Small but mighty Quaker Valley swimmers off to fast start

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Sunday, January 19, 2025 | 11:01 AM


The Quaker Valley boys swim team has just seven competitors, including three from neighboring Sewickley Academy.

“Small but mighty” is the mantra for both the boys and girls squads at QV.

“When you have a small team, everyone counts,” coach Mercedes McCarthy said. “I like to think we are small but mighty.”

The Quakers jumped out to a 2-0 record in Section 2-2A, defeating Beaver Falls and Central Valley. The boys team is led by three seniors: Thomas Fuener, Adlan Hifri and Ryan Steinfurth.

“The boys are doing great,” Fuener said. “We are the few and the proud. There are only seven of us, but we are all strong swimmers and will go far.

“We have a very strong team and I expect great things from these boys. I expect that we will go far in states.”

Steinfurth, a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program, is appreciative of the Quakers’ performance in 2024-25.

“We have had a very promising start to the season,” he said, “and despite our small size we have key performers in every stroke which has helped us to attain our undefeated record in section so far. Both the boys and girls teams are undefeated in their section.”

Steinfurth specializes in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle events.

“The season is going well for me,” he said. “I have already gotten the WPIAL cut in the 100 backstroke.”

Steinfurth added that one of the team goals is to continue to show improvement in practice and at meets.

“For the second half of the season, we plan to have a strong showing at the MAC invitational and improve our seed times for WPIALs,” he said.

Two juniors, Austin Young and Marcus Zhan, and two freshmen, Augustin Zhan and Youran Li, round out the QV boys team.

“Austin powers through the water every time he swims,” McCarthy said.

Fuener, Steinfurth, Hifri and Marcus Zhan swam in both state-qualifying relays (200 medley, 200 free) in 2023-24.

“Marcus dominates in the distance events,” McCarthy said. “And his younger brother Augustin piles on (WPIAL) cuts in anything he swims.”

Fuener plans to attend Pitt and study political science following his high school graduation.

“We have an awesome squad this year, both the girls and boys,” Fuener said. “Everyone is dedicated, and the coaching has been excellent. I’m very happy with my senior season so far. I swim the 100 fly, but my goal this season is to make WPIALs in every event.

“I’m very proud of my teammates Adlan, Ryan, Marcus, Augustin, Austin and Youran. We’ve been holding it down this season.”

Quaker Valley’s girls team also splashed past Beaver Falls and Central Valley in section meets earlier this month.

Senior leadership for the girls is met by swimmer Margaret Getty and diver Ruby Olliffe, both state finalists a year ago.

Getty qualified for the PIAA Class 2A championships in four events, advancing in the 200 and 500 freestyles and two relays.

“Margaret’s heart is in the distance events,” McCarthy said. “Her goal is the podium at states.”

Getty placed third in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free at last year’s WPIAL finals.

“So far this season, I am very proud of the QV girls’ performance,” Getty said. “Although we have a smaller team than last year’s, we have a number of talented swimmers as well as a strong freshman class. The girls team continues to gain more MAC and WPIAL cuts at every meet, as well as achieve personal-best times, which has been really exciting for us. I feel extremely lucky to be a captain for such a wonderful and dedicated group of girls.

“My expectations for the girls are to continue to grow and improve together and to see how far we can go. One of our main goals is to become section champs for the fifth year in a row. We also hope to qualify more girls for MACs and WPIALs and to see how high we can place in these events. I feel very confident in this group of girls, and I look forward to seeing everything we can accomplish this year.”

Getty plans to continue her swim career at West Chester — after continuing to work on improving her times this year.

“My season is going really well,” she said. “I continue to improve at every meet, which I am happy about. It has been such a fun season, and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do this year.”

Olliffe, a Bucknell recruit, repeated as a state qualifier last season after finishing as the WPIAL Class 2A runner-up. She placed fourth at the PIAA championships.

“Ruby is one of the most talented divers I’ve seen come through the sport,” said Vernon Yenick, QV’s diving coach. “Her diving is graceful, strong and extremely precise.”

Rounding out the girls team are juniors Margaret Burns, Kendra Hines, Makenna Kamnikar and Alexa Westwood; sophomores Arianna Batina, Anna Fiedler, Anna Fuener, Lydia Kilpela and Harper LaLomia; and freshmen Charlotte Chappell, Lilly Gibson, Calie Murawski and Amelia Suhayda.

Kamnikar was a medalist at the WPIAL Class 2A girls individual golf finals with a seventh-place finish. She qualified for the PIAA championships at Penn State.

The QV swimmers have about a month to prepare for this year’s WPIAL finals set for Feb. 27-28 at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

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