northwood High School and Irvine Novaquatics. He is a member of three of NOVA’s current national age group relay records: boys’ 13-14 400m free relay, boys’ 13-14 800m free relay, and boys’ 15-16 800m free relay. A two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and three-time NISCA All-American, Hitchens was a major contributor to Northwood’s third-place team finish in the boys’ results at 2017 CIF-SS Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. He finished fourth in the 200 free (1:39.72) and seventh in the 100 free (46.15) and anchored Northwood’s A-final 200 free and 400 free relays in 20.92 and 45.71, respectively.

In club swimming, Hitchens competed at 2016 Winter Juniors West in the 50/100/200/500 free and 100/200 fly, as well as on a number of NOVA relays. He obtained lifetime bests during SCY season in the 50/100/500/1000 free, 50/100 back, 100 breast, 50/100 fly, and 100 IM. Likewise, he participated at Summer Juniors in the 50/100/200/400 free and 100 fly. Over the course of the summer, he improved his times in the LCM 50/100/200 free, 100 back, 100 fly, and 200 IM.

Top SCY times:

• 50 free – 20.88
• 100 free – 45.62
• 200 free – 1:39.69
• 500 free – 4:30.53
• 100 fly – 50.46
• 100 back – 51.52

*IVY LEAGUE DISCLAIMER: A “verbal commitment” by a coach is not an offer of admission, as only the Admissions Office has that authority. An Ivy League coach can only commit his or her support in the admissions process. Moreover, an Ivy League Likely Letter is not an offer of admission to the university.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: NAG Record-holder Hunter Hitchens Verbally Commits to Cornell

By Jared Anderson on SwimSwam

An award for Italy’s Coach of the Year has spurred a major social media firefight among Italy’s top swimmers, with emotions running so hot that Italy has opened a federal investigation.

SwimSwam’s Giusy Cisale has been following this evolving story on our Italian sister site so far this week, for those looking for coverage in its original language. As much of the controversy revolves around statements posted on social media in Italian, we’ll lean heavily on her previous reporting for context and connotations.

Last month, Italy announced three finalists for its Alberto Castagnetti Trophy, given as the federation’s “Coach of the Year” award each year. The three finalists were Stefano Morini (the trainer of distance stars Gregorio Paltrinieri, Gabriele Detti and the original coach of Federica Pellegrini until 2011), Matteo Giunta (current coach of Pellegrini, who upset Katie Ledecky this summer for World Championships gold) and Christian Minotti (coach of Simona Quadarella, among others).

This week, the federation gave the award to Morini for the fourth-consecutive year. The award was decided by a jury of coaches, journalists, swimming officials and Olympic champs. You can see the full jury listing here.

Federica Pellegrini– Twitter

Immediately after, Pellegrini took to social media to thank Giunta, her coach, and express her belief that Giunta should have won the award, based in part on Pellegrini’s gold medals in the 200 free at both long course and short course World Championships in the 2016-2017 season. A rough translation of Pellegrini’s post:

“I will forgive those who are interested, but this is not what I am thinking of, but only for meritocracy. I won the only gold that I missed in the 200 free at the Short Course World Cup (I do not compare to the others but know how Windsor went) and I won my third gold in the 200 free at the World Championships in Budapest after 6 years at 29 years old !! 2 World Gold Medals in the same year with the same athlete I’m sorry but this year no one has done it !! I’m sorry a lot that this prize does not go to you Matteo that you have succeeded in this business and besides, you did improve Luca Pizzini a second and a half. Now we have the assurance of how these ratings work! It’s okay there! But for me and your group YOU ARE THE TRAINER OF THE YEAR !! COMPLIMENTI MATTE! “

But her post elicited strong emotions from Paltrinieri, who released a statement defending his own coach and criticizing Pellegrini’s words. Here’s a rough translation of Paltrinieri’s statement:

