WPIAL swimmers to swap gold, silver medals after 100-yard backstroke review

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 | 5:05 PM

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A change has been made to the order of finish between Mt. Pleasant junior Kiersten O’Connor and Hampton sophomore Lainey Sheets after their Class 2A 100-yard backstroke race Friday at the WPIAL championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

Initially, O’Connor was the winner as her time of 55.37 seconds flashed on the results board with a No. 1 beside her name. Sheets was second with a 55.82.

But after an issue arose with Sheets missing the touch pad as she completed her swim in the event, WPIAL committee member Dave Babik said, officials reviewed and compared times and determined Sheets won.

“The backstroke was contested,” Babik said.

“After the girls finished, times came up on the scoreboard. (PIAA) officials made their calls as to the order of finish. The meet proceeded after that, and awards were given. Towards the end of the meet, somebody brought it to the attention of our head referee that there was a discrepancy in the time that was on the scoreboard versus the backup times the officials made behind the block.”

Babik said that according to the National Federation of State High School Associations rules, if there is a difference of three-tenths of a second or more, that is an indication of a system failure and that the backup times are to be used for the official results.

“In addition to the discrepancy in those times, the official in that lane had reported that it was a bad touch, meaning that (Sheets) may not have hit the touch pad,” Babik said.

“That is another way of singling out these results for scrutiny. According to the rules, the backup time became the official time. The backup time was faster than the time that showed up on the board, and it changed the order of the first two girls.”

Babik stressed that the decision was only made by the meet referee, and he was in consultation with the rules interpreter for the state.

Sheets’ time in the 100 back from WPIALs officially is 55.30.

“That is why there was a bit of a delay because they wanted to use extra caution in making sure that they got that call correct,” Babik said.

Babik said the coaches of Mt. Pleasant, Sandy Felice, and Hampton, Morgan Zweygardt, were informed that a decision was made as to the correct order.

“With this, the officials followed the rules to the T,” Babik said.

“At no time did anyone other than the meet referees and officials have involvement in making these decisions. If an official or referee is going to make a decision, we would never undermine our officials. That is their job, and ours is to uphold the decisions they make. Then we relayed the decision to the coaches for both teams.”

Felice and Mt. Pleasant athletic director Allan Bilinsky declined comment.

“I’m really happy that everything was figured out,” Sheets said.

“When I went to finish, I went too deep and I missed the touch pad. But the official got my time and I was faster than her. But I guess the place judge said that (O’Connor) won. That’s why it took a lot longer. I’ve never done that before. I will practice my finishes and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“It was an unfortunate situation to happen, but I am happy it was resolved.”

Sheets said she hopes to talk to O’Connor at states.

“I feel it’s only right that I say something. We have to exchange medals. It’s a hard thing to do. I feel bad. I don’t want her to think I’m a bad guy.”

Sheets and O’Connor will get the chance to race each other in the 100 backstroke at the PIAA championships March 16 at Bucknell.

Sheets and O’Connor are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds, respectively, for the event.

The top seed is defending PIAA champion Leah Shackley from Bedford. The high school phenom and Olympic Trials qualifier is the top seed with a time of 50.43 recorded at the District 5/6 regional.

The PIAA Class 2A championships begin March 15, and O’Connor, in addition to her No. 3 seed in the 100 back, is the top seed in the girls 50 freestyle.

She swam to a WPIAL title in the 50 freestyle Feb. 29 at Pitt’s Trees Pool with a time of 23.61. That mark is seven one-hundredths of a second faster than No. 2 seed and WPIAL rival Genevieve Cody, a junior from Thomas Jefferson.

WPIAL swimmers own the top three seeds and four of the top six for the girls Class 2A 50 free.

Quaker Valley senior Emily Connors is seeded third (23.81).

O’Connor also is part of the WPIAL champion and top-seeded Mt. Pleasant 200 medley relay, as well as the No. 6-seeded 200 free relay.

“Both Kiersten and Lainey are elite backstrokers,” Babik said. “Their times were so close. Obviously, with the naked eye, you wouldn’t be able to tell. Hopefully, they both have great finishes at states and both do really well. They are both WPIAL kids, and we are wishing them both the best.”

John Grupp contributed to this report.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Hampton, Mt. Pleasant