2008-09 season previews for District 10, compiled by Times-News staff writer Mike Copper. Teams without information did not return a preseason survey.
Boys
Region 1
Franklin
2007-08 record: 15-0 overall, 14-0 region champion
Coach: Eric Smith, 18th season
Assistant coaches: Charlie Smith, Brian Cole
Top swimmers lost: Nate Frye (12 PIAA medals, 14 District 10 championships); M.B. Hastings (four PIAA medals, 5-time District 10 champion).
Top returnees: Steve Spieker, sr.; Brian Mong, sr.; Mike Hart, so.; B.J. Frederick, so.; Dustin Jazwinski, jr.
Teams to beat in your region: Grove City, Titusville, Oil City.
It would be a successful season if: We challenge for the Region 1 title, District 10 title and have a PIAA medalist.
Grove City
2007-08 record: 14-2 overall, 12-2 region
Hickory
2007-08 record: 1-11 overall, 1-11 region
Oil City
2007-08 record: 7-9 overall, 5-9 region
Sharon
2007-08 record: 4-12 overall, 2-12 region
Slippery Rock
2007-08 record: 6-7 overall, 5-6 region
Titusville
2007-08 record: 11-4 overall, 10-4 region
Rocky Grove
2007-08 record: Not available.
Note: Rocky Grove returned to District 10 this season after competing as a District 9 school. The Orioles compete as individuals, not as a team. Further information was not submitted by the school.
Region 2
Corry
2007-08 record: 14-2 overall, 14-2 region
Note: Ryan Lawrence takes over as head coach from Jack McIntyre, who retired after 25 seasons with the Beavers. Further information was not submitted by the school.
Fairview
2007-08 record: 16-0 overall, 16-0 region champion
Coach: J.R. Jensen
Top swimmers lost: Peter Rickloff, Ross Sundin, John Paul Ore
Top returnees: Andrew Bean (PIAA qualifier, sprint freestyle, breaststroke); Dan Eiben (sprint freestyle, breaststroke); Ben Jarvi (butterfly); Spencer Wallwork (sprint freestyle, individual medley, diving); Danny Whiteford (backstroke, freestyle); Mitch Lion (distance, IM)
Top new swimmers: Alex Boroski (sprint freestyle, breaststroke); Harrison Grimm (breaststroke, butterfly); R.J. Patrella (sprint freestyle, IM, butterfly); Dominic Signorino (sprint freestyle).
It would be a successful season if: We could win the District 10 meet and place at the state meet in several events.
General McLane
2007-08 record: 11-5 overall, 11-5 region
Coach: Andrea Winger
Top swimmers lost: David Donovan (3-time District 10 champion, all-state selection); Drew Snyder (PIAA qualifier, all-state selection); Zach Steele.
Top returnees: Mark Grant (PIAA qualifier, all-state selection)
It would be a successful season if: We have fun and are a better team at the end of the season than the beginning.
Girard
2007-08 record: 1-15 overall, 1-15 region
Coach: Cindy Nelson
Top swimmers lost: Greg Summerson (butterfly and sprint freestyle; four-year District 10 qualifier; two-year team captain; team MVP)
Top returnees: Kevin McConnell (sprint freestyle, breaststroke); Bryan Fischer (sprint freestyle); Mike Williams (sprint freestyle, breaststroke); Tyler Shearer (distance freestyle, backstroke); Sheldon Addis.
Top new swimmers: Adam Olesnanik (butterfly, individual medley); David Olesnanik (breaststroke, mid-distance free, distance free).
Harbor Creek
2007-08 record: 9-7 overall, 9-7 region
Coach: Maxine Lundberg
Assistant coaches: Andrew Fisher, Allen Lombardozzi
Top swimmers lost: Kyle Johnson (PIAA qualifier), Tony Mazza, Michael Maloney
Top returnees: Jonathan Gredler, sr.; Kevin Pomorski, sr.; Matt Sinnot, sr.; Anthony Pomorski, jr.; Zach Lindquist, jr.; Lucas Bryson, so.
Top new swimmers: Grady Vrenna.
It would be a successful season if: This year’s team is young and inexperienced but we have the largest team we have had in quite a few years. Diving should be strong this year.
Iroquois
2007-08 record: 6-10 overall, 6-10 region
Coach: Bob North
Top swimmers lost: Chris Comer, Matt Zewe.
Top returnees: Joe Petrone, Justin Woodworth, Alex Murray, Nick Kiddo, Jake Bartlett
Top new swimmers: Chris Ravn-Nielson, sr.; Miko Breski, so.
