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.
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Here are my predictions for the girls’ Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division teams 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: Isabella Knisely, So., 50 free/100 free; Sunderlyn Griffie, So., backstroke/50 free; Emily Coombs, Jr., 500 free; Ashley Booths, Jr., 200 free/100 fly; and Rebekah Fletcher, So., diver.
Prospects: Maddy Coombs, a significant standout who is currently enrolled at James Madison University, graduated from Carlisle. She boasted top-four finishes throughout the Mid-Penn in the 200 free (1:52.90), 50 fly (26.81), and 100 fly (56.66), and she had cut significant time in the 500 freestyle from 5:5.12 at the Mid-Penn championships to 4:57.40 at Bucknell, earning Mid-Penn gold, District 3 3A silver, and fourth in the PIAA 3A field. Emily Coombs, who finished eighth in the Mid-Penn finals for the 500 free in 5:34.38, is now the Herd’s top predicted distance freestylist. She is surrounded by a strong core of sophomore talent and other junior Booths.
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: Aubrey Cramer, Jr., 200 free/500 free; Mattie Boone, Jr., diver; Mary Boone, Jr., 100 free/200 free; Katie Chang, Sr., 100 breast/200 IM; and Petra Dwyer, So., 50 free/100 free.
Outlook: Chang finished sixth on the Mid-Penn 200 IM podium in 2:14.88 and fourth in the 100 breast in the Mid-Penn championships. She also finished seventh in the District 3 3A competition in 1:07.49. Mary Boone carried her skills to Bucknell after winning Mid-Penn medals in the 200 free (1:54.71) and the District 3 3A 100 free (52.34), where she finished fourth. Mattie Boone finished 16th in the state after finishing sixth in the District 3 3A diving competition (343.60 points) and second in the Mid-Penn (378.25 points). Buckman’s impressive sophomore season, which included top-five finishes in five different events throughout the Mid-Penn, was capped by his seventh-place PIAA medal in the 100 fly (56.58), 24.19 in the 50 free (fifth), 26.47 in the 50 back (second), 56.99 in the 100 back (second), 26.41 in the 50 fly (third), and 55.94 in the 100 fly (first). Dwyer is a sight to behold in the sprint freestyles, while Cramer appears to be a remarkable freestylist.
The Chambersburg
Chambersburg on November 14, 2024, at PennLive’s swimming media day.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Hali Cormany is the coach.
Important swimmers include Lilly Evans, Sr., 200 free/500 free; Ava Grove, So., 100 breast/200 IM; Addie Zimmerman, Jr., diver; and Margot Ritchie, Jr., 200 free/100 back.
Outlook: Ritchie set the Trojans team record in the 100-back last year by placing fourth at the Mid-Penn meet (59.00) and eighth in the District 3 3A field (59.36). She also won bronze in the 200 free at both the Mid-Penn and District 3 3A championships. Evans also qualifies for the district in the distance freestyles.
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 Emma Fickett, Sr., 100 Back; Luna Golden, So., 200 IM/100 Free; and Avery Kesterson, So., 100 Back.
Outlook: Two notable graduates for the Trojans are PIAA medalist Lydia McMullen and double state medalist Natalie Colarossi, both of whom were District 3 3A winners. After winning several silver medals at the Mid-Penn and placing fourth in District 3 3A, Maddie Serfass is another notable departure. However, Hershey’s ranks are full of youthful potential waiting to be discovered. After finishing fifth in the District 3 3A event with a time of 57.77, Kesterson qualified for the state 100-back competition. In addition to Fickett being a district qualifier in the 100 back, Golden was a District 3 3A qualifier in the 200 IM and 100 free.
The State College
Madison Watschke of State College at PennLive’s swimming media day on November 14, 2024.
Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)Simmers, Sean (pennlive.com)
Coach: Aaron Workman
Important swimmers: Madison Watschke, Sr., 100 breast/200 IM; Gabby Siekman, So., 100 back/200 free; Emerson Gratz, Jr., 500 free; and Molly Workman, Jr., 50 free/100 free/100 breast/100 fly/100 back/200 free/200 IM/500 free.
Outlook: According to SwimCloud, Workman, the current PennLive Swimmer of the Year and a commit to the University of Virginia, is back at the top of Pennsylvania’s Class of 2026 swimming rankings. In addition to Mid-Penn and District 6 gold, the Nittany Lions Aquatics product earned two PIAA 3A titles in the 50 and 100 freestyles with gold-worthy times of 22.67 and 49.31, respectively. Watschke, who signed with Miami, Ohio, earned four gold medals in the 50 and 100 breast, 200 IM, and 200 free relay events at the Mid-Penn championships and District 6 competition. Siekman finished sixth at the Mid-Penn meet and is a District 6 3A champion in the 100-back. She also won 200 IM bronze at the Mid-Penn championships and 200 free silver in District 6. Following District 6 3A silver and Mid-Penn fourth in the 500 free, as well as district bronze in the 200 free, Gratz completes a strong returning core.
MVP of the Commonwealth Division preseason
Workman, Molly Jr., State College
Molly Workman of State College. April 17, 2024. [email protected] Sean SimmersSimmers, Sean
Workman is without a doubt the largest blip on the radar going into the season in terms of individual performers, having gone undefeated in her trademark events throughout the postseason and breaking her own Mid-Penn and District 6 records while on route to two state titles. The Virginia pledge is expected to go even better this winter, whether it’s breaking her own records or taking home more postseason gold.
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