“When a few hours ago I read Federica’s venture I did not want to believe it. I found some unresponsive words about Moro and who won with him. This is a federal prize, not the Oscar. I understand the desire to uphold the undisputed merits of its technician, but it should not be done by denying the work of others. It is clear that Federica is good, She is strong, but I repeat, this is a prize, it is nothing he should not have to take on the staff, on these things should fly high. The skill of a technician does not go against the skill of the other, this does not mean that Giunta is poor. And then we are national companions, we are people who are struggling to reach important goals, we all swim in the same direction and this kind of punctuation should not exist. Even less, it is necessary to question the correctness of the vote. Moro this year with its athletes has won four world medals. Point. But what are we talking about? “

Still relatively civil to this point, the disagreement turned suddenly dark when Coach of the Year Morini’s son Tommaso Morini got involved on Facebook. The younger Morini shared a link to a media story on the disagreement with a crude joke mocking Pellegrini’s support of her coach by rephrasing her words in a sexual context.

“You’re Matte, my [male genetalia] of the year,” Morini’s post read in a rough translation of the Italian. His comment appeared above the post he shared, which also reference male genitalia and called the incident “another lost opportunity [for Pellegrini] to be silent.”

That set off Pellegrini, who took to her Twitter profile to threaten a lawsuit:

Certo quando vieni stipendiato di brutto da qualcuno sei obbligato a dire certe cose… #madicosastiamoparlando

— Federica Pellegrini (@mafaldina88) October 9, 2017

Rough translation: “Of course when you’re salaried bad by someone you’re forced to say such things”

Mancare di rispetto vuol dire insultare …e qualcuno verrà querelato per questo..io non l'ho mai fatto ma ho una mente pensante e LIBERA!!

— Federica Pellegrini (@mafaldina88) October 9, 2017

Rough translation: “Disrespect means insulting … and someone will be sued for this. I have never done it, but I have a thinking mind and am free!!”

Many onlookers originally believed Pellegrini was addressing Paltrinieri with those tweets, until Pellegrini retweeted a screenshot of Tommaso Morini’s Facebook post. This morning, Pellegrini tweeted thanks to her supporters, and again calling out the sexism in Morini’s post:

Grazie ragazzi del sostegno…raramente ho ricevuto offese sessiste e mai da persone così "vicine"…per una donna è veramente brutale!

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Ben McDade from Monona, Wisconsin has announced via social media that he intends to swim at Indiana University in 2018-19. He will enter the class of 2022 with Andrew Couchon, Brandon Hamblin, Jack Franzman, Michael Brinegar, Mikey Calvillo, and Zach Cook, all of whom have also made verbal commitments to the Hoosiers.

“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and swimming career at Indiana University! Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the years. Go Hoosiers!!

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Ellie Masterson has announced via social media that she selected the University of South Carolina as the recipient for her verbal commitment.

“Excited to announce i have verbally committed to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of South Carolina, go Gamecocks!”

Masterson is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American from Sacred Heart Academy and Lakeside Swim Team in Louisville, Kentucky. A talented IMer with a strong 200 backstroke, she is equally at ease in the breast and fly. Masterson contributed to the Sacred Heart’s Valkyries fifth consecutive (and 28th overall) Kentucky swimming and diving title at the 2017 KHSAA State Meet in February. She placed fifth in the 200 IM (2:05.64) and seventh in the 100 back (57.35).

In club swimming, Masterson had a strong junior year season. She improved in all her events, in both SCY and LCM. At the CSC Winter Invite in January she went best times in the 200 free and 200 breast, then followed with the 200 IM and 100 back in high school season. Between Southern Premier and Kentucky 13&Over Championships, she updated her times in the 200 back, 100 breast, 100/200 fly, and 400 IM. Masterson really shone in long course season, though. At Athens Sectionals she won the 400 IM, was 9th in the 200 IM and 200 breast, 12th in the 200 back, 20th in the 200 fly, and 21st in the 100 breast. She also swam the 100 back and 100 fly, and she dropped gobs of time in all her events.

Masterson chose SC over Florida State, LSU, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.

