Led by Division I trio, Fox Chapel swimmers poised for memorable season

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Coach Matt Mauclair is excited about what the Fox Chapel swimming program is bringing back up and down the lineup.

At the top, the Foxes have four captains with plenty of experience swimming at a high level. Three of those athletes — Sarah Pasquella, Owen Howe and Christian Dantey — signed to swim for Division-I colleges.

But the Foxes also have a younger group who will be pushing to follow their senior counterparts on the record board and in the medal hunt.

“We have a huge group of freshmen,” Mauclair said. “There isn’t that much dropoff from No. 1 to No. 17 in that group. All of the freshmen have watched the high school kids swim in our active club program. They want to be let out of their cage.”

Pasquella, who finished second in the PIAA Class 3A 100 breaststroke last season, signed with Michigan.

Dantey signed with George Washington, andd Owen Howell committed to Emory.

“It’s like seeing a 1,000-pound gorilla being lifted off their backs and standing beside them,” Mauclair said. “You see the wear and tear that making a decision like that has on a young person. Once Sarah committed to a program with the clout like Michigan, it allowed her to open up in practice. She’s able to get work in and be more loose now.”

Mauclair said the three competitors who signed to swim in Division I, plus fellow seniors Grace Kovach and Margaret Rushce, have given Fox Chapel a strong leadership structure at the top of the program.

The Foxes girls team finished second in the WPIAL behind North Allegheny last season and would like to challenge the Tigers for the top spot. Fox Chapel is counting on its top swimmers to score as many points as possible to make that happen.

“Having the upperclassmen made it easy to allow the freshmen to integrate into practice,” Mauclair said. “They not only lead with their voice, but they lead by action.”

Fox Chapel also expects key contributions from sophomores Charlotte Rusche and Josephine Stanczak.

The Foxes will get plenty of tests early, as Fox Chapel was scheduled to swim against WPIAL heavyweight North Allegheny on Dec. 9.

“It’s a great test,” Mauclair said. “I love it. It’s an intimate setting with a six-lane pool. You have to be creative with your lineup.”

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