Mt. Pleasant’s star-studded swimming lineup looks to shine at county meet

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, January 23, 2025 | 6:24 PM

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With four NCAA Division I swimmers on the roster, Mt. Pleasant is expected to make noise at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association championship Friday and Saturday at Derry.

It is one of the last chances for fans to watch the Vikings’ elite PIAA champion swimmers.

Seniors Lily King (N.C. State), Kiersten O’Connor (UConn), Joseph Gardner (Pitt) and David Mutter (Alabama) are the Vikings’ headliners. King competed in the Olympic Trials this summer.

Action begins at 5 p.m. Friday with the diving championship. The swimming portion of the championship begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.

King owns 11 PIAA titles and numerous state records in the freestyle events. O’Connor also has won numerous state medals. She broke the Mt. Pleasant pool record in the 50-yard freestyle this season (24.16). Her main events are the 200 IM, 100 backstroke and relays.

Gardner has won consecutive breaststroke titles and owns the state record in the event. He also was on winning state relay teams. He placed second in the breaststroke as a freshman.

Mutter is a PIAA champ in the backstroke and a state record holder.

“It’s going to be sad to see them go,” Mt. Pleasant coach Sandy Felice said. “They have continued to shine, but they have had help. We have others who have contributed.”

Other girls having good seasons include sophomore Riley Shinsky (freestyle and backstroke events), junior Lainey Brown (breaststroke), senior Kaylie Korpiel (diving), freshman Giada Bando (500 freestyle), senior Madison Poole (50 freestyle), senior Maddie Barrick (100 freestyle), Ella Paul (diving), Bella Furman (freestyle), Kaylea Voke (distance), Shayla Cain (butterfly) and senior Morgan Miller (relays). Poole injured her toe and will miss the rest of the season.

The other freshmen contributing are Mia Hribal (breaststroke, IM and 50 freestyle), Kenley Kucenic (500 freestyle and 100 backstroke), Mischa Burgman (freestyle) and Autumn Withrow (freestyle).

Felice said Shinsky has improved a lot, and Brown has been solid.

The girls team’s record is 8-0.

Felice said many of the new swimmers have improved dramatically.

The boys are also 8-0.

Boys having solid seasons include Gunnar Probst (50 freestyle), Cody Fusco (500 freestyle), Quinn Heinnickel (200 IM) and Seth Painter (200 IM). Others scoring points include Gage Burkes (200 IM), John Wilson (freestyle) and Noaah Lahm (diving) and sophomores Ben Marsh (distance), Lucas Poole (butterfly) and Thad Tompkins (freestyle).

Three freshmen — Owen Spires (breaststroke and butterfly), Colby Emerick (butterfly) and Ian Poole (sprints and freestyle) — add to the Vikings’ depth.

“We have good balance,” Felice said. “We have some first-year swimmers contributing.”

Schools battling Mt. Pleasant for the titles include Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, Kiski Area and Penn-Trafford.

Felice said she expects her team to challenge for the overall title like it did in 2023. The Vikings won in Class 2A last year.

“I’m excited to see us compete against the larger schools.” Felice said. “In meets like the counties, depth is the key.”

Mt. Pleasant had a big section meet Thursday at Indiana, which edged Mt. Pleasant on Jan. 18 at the Thomas Jefferson Invitational.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Mt. Pleasant