Deep group from Fox Chapel to lead A-K Valley medal hopefuls at WPIAL swim meet

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 | 7:08 PM

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Charlotte Rusche remembers her first time up on the block in a WPIAL finals race as a Fox Chapel freshman.

“It was the individual 200 (yard freestyle), and I was a little nervous,” said Rusche, who earned her first WPIAL medal in that 2024 event by dropping 2 seconds from her seed time and finishing third. “When I was swimming, with the cheering, it was so loud. I remember not being able to hear anything.

“I touched the wall and remembered how good I felt and so supported by my team. It was so exciting.”

Rusche has had many big moments since that first swim — at WPIALs and states — and now, as a junior, she is shooting for more Thursday and Friday as the best and brightest in WPIAL Class 3A and Class 2A again visit Pitt’s Trees Pool.

Rusche and fellow junior Josephine Stanczak provide veteran leadership to a deep Foxes girls team hoping to break through to a WPIAL title after four straight runner-up finishes to North Allegheny.

“Feeling that flip side and being that experienced swimmer at WPIALs is pretty cool,” Rusche said. “It’s going to be fun to see all of the younger talented swimmers we have go out there and perform their best. I always want them to know that WPIALs is fun. It’s not something that should be too scary.”

Rusche repeated as a bronze medalist in the 200 free last year and added a fourth in the 500 free. She comes in this year seeded third in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 free as she transitions away from the 500 free as her second-day swim.

Stanczak came close to earning a pair of WPIAL individual medals last year, placing ninth in the 50 free and 10th in the 100 free. She and Rusche helped the 200 and 400 free relays claim WPIAL gold.

“It is such a different experience with the relays,” said Stanczak, who is seeded fifth in the 100 fly and eighth in the 100 free. “They are so special because I get to do them with my friends, and to team up and win two relay titles last year was so amazing. But I certainly always try my best in my individual (events), and I hope to get medals in both this year.”

All three Fox Chapel girls relays are No. 1 seeds. Relay lineups are not released until the day of the swim, and Rusche was tight-lipped when asked what the pairings would be for each of the Foxes’ relays.

Twenty-eight Alle-Kiski Valley swimmers and seven relay teams are seeded in the fastest heat (top eight) between the Class 3A and Class 2A meets. Numerous others are positioned just outside the top eight and are ready to challenge for a spot on the medals podium.

While the top eight earn medals, only the WPIAL champion in each event automatically qualifies for states in Bucknell from March 10-14. The rest of the field for states is determined based on times recorded at each district or regional meet.

The Class 3A meet begins Thursday and Friday at 9:45 a.m., with Class 2A set for 3 p.m. each day.

The Fox Chapel girls team’s depth also features junior Cameryn Brindza as the third seed in the 100 back and sixth in the 200 IM, sophomore Maren Shelkey-Bray as the sixth seed in the 500 and eighth in the 200 and sophomore Nico Ressler as the fifth seed in the 200 free and sixth seed in the 500 free.

Freshman Delaney O’Toole is the hunted as the No. 1 seed in the 50 free and the second seed in the 100 back.

“I am excited and also a little nervous to go out there and race everybody because there is a lot of good competition, including some older girls who I’ve never had the chance to race before,” O’Toole said. “I know the energy level will be high, and we’ve all trained so hard all season for it.”

Fellow Foxes freshman Ellie Lange hopes to make a splash in her WPIAL debut as the top seed in the 200 individual medley and the third seed in the 500 free.

“I am ready to race and be a part of what I know will be a great atmosphere,” Lange said. “It will be a great test to see how much I’ve improved over the year. I know I will be pushed and challenged to swim my fastest.”

Kiski Area junior Leah Kunkle is the No. 2 seed in the 100 breaststroke, and she will battle Lange, Brindza and others in the final heat (sixth seed) of the 200 IM.

Kunkle is just a few weeks removed from runner-up finishes in the 200 IM and 100 breast at the prestigious Westmoreland County Coaches Association Championship meet at Derry.

Fox Chapel sophomore Owen Nguyen returns to WPIALs with experience, and he has made a big leap to the ninth seed in the 50 free while also entering as the 11th seed in the 100 free. Last year, Nguyen took 19th in the 200 free and was 24th in the 100 free.

“I’ve been working on a lot of small things to help both my races,” Nguyen said. “All of those small things add up to big drops in time. Having already been at WPIALs helps a lot with stress and also dealing with the routines. I know what to expect.”

Foxes sophomore Nathan Agens enters WPIALs seeded sixth in the Class 3A boys 100 fly.

Knoch senior Adrian Lavorini is focused on top finishes in his final WPIAL Class 2A meet. He is the fourth seed for the 200 IM on Thursday and the 100 breast on Friday. Lavorini qualified for states in both of his individual events last year with a bronze in the 200 IM and a fifth in the 100 breast.

Other Class 2A boys hoping to reach the medals podium include Valley senior Damien Mauro (seventh seed in 200 free and 500 free), Highlands senior Cameron Prager (eighth, 50 free), Deer Lakes sophomore Tucker Beers (eighth, 100 fly), Knoch sophomore Brady Bleicher (eighth, 100 back) and Freeport senior Eli Hassler (sixth, 100 breast).

On the girls side, Knoch junior Olivia Walewski is the seventh seed in the 100 back, while and junior Hannah Altman is the eighth seed in the 200 IM.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.