Emmaus Swimmers Top Central Catholic

Upping its winning streak to 5-0, the Emmaus swimmers racked up scores at the Jan. 13 home meet of 133-50 for the boys and 125-58 for the girls. 

“The kids responded wel," coach Tim O'Connor said. "The meet was a challenge, they were tired, they were sore, there was a snow day yesterday which probably made them even more sore, and I was still really pleased.”

Indeed, it went so well that the meet allowed some of the Emmaus swimmers to capture district times for the season, meaning their times automatically qualify them for district competition. During the meet every team is allowed to put up four entries in the hope of meeting district qualifying times. 

Both freshman Shanna Carwell’s 500-yard freestyle time of 6:01.32, and junior Bailey Miller’s 200-yard freestyle time of 2:12.85 were district qualifying times, O'Connor said. 

Additionally, in boys’ events, Parker Edmonds took first in the 200-yard individual medley and Greg Ritchie took the top spot in the 100-yard freestyle. 

The EHS girls and boys managed to take the top three positions and shut Central Catholic out in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle, the girls’ 200-yard individual medley, the boys’ 200-yard freestyle and the boys’ 500-yard freestyle. 

The Emmaus natatorium was nearly full to capacity as parents from both sides cheered for their sons, daughters and fellow swimmers. 

Emmaus divers had a repeat of their victorious meet against Easton with only one male diver for Central Catholic. And the Emmaus girls had another meet with no opposing diver to compete against, so the diving team took the opportunity to perform the new dives they had learned. 

In the boys’ 1-meter diving, Nick Crouse from Central Catholic took first place against the Emmaus divers with a score of 199.10. From Emmaus, Ben Farabaugh took second with 176.20. 

Freshman Drew Switzer took third with a score of 137.00. Switzer has had previous experience diving below the high school level and, after taking a year off, has returned to compete for Emmaus. Switzer received his highest score in the fourth round with his reverse 1 1/2 dive, receiving a 4.5-5.5-5.5 or 15.5. 

For the girls, Beth Patterson took first place with a score of 161.45. 

“I just tell myself I need to do the best I can,” Patterson said about preparing for the meet. She has been diving for seven years – three with the EHS team. She was followed by Serena Speers and Anna Overholts, who took second and third, respectively.

In the swimming events, Lady Hornet Maura Brennan took first place in the 100-yard freestyle and finished second behind fellow swimmer, senior Allie Roberts in the 200-yard individual medley. 

Alyssa Romano fought the wave of Vikettes to take one of the closest events in the meet at 27.18. Central Catholic's Caroline Cameron finished right behind her with a time of 27.76. The three Central swimmers all finishing within tenths of a second behind Romano.