Quaker Valley’s girls swim team improved to 4-0 in Section 2-2A thanks to recent dominating wins against Riverside and Blackhawk.
The Quakers defeated Riverside, 79-42, after coasting by Blackhawk, 99-67.
Led by senior Margaret Getty, QV racked up a dozen first-place performances against the Panthers.
Getty finished first in the 100-yard freestyle and swam a leg in all three winning relay events.
She was joined by sophomores Lydia Kilpela and Anna Fuener and freshman Amelia Suhayda in the 200 medley event; by Kilpela, junior Alexa Westwood and Suhayda in the 200 free relay; and by Westwood, freshman Cali Murawski and sophomore Harper LaLomia in the 400 free relay.
“Our performances in the last two meets were very impressive,” Suhayda said. “We came in with confidence and won both meets.
“Overall, this season has been going very well. So many people have achieved WPIAL and MAC cuts. Also, all of our relays have made it to WPIALs. One of our goals for the girls team is to win the section, as of now we are currently in first place.
“I expect many great swims during the MAC and WPIAL championships and a section win.”
Suhayda also won the 200 IM and 100 butterfly events. Murawski also took first place in the 200 and 50 freestyles.
“My season is going well. I have WPIAL cuts in the 100 fly, 100 free and 200 IM,” Suhayda said. “One of my goals this season is to get on the podium at WPIALs.”
QV’s four other individual winners were senior Ruby Olliffe (diving), junior Kendra Hines (500 free), LaLomia (100 backstroke) and Kilpela (100 breaststroke).
The Quakers’ 200 freestyle relay team — Kilpela, Murawski, Westwood and Getty — and 400 freestyle relay team — Murawski, Getty, Westwood and Kilpela — also won against Blackhawk.
Getty captured first in the 100 free, as did Murawski in the 50 free, sophomore Arianna Batina in the 500 free and Olliffe in the diving competition.
Quaker Valley’s boys team won three of its first four section meets, including an 86-63 decision against Riverside.
The Quakers claimed first place in all three relays.
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Seniors Ryan Steinfurth, Adlan Hifri and Thomas Fuener and junior Austin Young competed in the 200 medley relay.
Junior Marcus Zhan, Hifri, Young and freshman Augustin Zhan participated in the 200 freestyle relay. The Zhan brothers, Fuener and Steinfurth teamed up in the 400 freestyle relay.
“My season has been going pretty well,” Hifri said. “We have great seed times for our relays and in our individuals. I still have a lot to learn and improve on, but I feel stronger than ever and motivated to help my team get as far as possible.”
Augustin Zhan also captured the 200 free and 500 free events, Marcus Zhan won the 200 IM, Fuener took first in the 50 free, Steinfurth set the pace in the 100 backstroke and Hifri logged the top time in the breaststroke.
Having just seven team members came back to haunt the Quakers against Blackhawk. With the low number of competitors, QV lost to the Cougars, 85-82.
“I think that our guys team has put up incredible times and scores this season for being as small of a team as we are,” Hifri said. “The meets against Blackhawk and Riverside were challenging because we were outnumbered both times. Even with the difference in team sizes, we still managed to take first in almost every event we swam.
“And I would say, overall, this season has been our toughest yet (while) swimming with the least amount of boys. But even with the small team, we’re still putting up the same scores and numbers as some schools with bigger teams. The guys have done an incredible job pushing through every meet and swimming their best every single race.”
Augustin Zhan joined Steinfurth, Hifri and Fuener in posting the winning time in the 200 medley relay. The Zhan brothers, Fuener and Steinfurth teamed up to win the 400 free.
In the individual competition, QV’s first-place finishers were Fuener (50 free, 100 butterfly), Marcus Zhan (200 free, 500 free), Augustin Zhan (200 IM, 100 free), Steinfurth (100 back) and Hifri (100 breast).