You can’t argue with the numbers: Chambersburg and Waynesboro are powerhouses in the high school swimming world.
The Trojans are returning to the pool from a season that saw its boys and girls teams combine for a 19-3 record, with the boys squad making an impression at the state level with an eighth-place team finish at the PIAA Class 3A Championships.
Waynesboro — a program now in its third year — wasn’t too shabby, either. The boys and girls teams went a combined 15-1 and brought home a PIAA medal from Eve Phillips.
Both Chambersburg and the Tribe have lost key pieces to graduation, but both programs also return some hammers, leading us to believe Franklin County could be in for another brilliant season in the pool.
In the days to come we will wrap up winter preview coverage with a closer look at wrestling.
Below is a team-by-team preview for each high school swimming program in the Local.News coverage area:
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Chad White (boys), Hali Cormany (girls)
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division
Last season: Chambersburg’s boys are coming off an 11-0 season that saw the Trojans record an eighth-place team finish at states. Chambersburg’s girls swam to an 8-3 record.
Top projected boys returners: Griffin Adamek (Jr.), Alex Kaczmark (Jr.), Amir Tasker (Soph.), Keagan Myers (Sr.), Cristian Pong (Jr.), Ethan White (Soph.), Cullen McGraw (Soph.)
Top projected girls returners: Margot Ritchie (Jr.), Ava Grove (Soph.), Caitlyn Rankin (Jr.), Kayla Wolfe (Sr.), Lauren Markle (Sr.), Emma Skultety (Jr.), Ella Boal (Sr.)
Notable: White was named the PHSSCA Coach of the Year last season … Chambersburg’s boys graduated their top swimmer, Derek Estep, who earned three medals at last season’s PIAA Class 3A Championships … The Trojan boys will be looking for leadership from Tasker and Kaczmark, who each competed in B Final events at states last winter … Chambersburg’s boys 200 freestyle relay, which earned sixth at states, returns three of four members: Tasker, Kaczmark, and Pong … The Trojan girls return one PIAA qualifier in Margot Ritchie, who took 25th in the 200 freestyle.
Opener: Wednesday, Dec. 11, vs. Cumberland Valley at Mercersburg Academy
Waynesboro Indians
Coach: Sharon McIlquham
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial Division
Last season: Waynesboro’s girls are coming off an 8-0 season, while the Tribe boys swam to a 7-1 record last winter.
Top projected boys returners: JB Bonner (Sr.), Gabe Blake (Sr.), Owen Shockey (Sr.), Aiden Hess (Sr.), Cello Dimino (Jr.), Andrew Bryan (Soph.), Will Yost (Soph.), Josh Lynch (Sr.), Ethan McDonald (Jr.), Bryan “Tank” Benedict (Sr.), Kyle Swanson (Sr.), Austin Bird (Soph.), Oliver Garraway (Jr.)
Top projected girls returners: Eve Phillips (Sr.), Ruth Phillips (Soph.), Lili Moreno (Jr.), Camryn Bonner (Sr.), Kylie Wieczorek (Jr.), Addi Callaway (Jr.), Sarah Bedell (Jr.), Ava Brandes (Sr.), Carlota Gomez-Ferrer (Jr.), Avery Hess (Soph.), Zoe Bowersox (Soph.), Leah Yost (Soph.), Katie Baker (Jr.), Cadence Kanelopoulos (Jr.), Delaney Stains (Sr.)
Notable: This is the third year of existence for Waynesboro’s high school program, which became fully sanctioned by the PIAA for the 2022-23 season … Eve Phillips, the only returning PIAA qualifier for the Maidens, took fifth at states in the 50 freestyle (23.21) and 11th in the 100 freestyle (51.24). She was the District 3-3A champion in the 50 freestyle (23.27) … Waynesboro’s boys suffered a key loss with the graduation of freestyle ace Brenner McIlquham, now swimming at Mount Saint Mary’s … The Tribe boys will count on heavy production from the versatile Bonner, who is Waynesboro’s top returning swimmer in the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 200 IM.
Opener: Tuesday, Dec. 3, at home vs. Boiling Springs
