By JEFF OLIVER
For the MV Independent
The mid-Mon Valley will be well-represented at Pitt’s Trees Pool today and Friday competing in the WPIAL swimming championships.
Belle Vernon Area, Ringgold, Elizabeth Forward and McKeesport have many of their swimmers competing, not only for a WPIAL medal, but also to qualify for the PIAA swimming championships.
Each school has at least one defending WPIAL champ going back for a second shot at gold.
Here is the pre-swim rundown:
Belle Vernon Area
Veteran coach Bob Reda has two swimmers who tasted WPIAL gold in 2018.
Senior Robby Spekis will compete in the 200 IM and 100 breast as he tries to defend gold medals he won in each event as a junior.
Sophomore Ian Shahan won gold last year in the 100 back, but today he will be competing in the 100 free and 100 butterfly. Both swimmers will also compete in at least the 200 medley relay for the Leps, who also have qualified for the 200 and 400 free relays as well.
Ringgold
Third-year coach Bethany Curzi is encouraged with her entourage for the swim championships, and why not?
Ringgold also has two PIAA qualifiers in diving in Anna Vogt, who won the girls WPIAL diving crown for the second straight year, and John McDuffie, who finished sixth in the WPIAL.
“This is the most swimmers I’ve sent to the WPIAL championships and all have decent chances to qualify for states as all or most of them are ranked in the top 10.”
Elizabeth Forward
EF has 12 swimmers in the field, including Kaelyn McClain (200 and 500 free, 200 and 400 relays), Natalie Glesner (200 free, 100 back, 200 and 400 free relays), Hailey Yurkovich (200 IM, 500 free, 200 and 400 relays), Marleigh Bennett (500 and 100 free, 200 and 400 relays), Brooke Himich (100 butterfly, 100 back and medley relay), Natasha Trainer (100 butterfly, medley relay), Jamie Belding (50 free, medley relay), Abby Kelley (medley relay), Aidan Provins (100 butterfly, 100 breast and medley relay), Gavin Guern (100 breast, medley relay), Tony Kelly (medley relay) and Carson Tokar (medley relay).
“McClain is the defending champion in the 500 free and I think she will do well (today),” said EF coach Shawna Boden.
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