Girls swimming: CB West’s Hofmann among swimmers headed to state championships

Freshman Lina Hofmann of Central Bucks West went to her first District One Class 3A girls swimming competition and made a splash.

The freshman touched in 1:05.33 to claim fourth place at the meet, held Thursday and Friday at LaSalle University’s Kirk Pool.

Only event winners qualify automatically for the PIAA championships, set for March 11-14 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium, but other swimmers may qualify based on times.

Hofmann’s was good enough to get to the state meet.

“I think I swam well,” Hofmann said. “I’ve had the experience of swimming in big meets before so that helped, but the nerves always get to me a little bit. My goal here was to just get a good placement and maybe get used to the tech suit because this is the first year I’m wearing one.

“I feel good about my time, though. I’ve never been to states before but getting to states was definitely the goal, plus I’m exactly a half a second off the West team record (held by Deb O’Neil) so I’m going to try to get that at states.

“I’m really excited to get there and see the competition that’s going to be there, and see where I’ll finish against them.

“No matter what happens at states, I feel like this was a good first year for me swimming for West. It was a lot of fun and I think I did well.”

The breaststroke was on the second day of competition and was the only event for Hofmann that day. She competed in three events on Thursday; the 50 freestyle as an individual, and she also swam the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay and anchored the 200 freestyle relay.

“That was kind of a warmup for the breaststroke,” she said. “That helped.”

She has been swimming for about seven years.

“My mom was a swimmer,” she said. “She was always athletic so she got me into swimming.”

Central Bucks South will be well-represented at states.

The Titans were led by the Scholer sisters.

Haley Scholer finished sixth in the 100 backstroke (56.47) and seventh in the 200 individual medley (2:05.92, tied with Grace Bousum of Downingtown East) while Heidi Scholer took sixth in the 50 freestyle (24.11) and 11th in the 100 breaststroke (`1:06.22).

CB South moved two relays along to states.

The 200 freestyle relay of Heidi Scholer, Haley Scholer, Kaylin Goodling and Chloe Matsick finished fifth (1:37.15) and the 400 freestyle relay of Heidi Scholer, Matsick, Goodling and Haley Scholer was 11th (3:34.98).

CR North has a pair of swimmers each competing in two individual events at states.

Ellie Brandbergh was fourth in the 100 butterfly (56.34, tied with Grace Bousum of Downingtown East) and 12th in the 100 backstroke (57.57) while Abby Henderson finished fifth in the 100 backstroke (56.41) and sixth in the 200 individual medley (2:05.35).

CR North will send two relays to the state meet.

The 200 medley relay of Henderson, Emily Nelson, Brandbergh and Callie Haggerty finished in sixth place (1:48.48) and the 200 freestyle relay of Brandbergh, Haggerty, Cristina Calibeo and Henderson took 10th (1:38.73).

The Indians were the only area team to crack the top 10 in team scoring, finishing in 10th place with 86.5 points.