Clearfield swimmers have surprising day at regional meet
Saturday, March 06, 2010
By Josh Mlot Sports Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK - It was supposed to be a down year. And the regular season and district championship certainly didn't contradict that.
But don't tell that to the Clearfield swimming team, as it finds itself in a familiar place after the first day of the District 6-9 Class AA Regional swimming and diving championships Friday at Penn State's McCoy Natatorium.
Driven by podium finishes and a little bit of overachieving, the Clearfield boys and girls are sitting in second and third, respectively, in the team standings heading into the second and final day of competition.
"We're ecstatic," Clearfield head coach Jackie Morrison said. "I think we're riding a high, boys and girls. We knew we were a little down this year, team-wise, but our spirits aren't down. We came over here and decided we were going to not take it too seriously, have fun while we're swimming and relax a little more. Having said that, we gave them a couple goals to focus on, and we did that.
" ‘OK, we're down this year?' I think we showed up again. I think we're showing that we may not have the big horses right now, but we're creating them. Those colts are going to be stallions next year."
St. Marys holds a large lead in the boys team standings, with 135 points, while the Bisons sit in second with 84.
For the girls, Westmont-Hilltop impressed with 146 points, while Bellefonte fell in behind it with 85 points and the Lady Bisons sit just four points back of that with 81.
"I think the girls were a little overachieving and a little underestimated," Morrison said. "I underestimated them."
The biggest surprise of the day came from the ladies, as the 200 free relay team of Juliana Mellgard, Ashley Durandetta, Morgen Turner and Brandie Centi shook off what has been a mostly mediocre showing this year and broke through with a 1:46.95 in the day's closing event.
The time edged them into second place and nabbed an automatic qualifier for the PIAA championships.
"It took me a while to pull that out of them during the season," Morrison said. "I just couldn't get it. An excuse here and a misplay there.
"We did recalculate our goals after districts. You've got to believe a little bit, and I think they just bought it hook, line and sinker. I'm no Dr. Phil or anything, but I think we did a good job of getting them mentally prepared this week. I think physically we always had it."
The performance was pushed over the top by Centi, who was looking for a little redemption entering the meet. The senior was disappointed in her performance at the district competition when she fell short in her top event, the 50 free.
Centi initially looked to bounce back in the individual competition Friday, topping her 50 free district time and beating Brookville's Jamie Hays, who was the district champion. But her 26.04 left her .03 out of an automatic qualifying spot, as she finished third.
"She was definitely upset," Morrison said. "I told her ... ‘That relay needs you. They're going to put you in a (good) position. And the way you guys are swimming, I think you've got a shot at it.' "
Centi exploded on her anchor leg of the 200 free relay, swimming a 25.69 as the group grabbed the runner-up spot on the podium.
"I can't believe we're going home with a girls relay going to states," Morrison said. "I'm speechless. That was definitely the shocker of the meet."
Not to be outdone, the boys qualified for states in three events, including the meet-opening 200 medley relay.
Kraig Peterson, Alex Fisher, Connor Shirey and Jordan Mumma swam to a second-place finish with a 1:43.32 to get things off on the right foot.
"The boys were steady," Morrison said. "They're just seasoned veterans. They've been around for the Shay (Flanagan) and Hoss (Mark Krchnak) years, and they learned from them and they know how to handle themselves."
A strong third leg from Shirey in the butterfly kept Clearfield in the mix during the race, and Mumma brought things home with a freestyle effort that cemented a PIAA bid.
Mumma was nearly an individual regional champ in the 200 free, looking as if he could have kept on swimming as he closed the gap in the final stretch of the race. Instead, he settled for a trip to states as the runner-up with a 1:49.86.
"Jordan, I thought, had a lot more in the tank," Morrison said. "His splits ... to me indicate he was a little bit worried about going out too fast. I think he left a little bit in the tank, and I think he knows it. I think he could have won that event."
Already locked in to states with the relay team, Peterson got there on his own with a second-place result in the 100 fly. His 56.74 was less than a quarter-second faster than the swimmer behind him.
"That was the classic Michael Phelps finish," Morrison said. "(Kraig) stayed under water and the other boy came over top, and that's how he won it. Just knowing how to finish."
But while his teammates celebrated individual success, Shirey faced similar disappointment to Centi. A strong time in the 50 free wasn't enough, as his 23.04 was an unbelievable .01 out of second.
Shirey, like Centi, will now have to wait to see if the swim was strong enough to claim one of the 16 bonus qualifications handed out to the remaining best times at the end of the weekend.
"It's a tough meet," Morrison said. "Two of our best 50-ers got touched out, with great times though. It is disappointing, but you've got to shake it off and get over it and understand that the bigger picture is ‘team.' "
Also grabbing podium spots for the Bisons were Alex Fisher and Caleb Baas, marking their first such results at a regional meet. Fisher (2:09.98) and Baas (2:15.52) were fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 200 IM.
"Caleb gets lost in the shuffle, but that kid has such heart," Morrison said. "He's just a great kid to work with, and he's come a long way.
"How can a 6-foot-4 kid get lost in the background? But he does. He's quiet, keeps to himself and just kind of goes about his business."
The Lady Bisons had a number of near-misses. Finishing just outside of a podium spot were Mellgard (seventh, 200 free), Durandetta (seventh, 200 IM), Turner (eighth, 50 free) and the 200 medley relay team (fourth). All finished within two spots of the podium.
Regional action resumes today, as Clearfield looks for a continued strong performance and a boost from its divers.
"We, overall, had an outstanding first day," Morrison said. "I just hope we can carry it over to tomorrow. I feel pretty confident about it."
Philipsburg-Osceola's Jordan Harris, the reigning regional and state diving champion, will also hit the pool.
The Class AA diving competition begins at noon, while the swimming events will start back up at 3:30 p.m. Day 1
Boys
Team Standings and Key
1. St. Marys, SM, 135; 2. Clearfield, CL, 84; 3. Somerset, S, 69; 4. Bradford, BRA, 64; 5. (tie) Brookville, BRO, and Bellefonte, BE, 62; 7. Westmont-Hilltop, WH, 60; 8. Central, CE, 40; 9. Richland, R, 38; 10. Tyrone, TY, 20; 11. (tie) Cambria Heights, CH, and Central Cambria, CC, 16; 13. Northern Cambria, NC, 13; 14. Cranberry, CR, 12; 15. Bishop McCort, BM, 11; 16. (tie) Huntingdon, H, and Penns Valley, PV, 10; 18. Ligonier Valley, LV, 9; 19. Lewistown, L, 4; 20. Marion Center, MC, 3.
200 MR: 1. St. Marys, 1:41.51; 2. Clearfield; 3. Bellefonte. 200 Free: 1. Ward, WH, 1:49.40; 2. Mumma, CL; 3. Schwab, BRA. 200 IM: 1. Proudfit, SM, 2:03.89; 2. Rosenberger, BE; 3. Beichner, CR. 50 Free: 1. Dippold, SM, 21.91; 2. Koul, WH; 3. Shirey, CL. 100 Fly: 1. Cotter, SM, 54.17; 2. Peterson, CL; 3. Centi, S. 200 FR: 1. St. Marys, 1:31.39; 2. Westmont-Hilltop; 3. Somerset.
Girls
Team Standings and Key
1. Westmont-Hilltop, WH, 146; 2. Bellefonte, BE, 85; 3. Clearfield, CL, 81; 4. Huntingdon, H, 49; 5. Bradford, BRA, 48; 6. (tie) Lewistown, L, and St. Marys, SM, 44; 8. Ligonier Valley, LV, 43; 9. Somerset, S, 35.5; 10. Central Cambria, CC, 34; 11. Brookville, BRO, 33; 12. Northern Cambria, NC, 26.5; 13. Bedford, BED, 19; 14. Saltsburg, SA, 11; 15. (tie) Central, CE, and Tyrone, TY, 8; 17. Marion Center, MC, 6; 18. Cambria Heights, CH, 5; 19. Bald Eagle Area, BEA, 4; 20. Bishop McCort, BM, 1; Others: Conemaugh Township, CT.
200 MR: 1. Bellefonte, 1:55.42; 2. Westmont-Hilltop; 3. Bradford. 200 Free: 1. Miller, WH, 2:01.52; 2. Rullo, CT; 3. Miles, H. 200 IM: 1. Scordato, BE, 2:18.16; 2. Noll, WH; 3. Bonson, L. 50 Free: 1. Pecora, LV, 25.89; 2. Kovach, WH; 3. Centi, CL. 100 Fly: 1. Schnars, BE, 1:01.15; 2. Noll, WH; 3. Bonson, L. 200 FR: 1. Westmont-Hilltop, 1:44.50; 2. Clearfield; 3. Bradford.
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