WPIAL, PIAA champions Wright, Mihm, Buerger return to lead North Allegheny swimming

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, December 20, 2018 | 8:09 PM

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Despite losing two top competitors, the North Allegheny boys swimming team (3-0) looks forward to earning its eighth WPIAL Class AAA title and third PIAA title in a row.

Mason Gonzalez, a freshman on the Stanford men’s team, ended last season ranked first in the 100-yard freestyle (43.03 seconds) by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association. He also headed the list of the best 100 performances in the country as part of the 200 freestyle relay (1 minute, 19.60 seconds) and 400 freestyle relay (2:53.81) teams.

He won in all three, plus the 50 freestyle, at the PIAA championship meet after placing second in the WPIAL in the 100 freestyle. He ranked sixth in the nation in the 50 freestyle.

Andrew Zhang, a Northwestern freshman, was on the 400 freestyle relay team and made All-America in two events individually, including the 100 backstroke, in which he was WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up. He and Gonzalez were on the 200 medley relay team, which ranked seventh.

Among returning swimmers are junior Rick Mihm, the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, and senior Jack Wright, the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion in the 200 freestyle.

Wright ranked fourth in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 200 freestyle, and Mihm eighth in the 200 individual medley and 14th in the 500 freestyle. Both were on the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Mihm also made All-America in the 100 and 200 freestyle and Wright in the 200 medley relay and 50 freestyle.

Seniors Joel Songer (200 freestyle relay) and Jerry Chen (100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay) were honored.

“We graduated a few very strong seniors, but our team has a great next-man-up mentality,” Wright said. “We are all working very hard to lessen that loss.”

Mihm said he and his teammates push each other.

“We have a lot of competitive guys eager to (fill) the spots of those who graduated,” Mihm said. “We’re excited for what’s in store for us.”

Competing for the Allegheny North club, Wright placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:35.43) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (44.46) and Mihm fourth in the 200 individual medley (1:47.24) and 400 individual medley (3:50.59) as “A” finalists at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships-East meet Dec. 5-8 in Greensboro, N.C.

Wright has signed a letter of intent to the Virginia men’s team for next season.

“They believe that working hard, having fun and being successful all go together, which is a value that the North Allegheny swim team shares,” he said.

Virginia coach Todd DeSorbo said Wright has the potential to help the Cavaliers to the NCAA title.

The North Allegheny girls team (3-0) is rebuilding after earning its 10th consecutive WPIAL crown.

“This year will be the biggest test we have had for a long time,” said junior Torie Buerger, the WPIAL champion in the 100 backstroke and the squad’s only individual All-American last season. “We graduated some very talented seniors and will need the underclass swimmers to contribute.”

Sophomore Molly Smyers and seniors Lila McGrath and Mary Flavin return after making All-America in relays. Smyers was WPIAL champion in the 500 freestyle.

Among divers, sophomore Maya Ennis is back after placing fifth in the 1-meter event in the WPIAL.

Both teams have beaten North Catholic, Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair in nonsection meets. The Upper St. Clair boys and girls were WPIAL runners-up last season.

The Tigers are off until Jan. 5, when they travel to an invitational meet at Bucknell. Their Section 2-AAA openers will be Jan. 17 against Butler.

“Our teams are in great spirits and really working hard,” North Allegheny coach Patrick Wenzel said.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: North Allegheny