WAYNESBORO – The Waynesboro boys and girls swim teams have left themselves a tough act to follow.
The 2022-23 season were the teams’ first as a fully-sanctioned PIAA winter sport and a membership in a league (Mid-Penn Colonial Division).
But head coach Sharon McIlquham, whose girls squad lost only two competitors from last season (Emily Swanson and Brenna Nadeo) and won the Mid-Penn Colonial Division championship after winning all dual meets en route to an 11-0 record.
Meanwhile, the boys team, whose roster was lined with first-year swimmers who gelled nicely with the experienced ones, was 8-2 during the season.
The season gets underway at the Waynesboro YMCA on Thursday at 4 p.m. against Chambersburg in a non-league meet.
And, new to the team this season are divers: Bryan “Tank” Benedict, Camryn Bonner and Jada Creager.
“We are looking forward to an exciting season this year,” McIlquham stated. “As a third-year team things are constantly in the improvement mode. Our student athletes who have been training for the last three years with us are making great strides. The teams are encouraged after coming off very successful seasons last year.”
The Maidens took the pool by storm, and McIlquham attributes that success to a team approach.
“Even though swimming can be seen as an individual sport, last season’s victories made them realize how it was also a team sport and each member must contribute in order to meet the goals they set and achieve success,” McIlquham said.
Waynesboro had 12 girls and 12 boys compete in the 2023 Mid-Penn Conference Championships.
The girls’ 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams both finished fourth. The 200 free relay team then placed eighth in the District 3 Championships.
The girls team is highlighted by junior Eve Phillips, who achived the hat trick by qualifying for the Mid-Penn Conference Championships, District 3 Championships and PIAA Championships.
Phillips qualified for states in the 100 butterfly (13th place) and 100 freestyle (11th place) after medaling at districts.
Addi Callaway, Ashlynn Carbaugh, Belle Hess, Phillips, Delaney Stains and Maddy Stoops all competed in the Mid-Penn meet.
For the boys, Owen Shockey, Colby Smith, Kyle Swanson, Marcello Dimino, JB Bonner and Parker Hull and Brenner McIlquham qualified for the Mid-Penn Championships. Mcilquham, a co-captain along with Hull, also competed in the district championships.
“Brenner is a sprint freestyler and I’m looking for him to jump off to a quick start this year,” said Coach McIlquham. “He has the experience now and will lend that to our relays.”
ROSTER
Seniors – Ashlynn Carbaugh (backstroke, freestyle), Belle Hess (breaststroke, individual medley), Maddy Stoops, Jada Creager (diver), Parker Hull (freestyle sprints), Brenner McIlquham (freestyle sprints), Ben Royer (sprints)
Juniors – Ava Brandes, Eve Phillips (100 butterfly, freestyle sprints), Delaney Stains (distance, butterfly, breaststroke), Camryn Bonner (diver), Gabe Blake (100 backstroke, relays), Bryan “Tank” Benedict (diver, freestyle sprints), JB Bonner (200 individual medley, freestyle sprints, distance), Aiden Hess (backstroke, individual medley), Josh Lynch, Riley Morgan, Owen Shockey, Colby Smith (freestyle distance, breaststroke), Kyle Swanson (freestyle distance)
Sophomores – Katie Baker, Sarah Bedell, Addi Callaway (distance), Carlota Gomez-Ferrer, Kyler Wieczorek (freestyle, backstroke), Marcello Dimino Oliver Garraway, Ethan McDonald
Freshmen – Zoe Bowersox, Avery Hess, Cadence Kaneloupolous, Ruth Phillips (sprints, relays), Leah Yost (distance, freestyle), Austin Bird, Andrew Bryan (freestyle sprints, butterfly),Will Yost (distance, breaststroke)
SCHEDULE
Dec. 7, Chambersburg, 4 p.m.
Dec. 12, at James Buchanan, 5 p.m.
Dec. 19, Northern, 4 p.m.
Jan. 3, at Shippensburg, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 9, St. Maria Goretti and Susquehanna Township, 4 p.m.
Jan. 11, at Trinity (Keystone Aquatics Center), 6 p.m.
Jan. 16, at Big Spring, 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 23, at Boiling Springs, 5 p.m.
Jan. 30, East Pennsboro, 4 p.m.
