As Pennsylvania’s high school swimming and diving season approaches, PennLive polled Mid-Penn Conference coaches to get a sneak peek at their teams for the 2024–25 season.
Subscribe to PennLive’s high school sports newsletter every day.
Here are some predictions for the boys’ teams in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division this winter.
(Note: Mifflin County and Central Dauphin did not respond to questionnaires.)
The Carlisle
Carlisle on November 14, 2024, at PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Coach: Tara Young
Important swimmers include Nick Slear, Jr., 50 free/100 free; Nathan Sober, Sr., 100 breast/200 IM; and Ben Disbrow, Sr., 500 free.
Prospects: The Herd brings back a strong crop of senior leadership, especially in the freestyle competitions. Before his freshman season begins, Matthew Chronister has also shown promise as a backstroke swimmer and instant messenger.
The Chambersburg
Chambersburg on November 14, 2024, at PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Coach: Chad White
Important swimmers include: Cullen McGraw, So., 500 free/100 back; Ethan White, So., 500 free/100 breast; Xavier Covington, Jr., 100 back/100 fly; Cristian Pong, Jr., 100 fly/100 back; Alex Kaczmark, Jr., 100 fly/100 free/200 free; and Amir Tasker, So., 100 free/200 free.
Outlook: The Trojans have two notable graduates, Derek Estep, who was a state champion and PennLive Swimmer of the Year two seasons ago, and Jed Ritchie, who just won a District 3 3A team title. Following Mid-Penn and District 3 silver in the 200 free and Mid-Penn bronze and District 3 silver in the 100 free, Tasker is the star of the returning cast. In the 100 fly, Kaczmark is the current Mid-Penn gold champion and finished fifth in District 3. In the 200 free, she is the Mid-Penn runner-up and finished fourth in District 3. McGraw was a Mid-Penn medalist in the 500 free (fifth) and 100 back (seventh), placing ninth in District 3 3A for the former. Pong is strong in the 100 fly (Mid-Penn Silver, fourth in District 3 3A) and 100 back (Mid-Penn Bronze, fifth in District 3 3A). White has won medals in the 100 breast and 500 free events at the Mid-Penn.
The Cumberland Valley
Cumberland Valley on November 14, 2024, during PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Michael Gobrecht is the coach.
Important swimmers include Wyatt Boland, Sr., 50 free/100 free; Mitchell Hearn, Jr., 200 free/500 free; Bode Groh, Sr., 100 breast/200 IM; and David Socks, Sr., 100 free/50 free.
Outlook: Jonathan Chang, a great graduate of the Eagles, led the Mid-Penn last year in the 50 freestyle (20.93), 100 free (45.47), and 100 backstroke (50.93). Groh, the current Mid-Penn gold medallist in the 100 breast, placed 11th at Bucknell and won bronze in the District 3 3A race. Groh also came very close to earning a PIAA medal. In addition to winning Mid-Penn bronze in the 100 free, Boland secured Mid-Penn silver and a fifth-place District 3 medal in the 50 free. Before placing seventh in the 500 free in the District 3 competition, Hearn placed fifth in the 200 free and fourth in the 500 free at the Mid-Penn championships.
Hershey’s
Hershey on Nov. 14, 2024, at PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Greg Fastrich is the coach.
Important swimmers include Ryan MacPhee, Sr., diver; Austin Fastrich, Jr., 100 breast/200 IM/100 free; Cullen Smith, So., 200 IM; Gavin Tran, Jr., 100 breast/200 IM; and Luke Tinsley, Jr., 100 free/200 free/500 free.
Prospects: Tran was sixth in the Trojans’ 400 free relay unit and won three silver medals in the Mid-Penn in the 100 breast, 200 IM, and 200 medley relays. Tran placed fourth in the 100 breast, fifth in the 200 medley relay, and bronze in the 200 IM at the District 3 3A championships. Last year, Tran finished in the top two three times in the 50 breast (26.82, first place), 100 breast (57.02, second place), and 200 IM (1:55.14, second place) events at the Mid-Penn. MacPhee is an All-Conference diver, and Tinsley took home Mid-Penn medals in the 100 free (sixth) and 200 free (fourth).
The State College
State College on November 14, 2024, at PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Coach: Aaron Workman
Important swimmers include Garrett Flickinger, Sr., 100 breast; Leo Garlicki, Jr., 200 free/100 fly; and Sam Huggins, Sr., 200 free/500 free.
Outlook: The defending PennLive Swimmer of the Year and UNC signee, Huggins, finished second in the PIAA 3A division for both the 200 and 500 freestyles and won both the Mid-Penn and District 6 titles. Huggins was also the fourth member of a Little Lions quartet that placed seventh in the state 400 free relay competition. Additionally, Huggins placed in the top three in six events at the entire Mid-Penn last year: third place in the 100 free (46.68), first place in the 200 free (1:38.05), first place in the 500 free (4:23.95), first place in the 50 back (24.44), second place in the 100 back (52.42), and third place in the 200 IM (1:55.43). Garlicki, a returning District 6 gold medallist in the 100 fly, finished third in the Mid-Penn competition and placed fifth on the podium in the 200 IM. At the Mid-Penn championships, Flickinger placed sixth in both the 200 IM and the 100 breast, winning District 6 gold and bronze, respectively. Todd Siekman and Trevor Martin are two notable graduates from the previous year.
MVP of the Commonwealth Division preseason
Senior Sam Huggins, State College
Sam Huggins of State College on Nov. 14, 2024, during PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Huggins’ record of finishing in the top three in the Mid-Penn is proof of his skill, if his two silver state medals from the previous year weren’t enough. With one more year to win sparkling gold at Bucknell, Huggins has a difficult act to follow after making a ton of money on the podium stands the previous season. However, keep an eye on the UNC recruit as he makes another strong run up to Lewisburg.
We appreciate your interest in PennLive. There has never been a greater need for local journalism of high quality. We need your help. Not yet a subscriber? Please think about helping us out.
On X/Twitter, follow Evan Wheaton at @EvanWheaton.
More High School Sports
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!