Girls swimming: A closer look

By STUART LONDON
The Intelligencer

Archbishop Wood Coach: Charlie Stillwell (ninth year) Last year's record: 5-2 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Jaclyn Smith (backstroke, IM); Jr. Megen Donovan (breaststroke, distances); Soph. Christina Rios (sprints, backstroke); Soph. Amy Finn (butterfly, IM); Sr. Monica Cymerman (sprints). The season: With only three girls lost to graduation and a good freshman class, led by Alyse Davis, the Vikings should be contenders in the Philadelphia Catholic League. "This will be one of our best teams in years," said Stilwell.

Central Bucks East Coach: Tom Kane (29th year) Last year's record: 13-2 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Caitlin Kirsteier (third in state in 100 butterfly), Jr. Rachel Matyas, (IM, breaststroke), Jr. Ali Skoutelas (freestyle). The season: The Patriots will try for their 13th league title in 14 years after seeing their streak broken by Hatboro-Horsham last season. A big turnout of 48 girls will help.

Central Bucks South Coach: Kevin Murray (first year) Last year 's record: 5-11 Swimmers to watch: Sr. Jackie Dalessandro (breaststroke, IM, distances), Jr. Nicole Pera (backstroke), Sr. Kristin Yuknus (breaststroke, IM), Sr. Addison Edmunds (IM). The season: "This year's team members will need to focus on improving their individual abilities in order to improve the depth of the dual meet roster," Murray said.

Central Bucks West Coach: Vibeke Swanson (15th year) Last year's record: 10-5 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Renata Stoehr (butterfly, IM, freestyle), Sr. Molly MacMillan (sprints, backstroke), Sr. Colleen Withers (IM, distances); Soph. Ellie Nolan (sprinter, backstroke), Sr. Theresa Borrelli (all-around). The season: "I think we will be solid competitors," Swanson said. "I don't know about whether we are super-strong, but it's a nice group of girls working hard."

Germantown Academy Coach: Dick Shoulberg (36th year) Last year's record: 10-0 Swimmers to watch: Sr. Alicia Aemisegger (IM, freestyle), Soph. Teresa Crippen (freestyle, backstroke), Jr. Claire Crippen (butterfly, freestyle, IM), Soph. Katie Reifenstahl (freestyle), Sr. Sara Coenen (distances). The season: The Patriots are the defending national champions, so it's not easy to improve on last season. "We would love to be a faster team than last year," said Shoulberg. "Last year hard will be hard to top." Reifenstahl, a transfer from Hempfield, will help to make up for losses to graduation.

Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Coach: Heather Clark (second year) Last year's record: 3-7 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Shelley Lawn (long distances), Sr. Meg Paul (breaststroke), Sr. Maura Gillies (freestyle, backstroke), Sr. Mallory DiLemmo (backstroke, freestyle), Sr. Colleen McNulty (freestyle). The season: Maybe its best swimmer, senior Meg Bostwick, is out until January with a torn ACL and her return should make the Monarchs contenders. A strong diving contingent, rare for an Athletic Association of Catholic Academies League team, led by juniors Julia Rothwell and Kate Wood, will also help.

Hatboro-Horsham Coach: Kip Emig (15th year) Last year's record: 12-0 Swimmers to watch: Sr. Sam Williams (freestyle), Jr. Jenna McDowell (IM, backstroke), Jr. Nikki Adlam (breaststroke), Jr. Julia Holland (sprints), Jr. Mary Cait Connolly (backstroke, freestyle). The season: "It will be a really different season; we graduated 10 seniors, three of whom made states," said Emig. "We're going to be solid but no superstar. Every kid has to take care of their race."

Lansdale Catholic Coach: Bob Birnbrauer (ninth year) Last year's record: 3-11 Swimmers to watch: Sr. Ashley Gidzinski (freesyle), Sr. Elizabeth Gorge (freestyle), Sr. Christine Gorge (butterfly, backstroke), Sr. Kelsy Husk (freestyle), Jr. Kathleen Schoenberger (diving). The season: "We have seven senior girls so this is an older group," Birnbrauer said. "We have all three relays back so I'm looking to improve our district placement (sixth last season)."

North Penn Coach: Kristen Bartlewitz (second year) Last year's record: 13-1 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Allison Warwick (freestyle), Soph. Lauren French (freestyle, butterfly), Sr. Lauren Chesmar (freestyle, backstroke), Jr. Jillian Morris (freestyle), Jr. The season: "We lost three All-Americans but we gained a lot of good freshman," Bartlewitz said. The Maidens' tremendous depth will make them a contender in the SOL Continental and District One. Warwick is a potential district champion in the 100 freestyle..

Pennridge Coach: John Apple (second year) Last year's record: 2-7-1 Swimmers to watch: Soph. Lauren Maurone (freestyle, butterfly), Soph. Ellen Leibenow (sprints, breaststroke), Sr. Allie Ducey (IM, butterfly), Sr. Alyssa Dee (freestyle), Sr. Rachel Koehler (distance). The season: "I think we have more depth, a lot more depth actually," said Apple. "We have lots of freshmen out this year, almost 40 girls total which is great. We are in a very tough league."

Quakertown Coach: Martha Giesse (third year) Last year's record: 0-12 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Samantha Schury (freestyle, breaststroke), Sr. Mary Sroka (backstroke), Sr. Caitlin Fitch (freestyle), freshman Krista Schlupp (butterfly). The season: Numbers will be a problem for the Panthers this season but have some promising newcomers who could make them competitive.

Souderton Coach: Terrence Nesensohn (second year) Last year's record: 7-5 Swimmers to watch: Sr. Val Pettine (freestyle, butterfly), Jr.. Erin Bumbaugh (breaststroke), Sr. Amanda Walsh (diving). The season: The loss of sprinter Alex Tomlinson and diver Heather Daniele to graduation will hurt the Indians, but some good younger swimmers will make the competitive in the SOL Continental.

Upper Moreland Coach: Melanie Rowland (first year) Last year's record: 1-11 Swimmers to watch: Jr. Amy Rowland (sprints, backstroke), Jr. Alicia Smith (distance), Jr. Justine Simonsen (freestyle). The season: "We're tiny but the girls are very positive. It's a building period," said Rowland, who also coaches at the Hatboro YMCA. "We have to be patient."

William Tennent Coach: Lisa Forlini (16th year) Last year's record: 5-9-1 Swimmers to watch: Sr. Lindsay Bowler (backstroke, freestyle), Sr. Nicole Koren (freestyle); Sr. Amanda McGrosky (freestyle); Jr. Kaylin Pacchioli (butterfly); Jr. Danielle Gifford (distance freestyle). The season: The Panthers' strong freshman class should bring them brighter days. "It's stronger in ability and depth," Forlini said.

November 30, 2005 7:45 AM