Top SCY times:

• 200 IM – 2:04.35
• 400 IM – 4:24.73
• 100 back – 57.13
• 200 back – 2:01.37
• 200 breast – 2:20.34
• 200 fly – 2:06.54

Other South Carolina class of 2022 verbal commits so far include: Emma Scheider, Halladay Kinsey, Mari Kraus, Rachel Lee, and Ryann Styer.

Excited to announce i have verbally committed to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of South Carolina, go Gamecocks! pic.twitter.com/PVNPukmAFy

— Ellie Masterson (@ellie_masterson) October 11, 2017

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Ellie Masterson Chooses South Carolina for her Verbal Commitment

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Oakland, California’s Emily Lo has announced her intention to swim for the University of California, Los Angeles in 2018-19.

“Beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and further my academic studies at the University of California, Los Angeles! I’d like to thank my parents, my coaches, and my teammates for supporting me on this journey! Go bruins!!!

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Ryan Sego, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American from Batavia, Illinois, has announced his verbal commitment to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for the 2018-19 school year.

“Excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Miami University! Go RedHawks! #LoveandHonor”

Sego swims for West Chicago Community High School and Academy Bullets Swim Club. He specializes mainly in fly and IM, and had an outstanding junior year. At the NCSA Spring Championship, Sego posted new PBs in the 50 back, 50 breast, 50/100/200 fly, and 200 IM. He had even more success at the NCSA Summer Championship, updating his LCM times in the 100 free, 100/200 fly, and 200/400 IM, and reaching the B final of the 200 fly with a 4.4-second drop in prelims. He was also a finalist (29th) in the 100 fly, after dropping 1.5 seconds in prelims to qualify for the D final.

Sego’s best 200 fly would have scored for the Redhawks at 2017 MAC Championships, and his 100 time would have been just a touch out of scoring range (the Mid-American Conference only scores an A final and a B final).

Top SCY times:

• 200 fly – 1:51.67
• 100 fly – 50.99
• 50 fly – 23.37
• 200 IM – 1:55.99
• 400 IM – 4:13.18
• 200 free – 1:48.78

Excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Miami University! Go RedHawks! #LoveandHonor

A post shared by Ryan Sego (@ryansego) on Oct 4, 2017 at 2:34pm PDT

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Miami University Reels In Verbal Commitment from ACAD’s Ryan Sego

USA Swimming has released the organization’s first-ever 

If there was any doubt who the fastest sprinter in PIAA Class 2A was this season, there is no doubt after the 2016-17 season. Ellwood City senior Taylor Petrak went to the PIAA championships this year at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium and did what she has been doing for most of her career -- winning sprints. Petrak swept her two individual events, the 50 and 100 freestyle. Petrak and the PIAA Class 2A 50 freestyle have some history together. She won gold in the event as a sophomore in 2015 but settled for silver as a junior in 2016 as she was edged out by Geibel's Emily Zimcosky. This year the Ohio State recruit traveled to Bucknell seeking to avenge that defeat and return to the top of the podium. She did just that. Petrak shaved 0.49 seconds of her seed time to finish in 22.94 out of lane four and capture PIAA gold in the event for a second time. She also came within 0.03 seconds off the 2013 state record still held by Villa Maria Academy's Sara Hichens. Petrak managed a margin of victory of 0.85 seconds in the shortest race of the event. She beat out Emma Wilson of Grove City. The following day Petrak completed the sprint sweep. She won the 100 freestyle by 1.11 seconds over WPIAL rival, Northgate senior Karen Siddoway. Petrak brings back two state gold medals to her high school that does not even have a swim team. Petrak swam as an independent swimmer over her four years of high school.

The type of success Petrak enjoyed as an independent swimmer from a school without a program is rare, but not unheard of in the area. Lindsey Vrooman from nearby Ambridge was one of the best swimmers to come out of Western Pennsylvania this decade. Vrooman won WPIAL and state titles as an individual swimmer. Vrooman, like Petrak is planning at Ohio State, went on to compete in the Big Ten Conference for Indiana University.