Mt. Pleasant swimmers seeking more hardware at PIAA championships

By: John Phillips
Monday, March 10, 2025 | 4:30 PM

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Sandy Felice has seen quite a bit over two stints as head coach of the boys and girls swim teams at Mt. Pleasant. The Slippery Rock grad and Hempfield native has racked up quite a bit of hardware over the years, leading Vikings to a sea of WPIAL and PIAA success.

She and her talented roster of swimmers will trek east this week, seeking to add a bounty of both individual and team titles to an already long list of accolades.

PIAA team gold will also be on the docket, with a longtime foe standing in their way. Indiana has been a rival for decades, along with serving as a section foe. The Indians swept team gold earlier this month at the WPIAL championships held at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

“We want to focus on our kids and what they’ve been working on,” said Felice, a retired health and physical education teacher. “Our kids really get up to face them every time. We don’t get pushed by many schools, so it’s always a big event. It’s a good rivalry.”

Mt. Pleasant’s girls enter the two-day event at Bucknell as two-time defending PIAA Class 2A champs. A third crown is within reach.

“Our girls didn’t totally rest for the WPIALs since a number of them were seeded first, knowing they were going to PIAAs, so hopefully they will have big numbers,” Felice of their tapering strategy.

Mt. Pleasant senior Lily King is the top seed in the and 100- and 200-yard freestyle events after running away with both titles at the WPIAL championships. She owns the PIAA record in the 100 (48.38) and will go after the 200 state record of 1:44.73 set by West York’s Courtney Harnish in 2017.

King, an N.C. State commit, has won 10 PIAA gold medals during her career (six individuals and four relays).

“She’s the most experienced when it comes to big meets,” Felice said. “She expresses to others who may not be as seasoned to come seek her out and talk about what bothers them. She’s a leader in that way.”

Another Vikings senior who is gunning for big things is Kiersten O’Connor, who won the 50 freestyle and placed third in the 100 backstroke last year. She won both events at the WPIAL meet and is seeded first in both this week.

“I was looking forward to having more a relaxing year due to recruiting,” she said. “I’m happy with the time I’ve had so far and looking forward to the meet this week.”

She committed to UConn last season. And as for facing Indiana one last time with King by her side, O’Connor said it’s all been a dream.

“It’s a blessing to be on the same team as Lily King,” O’Connor said. “Because she is insane in the pool. I’m blessed to be on her team, and she pushes me to be a better swimmer. We work together on the relays we are on. We try to be the best we can be. Facing Indiana one more time will be a challenge. We have no control over what they do.”

O’Connor also chips in with team medley events. Something Felice was quick to point out.

“She had her best time in the 100 back and 50 free and is hoping to repeat that this week. She is our anchor in the 200 free. The girls took the 200 medley gold, with Kiersten handling the backstroke, setting a WPIAL record in the process.”

The girls medley relay and 400 free relay are both seeded first, and the girls 200 free relay is seeded second at the PIAA meet.

As for the Mt. Pleasant boys, David Mutter is one of the leaders, according to Felice. He is the top seed in the 100 fly, an event where he set the state record in 47.52 last winter, as well as the 500 freestyle.

“He’s a strong, all-around swimmer,” she said. “Butterfly is his specialty, but he can do it all. We put him in a new event this year, the 500 free, and he ended up winning the event at Pitt.”

Joseph Gardner was male athlete of the meet at PIAAs in 2024. He won the 200 IM and 100 breast last season and is seeded second in the IM and first in the breaststroke this week. Both seniors were part of the 200-yard medley that won WPIAL gold, and the unit is the top seed for the PIAA meet. The boys 200 free relay is seeded sixth. Junior Gunnar Probst also is seeded sixth in the 50 free

“It’s taper time,” Felice said. “As we get closer to the biggest events, the kids are trying to work on technique to cut down their times. Lowering their volume of yardage in the pool. We do a lot of sprinting of specific strokes at the state meet. That allows the kids to focus on details and rest more than they have all year. It helps their muscles and helps them to swim faster.”

Among other Top 8 seeds from Westmoreland County for the PIAA meet:

• Norwin senior Tyler Turgeon is seeded sixth in the Class 3A boys 100 fly.

• Kiski Area senior Justin Tucker is seeded third in the 3A boys 500 free.

• Latrobe’s 200 free boys relay is seeded fifth and the 400 free relay is sixth in Class 3A.

• Latrobe’s Chris Heese is seeded fourth in the 3A boys 100 breaststroke.

• Norwin’s Amber Klingensmith is seeded fifth and Latrobe’s Lauren Bell is sixth in the 100 fly in 3A girls.

• Derry’s Jake Hauser is seeded sixth in 2A boys diving and teammate Chaeli Keenan is fourth in 2A girls diving.

• Franklin Regional’s Scarlett Zolnak and Magdalena Hull are seeded fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 2A girls 200 free.

• Southmoreland’s Allison Stinnett is seeded second in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 2A girls 200 IM.

• The Franklin Regional girls 400 free relay is seeded second, and the 200 free relay is seeded fourth in Class 2A.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant