Tigers compete at New Years Challenge
by: Swimming & Diving Contributor
After a grueling week of practice, North Allegheny’s swimmers and divers were reminded of the why, as the NA Girls and Boys teams traveled to Bucknell University, the site for States, to compete in the New Years Challenge. Max Thirkell and Tabari Morgan continued the path of excellence with their first WPIAL cuts! Thirkell in the 500 Freestyle and Morgan in the 200 IM.
Starting things off in the 200 Medley Relay, the NA Girls top finishers in fourth place were Dani Hinkson, Tori Tieppo, Eva Ogden, and Claire Bacu clocking in at 1:51.05. The NA Boys took second place in the medley relay with the top relay of Danny Lesinski, Gus Miller, Mason Shantz, and Dylan Seiford posting a 1:36.55.
In the 200 Freestyle, the NA girls finished ninth, 14th, 25th, and 27th. NA’s top finisher, Emma Dietz came in at 2:02.28. The NA boys took seventh, 15th, 17th, and 24th. With the top finisher, Nicholas Klein clocking a 1:47.74.
For the 200 IM, the NA girls took seventh, 25th, and 28th place. NA Girls best swimmer, Tieppo, touched at 2:14.79. The NA boys took fourth, ninth, 16th, and 18th. The Tigers’ top finisher was Emmanuel Chu, who swam a 2:01.30.
In the 50 Freestyle, the NA girls finished eighth, tenth, tied for 19th, 34th, and 36th place. The Tigers’ fastest girl, Julianne Weaver finished with a time of 25.60. The NA boys took fourth, 11th, 13th, 20th, 35th, and 41st. NA’s top swimmer was Grant Regule with a time of 21.79.
On the 100 Butterfly, the NA girls placed fifth, ninth, 16th, and 20th. The top swimmer was Hinkson with a time of 1:00.87. The NA boys had a strong showing all finishing within the top 10 at third, fourth, seventh, and ninth. Leading the pack was Miller with a time of 52.27.
The 200 Free Relay saw the NA Girls finish in third place. The team of Bacu, Madden Woycheck, Ogden, and Weaver finished at 1:41.26. The NA boys placed second. Lesinski, Regule, Miller, and Zachary Totin touched the wall at 1:26.24.
In the 100 Freestyle, the NA girls took 13th, 25th, 26th, 39th, 45th, 46th. NA Girls best finisher was Dietz with a time of 55.88. The NA boys finished 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 23rd, and 28th. The Tiger boys best swimmer was Seiford coming in at 49.66 seconds.
In the 500 Freestyle, the NA girls crushed the distance with first, 10th, 19th, and 28th place finishes. Winning the event was Bacu with a time of 5:02.47. The NA boys took 13th and 20th Pl. The NA boys’ best swimmer was Thirkell, killing it with a time of 5:07.37.
For the 100 Backstroke, the NA girls took 10th, 13th, 14th, and 26th. NA’s fastest swimmer was Li with a time of 1:01.42. The NA boys came out on top taking first, tied for eighth, and 17th. Winning the event was Lesinski with a 51.64.
In the 100 Breaststroke, the NA girls took sixth, 24th, and 27th. The girl’s best swim was Tieppo clocking a 1:09.26. The NA boys took 13th, 15th, 17th, and 25th place. NA boys top finisher was Alex Harbaugh with a time of 1:04.38.
In the 400 Freestyle Relay, the NA girls placed seventh. NA Girls fastest team consisted of Bacu, Ogden, Hinkson, and Madden Woycheck finishing with a time of 3:46.32. The NA boys took second place. The down to the finger nail team of Miller, Regule, Lesinski, and Totin touched the wall at 3:11.30.
The N.A. divers made an impressive stance across the state at Bucknell. Senior Juliet Hood won the 11-dive event with 435.10 points followed closely by junior Maggie Lapina in second with 390.05 points. For the boys, sophomore Anthony Farrah finished third with an impressive 356.40 points.
For a look at the results from the New Years Challenge meet, click here.
For a look at NA only results, click here.
North Allegheny returns to action on Thursday when they travel to Moon High School to take on the Tigers in a section contest starting at 5:00 p.m.
