The Pennridge girls swim team went into the holiday break on a high note.
The Rams topped Council Rock North, 98-87, on Thursday in a Suburban One League crossover meet at their own Grand View Health Natatorium.
The CR North boys team prevailed, 102-72, over Pennridge.
For the Pennridge girls, Adi Garges won the 50-yard freeestyle in 25.46, Emily Myers was the winner of the 500 freestyle (5:48.59), Ally Ricciardi touched first in the 100 backstroke (1:06.59), Lexy Hulse won the 100 breaststroke (1:13.07) and Garges, Anjali Verma, Myers and Ricciardi teamed up to end the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay (3:50.56) after CR North was disqualified.
“We’re 2-0 now so this is a good start for us,” said Garges, a senior. “We had some really good swims. I’m excited to see what happens this year.”
Garges is also a standout on the Pennridge water polo team, and will continue playing next year at St. Francis University.
“This is my last year of competitive swimming, so I really want to get to states in an individual event,” she said. “It would be great if my last swim was there.
“I got there last year in a relay and that was a great experience and I think the fact that was at states will help me this year. I’m looking more at the 100 free than the 50. The 50 is a really tough event, so I think I’d have a better chance in the 100.”
For the CR North girls, Kaitlyn Landers was a double winner, taking first in the 200 freestyle (2:04.46) and 100 freestyle (54.95) as was Sara Bing, who won the 200 individual medley (2:19.43) and 100 butterfly (1:02.02) and Lillian Tetreault was first in diving (199.60 points).
Elizabeth Maltby, Jordan Klemmer, Cymberly Tsai and Emily Kennedy opened the meet for the Indians with a victory in the 200 medley relay (2:02.93) and Miranda Heimowitz, Bing, Tsai and Landers won the 200 freestyle relay (1:44.83).
The CR North boys had a pair of double winners. Nigel Lukomski-Pizzo touched first in the 200 freestyle (1:55.01) and 500 freestyle (5:17.11) and Connor Williams won the 50 freestyle (23.78) and 100 freestyle (51.83).
Also for the Indians, Alex Genetti captured diving (130.35 points), Sam Eshelman topped the field in the 100 butterfly (57.04) and Sean Brush won the 100 backstroke (58.87).
CR North won all three relays. Brush, Luciano DeRenzo, Hayden Eshelman and Williams teamed up to win the 200 medley relay (1:48.20), Brush, DeRenzo, Lukomski-Pizzo and Sam Eshelman won the 200 freestyle (1:35.18) and Williams, Lukomski-Pizzo, Brush and Sam Eshelman finished the day with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay (3:29.10).
“I remember my first meet like it was yesterday, and it was actually here, at Pennridge,” said Sam Eshelman, a senior captain. “It’s like coming full circle. It was great to come here and have a good meet and head into the break with a win. It’s good for our morale.”
He has big expectations for the team this season.
“I’d really like to see us win the division this year,” he said. “Last year, it came down to us and Neshaminy and they got it, but I’d like to bring it back this year. For myself, I’m looking to go to districts and maybe states in the 100 fly.”
Senior Quinn Erlandsen decided to try out for the CR North swim team as a junior.
“Some of my friends put me on to the sport and I love it,” said Erlandsen, a team captain. “It’s been incredible. When I started, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it or want to keep doing it. The camaraderie of the team, how close the team gets and all the friends you make just make all the hard practices worth it. You come to a meet like this and swim well and you get to enjoy it.
“Being named a captain was really exciting. When you’re a senior, the younger guys look up to you for leadership and what you do reflects what they’re going to do so I try to set a good example and it’s an honor for me to be chosen.”
He also plays shortstop and pitches for the CR North baseball team.
“Baseball is my primary sport and I’m hoping to play in college at the Division III level, but I’m really enjoying my time with this team,” he said.
The Indians will ring in the new year with a non-league double dual meet at home on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 3:30 p.m. The boys will swim against Holy Ghost Prep while the girls team takes on Nazareth Academy.
Timothy Hong was the lone event winner for the Rams, touching first in both the 200 individual medley (2;12.39) and 100 breaststroke (1:06.10).
“This was a good meet for us, even though we didn’t win,” said Joey Roos, a senior captain. “Everyone’s been working really hard and we had a lot of consistent time drops.
“We might not always come out on top but everyone is dropping time. We have some new swimmers who have been doing great. I’m certainly proud of our team effort.”
Roos is focused on the 100 breaststroke this season.
“I’ve been doing that ever since I started swimming and I’ve been dropping about a second a week,” he said. “I’ve really been working on that.”
He also played water polo for the Rams.
“My first two years of high school I played football in the fall,” he said. “Then I switched to water polo and it was a good move for me.”
His college sport of choice is rowing.
“I haven’t chosen a school yet, but I’m hoping to walk on to the rowing team wherever I go,” he said. “I’m a Jersey shore lifeguard in the summer and I really enjoy being in a boat.”
The Rams return to the pool on Tuesday, Jan. 3 when they host Souderton for an SOL Colonial double dual meet at 3:30 p.m.
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