Burrell, Kiski Area swimmers set for WCCA meet as they ramp up toward WPIALs

By: Michael Love
Friday, January 26, 2024 | 8:34 PM

Purchase Photo Options

At last year’s Westmoreland County Coaches Association swimming championships, 12 individuals and relays produced times in eight events that surpassed previous meet records.

A number of those swimmers are back Saturday at Derry High School to try to do it again in what is one of the fastest high school competitions every season.

Kiski Area and Burrell swimmers are hoping they are able to get on a roll or keep up previously gained momentum just four weeks before the WPIAL championships at Pitt’s Trees Pool.

“We lay out the season with different steps and goals from a number of important dual meets to the county meet to see where we are in regards to WPIALs and states,” Kiski Area coach Ryan Berberich said. “The kids have produced a ton of good times, and we are seeded well, as expected, in several events against some of the best swimmers in the WPIAL.

“We like where we are in the heats, and I am confident we will do well. The kids are working hard and are focused. It’s about swimming well at this meet while also having fun.”

Last year, the Kiski Area boys finished second to Class 3A Franklin Regional. The Cavaliers went on to win the WPIAL Class 2A team title.

The Kiski Area girls took fifth at last year’s WCCA meet. Mt. Pleasant, the Lady Cavaliers’ rival in Class 2A, won the team title behind multi-time WPIAL and PIAA champion Lily King.

They ascended the medals podium numerous times, including a few who made it to the champion’s top step.

Senior Eliza Miller and junior Amara Sterlitz went 1-2 in the girls 500 freestyle last year, and they are the top two seeds in the event Saturday. Miller also took home gold in the 100 breaststroke.

Juniors Justin Tucker and Riley Yute were members of last year’s winning boys 200 free relay, and Tucker and senior Landon Seman helped the boys 400 free relay capture gold.

Also among the hunted as top-two seeds are the girls 200 medley relay (second), Tucker (first in 200 individual medley) and Yute (second in 50 free and 100 butterfly). Several others are situated in medal contention.

Berberich said his swimmers garnered a lot of positive momentum from Thursday’s meet with Indiana, and that included three school records: the girls 200 medley relay of Sterlitz, Miller, junior Paige Kunkle and senior Abigail King; and Miller in the 100 and 200 freestyles.

“With our training, the kids are right where we want them to be at this point in the season,” Berberich said. “The county meet will go a long way in helping us map out the final few weeks before WPIALs.”

Swimming at Derry on Saturday begins with the 200 medley relay at 10 a.m. and concludes through the 400 free relay in the mid to late afternoon.

A half-dozen Burrell swimmers will compete Saturday, and four of the six return with experience at the WCCA meet.

“The kids are really excited for the meet,” Burrell coach Samantha Callan said. “It gives them an opportunity to swim against competitors they aren’t normally able to because of the size of school and classification or level of competition. This is often the one chance to swim against triple-A kids. They get to test and measure themselves. This meet is some of the best competition throughout the season.”

Senior Chloe Walton owns the best seed among the Bucs as she is fifth in the 100 free. She also is 11th in the 200 free.

Callan said, in addition to her goals of medal-winning finishes, Walton hopes to gain a pair of WPIAL-qualifying cuts. She is close to the qualifying standards in both events.

Callan said there are several good opportunities Saturday and over the next couple of weeks for her swimmers to grab qualifying cuts or improve on cuts already gained.

“Chloe has been swimming really well, and we expected that of her,” Callan said. “This is probably the best I’ve seen her perform over the four years of coaching her. I sent her the psych sheets, so she is mentally prepared as well as physically prepared. This is a big meet for her, and she has done everything the right way to prepare for it. This can also help her start focusing on what she wants to do at WPIALs.”

Freshman Joey Roos, Callan said, is no stranger to fast meets at high-level competitions. The Franklin Area Swim Team club competitor knows many of the swimmers at Saturday’s meet, and Callan said Roos is ready to test himself against the best.

Roos has earned qualifying marks to WPIALs in the 200 free (1 minute, 59.23 seconds) and 500 free (5:19.00). He is seeded seventh in the 500 and eighth in the 200.

“Joey has risen to the occasion so far this season, and he is well aware of what he wants to accomplish,” Callen said. “He enjoys measuring himself against the best possible competition, and he will see that (Saturday). We have collaborated a lot to make sure he gets what he needs, and we are meeting in the middle.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell, Kiski Area