Wins well worth the wait
By
Sam Tallarico
Eagle Staff Writer
BUTLER TWP — With the season winding down, the
With a week's worth of cancellations, the Golden Tornado competed in their
first meet since Feb. 2, squaring off against North Hills.
Behind Jordan McElhaney and Brianna Keelan, the
In the boys meet, Travis Myers, Brandon Walsh and Matt Goettler each won
individual events and were members of the winning 200 medley relay in a 100-86
triumph.
"It's been a while since we saw some meet (action)," said
"When school cancels, there's no practice. You're playing the season out,
then lay loose and taper. But the kids have to swim some meets (three are
slated this week before the WPIAL finals March 4 and 5).
"I told the kids not to blame the weather. Everyone is in the same
boat,"
Both Butler squads jumped out in fine fashion as Brittney Grenet and Heath
Calhoun each won the girls and boys 1-meter diving. Grenet won with a score of
227.5 and Calhoun recorded a 317.00.
Then, the girls foursome of Keelan, Taylor Campbell, McElhaney and Morgan
Morrison won the 200 medley relay with a time of 2 minutes, 0.95 seconds.
The boys did likewise, with Alex Bauer, Goettler, Walsh and Myers winning the
event at 1:48.12.
McElhaney also picked up wins in the 200 individual medley (2:26.14) and 100
butterfly (1:07.00) while Keelan won the 50 freestyle (26.23) and Taylor
Campbell took the 100 breaststroke (1:15.61).
McElhaney and Keelan joined Morrison and Kati Herr to win the 400 freestyle
relay (4:00.13).
Como was hoping, despite the regular season wrapping up, that some of the
swimmers would continue to progress.
"There are kids who have qualified but need to improve and get a better
seed time," the coach said.
The Butler boys (2-6) picked up wins by Myers in the 200 IM (2:20.49), Walsh in
the 100 butterfly (59.85 and Goettler in the 100 backstroke (59.99) as well as
in the 200 freestyle relay (1:42.55), led by Brandon Barr, Sam Cleary, Jake
Kaufman and Noah Neigh.
"Brandon Walsh, a first-year competitor, took one-tenth of a second off in
the fly. I was happy to see that," Como said.
The 400 free relay team of Myers, Bauer, Neigh and Goettler finished second but
qualified for the WPIAL finals with a time of 3:37.66.
"That was the last relay we needed to get in," Como said as all three
boys and girls relay teams met the WPIAL qualifying standard. "We had no
individuals qualify today, but we improved for seed times going into the WPIAL
meet."
Butler will travel to Seneca Valley Thursday, then the Last Ditch meet at North
Allegheny on Saturday.
Girls
Butler 106, North Hills 78
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Brianna Keelan, Taylor Campbell, Jordan
McElhaney, Morgan Morrison) 2:00.95
200 freestyle: 1-Kylie Marshalek (NH) 2:07.42
200 individual medley: 1-Jordan McElhaney (B) 2:26.14
50 freestyle: 1-Brianna Keelan (B) 26.23
100 butterfly: 1-Jordan McElhaney (B) 1:07.00
1-meter diving: 1-Brittney Grenet (B) 227.50
100 freestyle: 1-Elizabeth Czachowski (NH) 58.04
500 freestyle: 1-Katie Pearson (NH) 5:56.75
200 free relay: 1-North Hills (Rachel Trocchio, Regina Sencak, Kylie
Marshalek, Elizabeth Czachowski) 1:51.45
100 backstroke: 1-Rachel Trocchio (NH) 1:04.52
100 breaststroke: 1-Taylor Campbell (B) 1:15.61
400 free relay: 1-Butler (Morgan Morrison, Kati Herr, Jordan McElhaney,
Brianna Keelan) 4:00.13
Boys
Butler 100, North Hills 86
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Alex Bauer, Matt Goettler Brandon Walsh,
Travis Myers) 1:48.12
200 freestyle: 1-Zach Hebda (NH) 1:55.89
200 individual medley: 1-Travis Myers (B) 2:20.49
50 freestyle: 1-Jeff Trant (NH) 23.53
100 butterfly: 1-Brandon Walsh (B) 59.85
1-meter diving: 1-Heath Calhoun (B) 317.00
100 freestyle: 1-Zach Hebda (NH) 52.41
500 freestyle: 1-Tommy Herman (NH) 5:09.46
200 free relay: 1-Butler (Brandon Barr, Sam Cleary, Jake Kaufman, Noah
Neigh) 1:42.55
100 backstroke: 1-Matt Goettler (B) 59.99
100 breaststroke: 1-Jared Nutter (NH) 1:12.98
400 free relay: 1-North Hills (Zach Hebda, John Witherel, Tommy Herman,
Jeff Trant) 3:37.22