Swimming

Fox Chapel swimmer Payton O’Toole works on her freestyle stroke during practice Monday.

Fox Chapel swim teams speeding toward section titles

January 31, 2022

Payton O’Toole made a splash two years ago as a freshman at Burrell with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle at the WPIAL Class 2A championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool. She also was sixth in the 500 free.

Belle Donato is a senior swimmer on the 2021-22 Hampton swim team.

Hampton swimmer Donato glides toward WPIALs

January 29, 2022

Belle Donato’s watchful parents urged her to trust them and take the plunge.

Kiski Area’s Paige Kunkle competes in the 200 medley relay during a meet against Plum on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, at Kiski Area High School.

Kiski Area swimmers Hansen, Sterlitz have sights set on top spots at WCCA meet

January 28, 2022

As freshmen in 2020, Levi Hansen and Parker Sterlitz made a run at the boys 500-yard freestyle title at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships at Derry High School.

Fox Chapel’s Sophie Shao competes in the girls 200-yard individual medley at last year’s WPIAL Class 3A swimming championship.

WPIAL releases latest swimming and diving performance lists

January 25, 2022

Fox Chapel junior Sophie Shao, the defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champion in the 100-yard butterfly, looks at her time in the event on the swimming performance list on the WPIAL website and sees who also is recording top times and making a charge up the rankings.

Valley off to 2-1 start as swimmers gain valuable experience

Kim Johnson has watched her team progress every day. And now the results are starting to show.

Highlands’ Aidan Ochoa finished sixth in the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke in last year’s WPIAL championships.

With home pool closed, Highlands swimming performing at high level

There’s no place like home, as they say.

North Hills’ Jewel Thomas was a WPIAL qualifier in the 200 IM in 2021.

Experience with premier program guiding new North Hills swim coach

January 22, 2022

Nicole Loutsenhizer has been around swimming’s best for years. And now she is ready to carry over those experiences to the North Hills program.

Freeport’s Lexi Schrecengost competes in the 100 breaststroke at the WPIAL swimming championship March 6 at Upper St. Clair High School.

Led by Schrecengost sisters, Freeport swimming aiming high

January 18, 2022

Nikki Heasley has a golden reason to be optimistic about her Freeport swimming team.

Burrell assistant coach Diane Swigart offers instructions to a group of swimmers during the 2021-22 season.

Burrell swimmers take aim at WPIAL qualifying times

The Burrell swim teams still are recovering from last year’s pandemic.

Penn Hills sophomore dives into new sport with swim team

January 16, 2022

The fear factor of flipping through the air was lessened for Gabby Pernatozzi when she stepped out on the diving board. The Penn Hills sophomore started with the swim team a month into the season but had translatable skills from other sports.

Mt. Pleasant’s Reegan Brown competes in the 100-yard backstroke at the WPIAL championship at Upper St. Clair High School on March 6, 2021.

After strong 2021 finish, Mt. Pleasant swimming wants gold

January 11, 2022

Sandy Felice has high hopes for the Mt. Pleasant swimming team in 2022. And why shouldn’t she?

Gateway sophomore Mark DiPalma swims the freestyle in practice Jan. 4, 2022, at Gateway’s Furrie Sports Complex.

Gateway swimmers earn early WPIAL qualifying times

January 9, 2022

The Gateway boys and girls swimming and diving teams have entered the Section 3-3A portion of their schedules, and coach Sherry Sonetti hopes that a strong series of practices over the holiday break will pay dividends.

Hampton’s Will Retsch competes in the 200 yard individual medley during last year’s WPIAL Class 2A swimming championships at Upper St. Clair.

Hampton senior shows off all-around ability in IM

January 8, 2022

Hampton swimming coach Morgan Zweygardt quickly spotted something about then-freshman Will Retsch.

Derry’s Chloe Buhite competes in the 200-yard medley at the WPIAL Class 2A championships at Upper St. Clair High School on March 6, 2021.

Senior leadership key for Derry swimming

January 4, 2022

Derry coach Jeff Kelly hits his young swimmers with a dose of reality right off the bat.

Greensburg Salem’s Abigail Sharp competes in the girls 200-yard medley at the WPIAL swimming championships on March 6 at Upper St. Clair High School.

Low numbers, big goals for Greensburg Salem swimming

January 3, 2022

At the start of each season, Greensburg Salem swimming coach Bill Salathe hands out papers to each of his swimmers, asking them to write down their goals for the upcoming year.

Upper St. Clair’s David Pantelis watches from the empty bench during a PIAA Class 6A state quarterfinal against Erie on March 20 at Upper St. Clair High School.

Trib HSSN Top 21 Stories of 2021: St. Clair Six pulled off state playoff stunner

December 30, 2021

The year 2021 wasn’t one giant leap for mankind, but it was one big step back toward “normalcy” for all of us, especially the high school athletes from around the WPIAL.