EXETER – Pittston Area and Wyoming Area girls swimmers are accustomed to waiting until late in the season for their annual Wyoming Valley Conference meet.
The two teams met much earlier this season in the Patriots’ opener and Warriors’ second meet of the Wyoming Valley Conference season.
“It adds so much excitement,” Erin Senese said after winning two individual events and two relay events to lead Pittston Area to the 114-68 road win. “We know all the girls. We’re all really nice to each other. It’s good sportsmanship and it’s really fun.
“Usually, we have this meet like the last meet of the year, but we had it first. It was something to look forward to.”
Senese got her senior season off to a strong start, lowering her previous best times in the 200-yard individual medley (2:45.85) and 100 butterfly (1:12.30) and well as her two relay legs.
“It was surprising,” Senese said. “I did a lot better.
“I dropped a lot in all of my events.”
Senese helped make a winner of the new staff of Heather Clancy and assistant Sarah Donahue in their coaching debuts.
“I honestly was not nervous,” Clancy said. “I was confident in the girls’ ability and really in how many girls we have to stretch out over the (events).
“I was a little nervous about the paperwork for the first time because I was always on the other side of the clipboard, but my fabulous assistant coach, Sarah Donahue, deals with logistics so well.”
Clancy was pleased with the early progress of a large group of freshmen, including Rachael Senese, Erin’s sister, who was fourth in the 500 freestyle. While many of them are learning the sport for the first time, getting used to the turns and the execution of additional strokes, Clancy said there is a core group to build around.
“We have five or six reliable girls that I know I can put in any event,” she said.
Katrina Dillon, another senior, was the only other Patriot to win two individual events. She won the 200 freestyle in 2:29.41 and the 500 freestyle in 6:11.39.
Senior Mackenzie Connors (50 freestyle) and junior Juliet Lawler (100 backstroke) each won an individual event and a relay event. Kirsten Grieco was on two winning relays and finished second in two freestyle events.
Kaitlyn Connors won the 100 freestyle while Madi Osticco won the diving.
Jordan Zbegner and Taryn Whitman each swam a winning relay leg.
Pittston Area clinched the win in nine events and took a 101-51 lead by taking first place in the first 10 events.
Sydni Johnson then led a strong finish for Wyoming Area by winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.09 and getting right back in the pool to put her team ahead in the lead off leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay.
Becca Dymond, Leah Moore and Olivia Bugelholl completed the winning relay team for the Warriors (0-2).
