Numbers and Optimism Up for CM Swim Team

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Central Mountain swimming coaches Carol Matheney and Jim Merinar are working with a larger squad this season and are hopeful the added depth will pay off.

The coaches said the squad this year totals 18 girls and 10 boys. The squad has been bolstered by the addition of five seasoned YMCA age-group swimmers joining the program as ninth graders.

They join a nucleus of 15 letter-winners. On the girls’ side seniors Kelsie Buckwalter, Rachel Marek, Olivia McGhee, Leilani Smith and Aimee Zimmerman; juniors Lizzie Bottort, Avery Mahoney and Emma Persun; sophomore Mikayla Rich. Letter-winning boys are seniors Shae Cole, Jordy Sheets and Ian Sproat; juniors David Orndorf and James Riccardo; and sophomore Derek Hughes.

The coaches said a goal this year, with the added depth, is to secure the valuable fifth place point in competitions. They would like too to move up in the Heartland Conference and finish as high as second in the District 6 postseason championships, noting the team is closing the gap on perennial champion State College.

The Wildcats swim at Lock Haven University’s Zimmerli Pool, meets at 6 p.m. The first will be Thursday, Dec. 21 against Jersey Shore. There is no charge for the public and there is a concession stand.