Fox Chapel notebook: Swim team happy to bring large contingent to WPIAL meet

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Expect the Fox Chapel presence at Pitt’s Trees Pool to be a strong contingent. The Foxes have hit a number of WPIAL Class 3A individual qualifying times and will be looking to push a number of athletes through to the state swimming championships.

“It’s a super exciting time coming up with championship season around the corner,” Fox Chapel coach Matt Mauclair said. “It’s amazing, we have close to 80 individual qualifiers across the board with all of our swimmers. We’ll probably be taking close to 30 kids to WPIALs that make individuals and relays.”

Sarah Pasquella has had a strong season for the Foxes, picking up three pool records. She set the Upper St. Clair pool record in the 100 breaststroke, the 100 breaststroke record at Fox Chapel and the 200 free pool record at Seneca Valley. Not including any relay events, Pasquella has hit the WPIAL qualifying time in seven individual events.

She has qualified in the 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back and 100 breast. Josie Stanczak has hit the qualifying standard in six events: the 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free and 500 free. Grace Kovach hit the standard in the 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free and 100 free.

Fox Chapel’s girls team went 11-2 in dual meets.

On the boys’ side, Christian Dantey hit eight qualifying standards so far this season. He qualified for the 200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free and 500 free. Owen Howell also hit the qualifying times in the same events as Dantey.

Mauclair, who took over the program this season, is excited to see how this group will fare at the WPIAL championships.

“Greater leadership across the board, nothing came easy, the kids learned the value of hard work and perseverance throughout the year,” Mauclair said.

Martin finishes 68th

Fox Chapel graduate Colin Martin took his shot at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon in early February in Orlando. Martin finished the course in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 55 seconds to finish in 68th place out of the 150 male competitors.

Conner Mantz won the event and punched his ticket to the Olympics by finishing in 2:09:05.

Gymnasts compete at WPIALs

Caitlyn Novak and Annaliese Pham both competed for Fox Chapel at the WPIAL individual gymnastic championships in the Intermediate II division.

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