Swimming & Diving News

by: Bob Orkwis

After both teams opened the season with sweeps at the State College Invitational, North Allegheny returned home and the song remained the same for the Tigers swimming & diving teams, posting sweeps over Fox Chapel, 103.5 – 80.5 for the girls, and 101 – 80 for the boys.

The Tigers trio of Lola Malarky (275.05), Juliet Hood (267.30) and Maggie Lapina (249.35) finished atop the girls diving event, while Ethan Maravich (252.10) and Anthony Farrah (193.30) finished second and third behind WPIAL Silver medalist Jackson Hagler of Fox Chapel on the boys side.

The Tigers quartet of Dani Hinkson, Tori Tieppo, Eva Ogden, and Julianne Weaver placed first in the 200-medley relay for the girls, while Danny Lesinski, Gus Miller, Zach Totin and Grant Regule won for the boys. 

Claire Bacu (1:51.03) finished second behind Michigan recruit Sarah Pasquella in the 200 freestyle, with sophomores Alex Harbaugh and Jackson Ross finishing second and third behind George Washington commit Christian Dantey in the boys 200 free.

Tieppo and Owen Howell were winners in the 200 IM event. With Weaver (24.74) and Regule (21.46) winning the 50 free events for the Tigers.

Hinkson and Totin won the 100 fly, with Weaver taking third place. Regule was first in the 100-freestyle.

Bacu (5:00.53) was strong in winning the 500 freestyle, with Nicholas Klein and Ross taking second and third behind Dantey in the boys event. 

Weaver, Ogden, Madden Woycheck with a great third leg and Bacu took second in the 200-free relay, .37 seconds behind the winners. Tabari Morgan, Odin Hsu, Talon Xing also with a great third leg and Klein finished second in the boys 200-freestyle relay.

Hinskon (58.48) and Lesinski (50.67) each won their respective 100-backstroke races, while Tieppo placed second to Pasquella in the 100-breaststroke. Howell won the boys event.

With no points on the line, the Tigers won the night’s final two events. Bacu, Julia Tengowksi, Emma Dietz and Hinskon for the girls, while Totin, Mason Shantz, Miller and Lesinski won for the boys in the 400-free relays.

Junior Claire Bacu and junior Danny Lesinski were each awarded the Wright Automotive Players of the Meet for each team, respectively.

Bacu finished with a second in the 200 free, breezed to a win in the 500 free, and helped the Tigers to a second-place finish in the 200 free relay.

Lesinski, took second in the 200 IM, snagged wins in the boys 200 free and 100 back events, and anchored the winning 400 free relay team for North Allegheny.

The Tigers are on the road to face Upper St. Clair next Tuesday before returning home on Dec. 19 to host Mt. Lebanon. That meet starting at 5 p.m. will be carried live on the North Allegheny Sports Network.