Penn-Trafford junior swimmer collects medals at county meet

By: Paul Schofield
Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Penn-Trafford swimming teams did not win any gold medals at the annual Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association meet Jan. 25, but all swimmers who competed recorded their best times of the season.

The times showed how strong the county meet was at Derry with swimmers from Mt. Pleasant, Latrobe, Hempfield and Franklin Regional leading the way.

Despite the lack of medals, Penn-Trafford coach Dave Babik was pleased with his team’s overall performance.

Junior Laela Whetstone had a solid meet. She placed second in the 100 freestyle, fourth in the 50 freestyle and was on the 200 IM and 200 freestyle relay teams that placed fifth.

“Laela had a strong performance,” Babik said. “We knew what she was capable of. She’s a very fast swimmer.”

Whetstone said she was excited to earn four medals.

“I was happy overall.” Whetstone said. “I really liked my time in the 100 free. I’m also happy that both relay teams placed this year. That has not happened the previous two.”

Whetstone competed against Mt. Pleasant senior Lily King, a PIAA and WPIAL Class 2A champion and Olympic Trials qualifier, in the two freestyle races.

“When you compete against someone as good as Lily, it takes pressure off you,” Whetstone said. “I feel that you want to go faster to impress them. Competing against her inspires me.”

Whetstone has qualified in three individual events for WPIALs – the 100 backstroke and the 50 and 100 freestyle. She’ll decide which two individual events she’ll compete in late this season.

“I’d like to go to states. That’s my goal,” Whetstone said. “I’m hoping the relay teams continue to improve.”

Whetstone teamed up with sophomore Faith Whipple, sophomore Delaney Race and junior Gabby Alfieri in both relays.

Race also placed fifth in the 500 freestyle, senior Caroline Davis placed fourth in diving, and Whipple qualified for WPIALs in the 50 freestyle because of her time in the relay.

The girls are 5-3 this season and the boys are 3-5. Both teams finished seventh at the county meet.

“The girls season has gone as we expected,” Babik said. “We have 13 freshmen, and they are steadily improving. We want to continue to build.”

Junior Aaron Burdell was the only boys swimmer to earn a medal. He placed second in the 50.

He was on the 200 free and 400 freestyle relay teams. He teamed up with sophomore John Kunkle (200 and 400), sophomore Daniel Semykin (200), sophomore Daniel Owoc (400), junior Lorenzo Meade (400), senior Jake McGhee (200) and sophomore Chris Schadler (200).

“We only have 10 boys, but they continue to work hard and improve,” Babik said. “Some of our guys are first-year swimmers, but they are doing what we expected.”

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: Penn-Trafford