The at-large qualifiers list for the PIAA swimming championships has been finalized and quite a few locals will be competing.
The meet will be held March 15-18 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.
In Class 3A girls, freshman Grace Petrakis of Central Bucks East will compete in the 200-yard individual medley, while teammate Abbie DiGregorio is entered in the 100 backstroke.
Petrakis will also anchor the 400 freestyle relay for Jillian Thorning, Erin Suter and DiGregorio.
Ally Ricciardi is entered in two individual events. The Pennridge junior will participate in the 50 and 100 freestyles.
The Rams’ foursome of Ricciardi, Lexy Hulse, Emily Myers and Adi Garges got the nod in the 200 freestyle relay and Ricciardi, Myers, Anjali Verma and Garges are alternates in the 200 medley relay.
Central Bucks West is represented by senior Lina Hofmann in the 100 backstroke.
The quartet of Sydney Petty, Hofmann, Maddie Majewski and Marley Swain will swim the 200 medley relay for the Bucks.
For Central Bucks South, senior Erin Goodling will swim the 100 breaststroke. She will also swim the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay for teammates Abby Fee, Gianna Bevivino and Riley Reteneller.
Reteneller, a senior, is an alternate in the 200 freestyle.
Kaitlyn Landers of Council Rock North will compete in two individual events; the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle. Last year, she reached states on a relay.
“I think last year was a good experience for me,” said Landers, a sophomore. “I saw the intensity and the atmosphere of the meet, and just how fast everyone is. It was intimidating, but this year I feel prepared for it.
“I just hope to do my best times. My goals aren’t that lofty; I’m just going to go in there and try my best. Normally, it comes down to times for me. I think that’s more reflective of how my training is going than anything else. I could finish dead last but if I did my best time, I’d be happy with that.”
In Class 3A boys, Marcus Papanikolaou of Central Bucks East will compete in two individual events. He qualified automatically in the 100 freestyle by virtue of his victory in this event at the District One competition. He will also swim the 100 freestyle.
Divers Connor Thurston and Marcos Terroba-Rivera, both seniors, advanced automatically for the Patriots.
Zachary LeMay also has two individual events on his card for the Patriots. The senior will compete in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
Papanikolaou, Brady Scott, Owen Lever and LeMay are entered in the 200 freestyle relay.
Central Bucks West will be busy at the competition.
Junior Connor Mangan is swimming the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, while sophomore Derek Feldman is also entered in the 200 individual medley, as well as the 100 breaststroke and sophomore Blaise Hofmann got the nod in the 100 backstroke.
Hofmann is also an alternate in the 100 butterfly and teammate and fellow sophomore Max McCloskey is an alternate in the 500 freestyle.
CB West is also entered in all three relays. Mangan, Hofmann, Jimin Chung and Austin Wakefield will open the meet with a swim in the 200 medley relay, Wakefield, Kade Cimakasky, Mangan and Feldman will compete in the 200 freestyle relay and Wakefield, Cimakasky, Mangan and Feldman will close out the meet with the 400 freestyle relay.
“We’re locked and loaded and ready to go,” Hofmann said. “We have a nice, big group of people going and it’s nice for me that my sister (Lina) will be there.”
This is his second state competition.
“Last year I was seeded about 17th and this year I’m 10th,” he said. “Top eight reach the finals and get medals so my goal is to do that, and I think it’s reachable for me. I was sick at districts so luckily, I swam well enough to get to states, but I definitely think I can go faster.
“Being at states last year as a freshman showed me a lot. I know how big and fast the meet is, and I feel prepared for that.”
Neshaminy senior Connor McClurkin will compete in two events; the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
“I saw where I’m seeded, I’m fifth in the breaststroke and 12th in the IM, and I’m definitely all right with those seeds,” McClurkin said. “My goal for the IM is to make the finals and for the breaststroke, I’d like to make the All-American automatic time, which is a 55.65.
“I think that’s do-able for me. I feel good, and I’ve been working hard at fixing up some technical issues and working on my endurance. If I do my best times, I’ll be happy with that. I’m not worried about what other people are doing.”
Last year, he reached states as an individual as well as a member of a relay.
“This year it’s just me and Coach (Brian) Suter,” he said. “It’s more fun when you’re with a group, but I’m still happy to be going and it’s kind of sad that these will be my last swims for Neshaminy.”
For Council Rock North, sophomore Sean Brush is an alternate in the 200 freestyle.
In Class 2A boys, senior Teddy Devaney will compete in the 100 freestyle.
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