Team to beat in your region: Fairview
It would be a successful season if: All swimmers improve their personal-best times.
North East
2007-08 record: 10-6 overall, 10-6 region
Coach: William Mackin
Top swimmers lost: Ronnie Potocki (District 10 qualifier), Kendall Poor.
Top returnees: Tom Bojarski, sr.; Jacob Briselden, sr.; Andrew Fitzpatrick, jr., Mac Lewis, sr. (District 10 champion, PIAA qualifier); Ed Mills, sr.; Brent Lynn, sr.; Cody Regan, sr.
Top new swimmers: Christian Perez.
Teams to beat in your region: Fairview, Corry, General McLane and Harbor Creek.
It would be a successful season if: We win all the meets against Corry, General McLane and Harbor Creek. Fairview will be the toughest. Competing for the region and finishing in the top three in the District 10 meet should be realistic goals for our program.
Union City
2007-08 record: 3-13 overall, 3-13 region
Region 3
Cathedral Prep
2007-08 record: 13-1 overall, 12-0 region champion
Coach: Mike Doyle, first season
Assistant Coach: Elliot Spaeder
Top swimmers lost: Andy Rish (three-time District 10 champion, all-state and All-American); George Krakowski (two-time District 10 champion, all-state and All-American); John Hill (three-time District 10 champion, all-state and All-American); Phil Myrick (two-time District 10 champion, all-state and All-American).
Top returnees: Joseph Stark (District 10 champion in 200-yard medley relay, 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, all-state and All-American); Joe Glowacki (District 10 champion in 200 medley relay and 100 butterfly, all-state and All-American); Ethan Chase (PIAA qualifier in 100 butterfly); Tom Steele (District 10 champion in 200 and 400 freestyle relays, 200 and 100 freestyles, all-state and All-American); Aaron Merski (placed third in District 10 meet for 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke); Jon Weibel (top district returner in 50 freestyle and District 10 runner-up in 100 breaststroke).
Top new swimmers: Mike Scutella, fr.; Ben Jeffreys, fr.; Anthony Squeglia, fr.
Team to beat in your region: McDowell.
It would be a successful season if: The team had another top-three finish at states, but our ultimate goal is a PIAA championship with at least one individual or relay gold medalist. We were the state runner-up last season and we haven’t had an individual gold medalist since Frank Krakowski in 2001 and gold in the 200 yard medley relay in 1995.
Central Tech
2007-08 record: 0-12 overall, 0-12 region
East
2007-08 record: 3-9 overall, 3-9 region
Coach: Denise Lewandoski, 11th season
Assistant Coaches: A.J. Hanson, Abbey Michalski
Top returnees: Julia Adams (individual medley and backstroke); Karyn Adams (butterfly and freestyle)
It would be a successful season if: Every swimmer has fun, beats their personal best.
McDowell
2007-08 record: 11-3 overall, 10-2 region
Coach: David Schultz, 24th season (255-33-1 overall)
Assistant Coaches: Roman Stefanelli, Michael Esper
Top swimmers lost: Mike Kneidinger, Ian Manti, Robbie Gausman
Top returnees: Wesley Hansen, sr. (All-American); Brandon Intrieri, sr. (All-American); Kyle Lazenby, sr. (All-American); Drew Dunsmore, sr.; Anthony Liotta, jr.; Bob Freeling, jr. (District 10 champion); Max Hrbal, jr.; Kevin Hoderny, so.; Cody Capwill, jr.
Top new swimmers: Kevin Intrieri, fr.; Teddy Wassell, so.; Alex Riser, fr.; Mike DiPlacido, fr.; Gage Schwab fr.; Andrew Masteller, fr.
Team to beat in your region: Cathedral Prep.
It would be a successful season if: We placed in the top five at the PIAA meet, won the District 10 championship and have five or more of our student-athletes earn All-American status.
Meadville
2007-08 record: 10-4 overall, 8-4 region
Strong Vincent
2007-08 record: 4-10 overall, 3-9 region
Coach: Jeff Spaeder, fifth season
Top returnees: Dylan Snyder, sr. (District 10 qualifier, 50 freestyle); Joe Welch, sr. (District 10 qualifier)
Top new swimmers: Peter Richardson, fr. (100 backstroke and sprints).
Team to beat in your region: McDowell.
It would be a successful season if: We had an individual swimmer place in the top six at the District 10 meet.
Warren
2007-08 record: 7-7 overall, 6-6 region
Mercyhurst Prep
2007-08 record: 2-14 overall, 2-14 Region 2