Sewickley Academy swimmers find success alongside Quaker Valley teammates

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, February 9, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Marcus Zhan is one of a handful of Sewickley Academy students competing in the collaborative swim program at Quaker Valley this season.

Zhan, a junior, is joined by his younger brother Augustin, a freshman, along with another freshman, Yourin Li, on the QV boys team.

The older Zhan sibling specializes in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle. This is his second year of swimming with the Panthers.

“As a Sewickley Academy student, I feel like I belong on the team while competing alongside the Quaker Valley boys,” Marcus Zhan said. “Despite our team only having seven boys, we are all super close and want each other to get better.

“At meets, despite opposing teams having more boys than we do giving them a manpower advantage for gaining points, we will also bond, encourage each other and dominate our races. I don’t feel like a Sewickley Academy student in a Quaker Valley swim team. I feel like a member of the QVSA swim team.”

The talented Zhan brothers have been highly competitive as QV swimmers, Marcus as a freestyler and Augustin in the 200 free, 500 free, 100 breast and 200 IM, as well as the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

“My season is going well,” Marcus Zhan said. “I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I need to do to keep getting better. I’m looking forward to amazing WPIAL and state meets with the boys. I know we will have very good meets.

“And I feel like we’ve been doing great, especially considering we’re constantly going up against teams that are twice our size. No matter how tough it gets or how we’re feeling, we never give up. It’s that determination that sets us apart.”

The Quakers were 3-2 in section competition at the end of January.

“The boys have always kept a positive mindset no matter how much the odds look to be stacked against us,” Marcus Zhan said. “I expect that we will continue to drop times and get better seedings for WPIALs. We still have a couple of opportunities to get better and ready. I feel grateful and lucky to be able to be a part of an amazing boys swim team. I can’t wait to swim with them at WPIALs and states.”

This year’s WPIAL swim championships will take place Feb. 27-28 at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

Marcus Zhan made his presence felt on last year’s team as a PIAA finalist in the 200 and 500 freestyles. He also swam with the PIAA-qualifying 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.

Li, an exchange student from China, is new to swimming in the U.S. His focus has been on the freestyle events and butterfly.

Two other Sewickley Academy students, sophomores Lydia Kilpela and Anna Fiedler, are members of the QV girls swim program.

“So far, the QVSA girls team has stepped up its game and put in the work to continuously gain MAC and (WPIAL) cuts each meet,” Kilpela said. “We may have smaller numbers than in the past, but the dedication is there, and the work is being put in. I am confident in the group of girls we have.”

QV’s girls team was 5-0 (as of Jan. 31) and on the cusp of winning a fifth consecutive section title.

“I have high expectations for the team the rest of the season,” Kilpela said. “We are expecting a good showing at the MAC championship, considering most of our team has earned qualifying cuts. As for WPIALs, each individual qualifier has her own goals to achieve. And for our relays, they are still getting perfected but strive to work towards qualifying for states in March.

“The boys have also had a good season considering there are only seven of them this year. They have all showed up and will go far this year in championship meets.”

Kilpela’s competitive nature in the pool has followed the same lane as last year’s: 200 IM, 100 back and as a relay competitor.

“Being a Sewickley Academy student on the Quaker Valley girls team has been nothing but spectacular,” Kilpela said. “I am grateful to have a co-op with a school that has such great individuals to consider as teammates along with an amazing coach these past two years. Sewickley Academy may not have many swimmers on the team but the few of us that are there have gone far and have done great things to represent Sewickley Academy alongside Quaker Valley.

“As for my own season, it has been going quite well. I am on the path of accomplishing my own individual goals that I set. I hope to improve my placement at WPIALs from last year.”

Kilpela finished in the WPIAL top 20 in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM last year with personal-best times in both events.

Fiedler hit the MAC cut earlier this season in the 200 IM, 100 breast and 100 free.

Tags: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy