Stephen Adametz feels fortunate to be taking over the Shaler swim program at a time when it is full of promise. The girls team had its best result at the WPIAL Class 3A championships in a decade last season.
Shaler finished in 17th place, and many of the top swimmers are returning to try to improve on that mark this year.
“I’m really excited for what we have on the girls team,” said Adametz, who graduated from Shaler in 2019 and now teaches at Hampton.
Grace Melocchi is a returning senior who broke an eight-year-old school record in the 100-yard breaststroke last year with a time of 1 minute, 8.87 seconds. Melocchi finished in 14th place at WPIALs in the 100 breast and also competed in the 200 IM, finishing the race in a personal best of 2:16.71.
Melocchi built her reputation through strong performances on the club circuit but has fit into the high school scene just fine.
“It’s only Grace’s second year on the team,” Adametz said. “She gives the other swimmers someone to look up to in the pool. She was on all of the relays that qualified for WPIALs and two individual events.”
Fellow senior Kaysia Chelli is another senior who Adametz expects to make important contributions to Shaler. Chelli made big strides last year while serving as a captain.
“She’s displayed remarkable leadership skills in the pool and out of the pool,” Adametz said. “She organizes different things for the team. She cares about the team and wants to create a lasting legacy.”
Sarah Vitale is another senior member of several of the WPIAL-qualifying relay teams. Shaler will also benefit from bringing back sophomore swimmer Ava Melocchi.
On the boys side, Shaler will also have several strong returning swimmers. Noah Lang qualified for states in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle last year. Lang shattered a 46-year-old school record in the 200 IM by swimming a 1:55.59.
Tommy Podgorski will also return and was a solid relay contributor, excelling in the 50 and 100 free. The Shaler boys team had its best finish at WPIALs since 2016. The Titans finished in 17th place with 29.5 points at WPIALs last season.
“Nohas has put in a ton of effort from the time he was a young swimmer,” Adametz said. “He’s increased those efforts in the last few years. He does the 5 a.m. practices before school.”