The Waynesboro swimming program has turned into quite the powerhouse in the Mid-Penn Conference.
Sharon McIlquham’s boys and girls squads are both undefeated at 3-0, and both eager to continue to live up to the standards of the program, which has dominated in recent years.
Online records don’t go back all that far, but we can confirm that Waynesboro’s girls have won at least 20 consecutive dual meets after going 9-0 in 2022-23 and 8-0 last season. The Tribe boys are on a four-meet winning streak dating back to last season.
Waynesboro will be aiming to build on these winning streaks when they travel Cedar Cliff on Friday in our Meet of the Week. The Colts know how to win, and would love nothing more than to give the favored Tribe a hard-fought battle.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Meet of the Week. Any big upcoming meets or games we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at big_andy76@yahoo.com.
Waynesboro at Cedar Cliff
Meet time: Friday, 4:15 p.m., at West Shore Natatorium
Records: Cedar Cliff’s boys are 1-2 and the girls are 2-1, while Waynesboro’s boys and girls both enter with 3-0 records.
Last meet: Waynesboro is coming off a sweep over Susquehanna Township on Wednesday that saw the Tribe earn wins of 114-55 (boys) and 134-32 (girls). Cedar Cliff’s girls split a tri-meet on Wednesday, winning 116-0 over CD East and falling 95-65 to Lower Dauphin. The Colt boys also had a split, winning 72-11 over CD East and losing 88-48 to Lower Dauphin.
Last meeting: Waynesboro and Cedar Cliff last met during the 2022-23 season, with the Tribe getting wins from both the boys (100-62) and girls (102-74).
Meet the Tribe: Waynesboro’s girls have a couple of hammers in the lineup in Eve Phillips and Mady Barker. Phillips is the Tribe’s leading swimmer in both the 50 and 100 freestyle, as well as the 200 IM, while Barker is Waynesboro’s swimmer to beat in the 200 and 500 freestyle events … Combine Phillips and Barker with a deep group of swimmers that includes the likes of Rylie Tritle (butterfly), Lili Moreno (freestyle/breaststroke), Addi Callaway (freestyle/butterfly), Leah Yost (freestyle/backstroke), Claire Yost (freestyle/breaststroke), Liz Callaway (freestyle), Vanna Keyser (backstroke), Avery Hess (backstroke/IM), Kylie Wieczorek (breaststroke), Delaney Stains (IM), and Camryn Bonner (diving), and it’s easy to see why the Tribe should be favored to win just about every event against the Colts … Waynesboro’s boys are led by ace JB Bonner, who leads the Tribe in both the 50 and 500 freestyle, and can stand out at any distance in between … Aiden Hess is Waynesboro’s top swimmer in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM, while Will Yost has set the bar for the Tribe in the 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly … There are plenty of other capable runners in the Waynesboro lineup, including Cello Dimino (freestyle), Gabe Blake (freestyle), Andrew Bryan (freestyle), Luke Halstead (freestyle/backstroke), Ethan McDonald (freestyle), Kyle Swanson (freestyle), Aiden Hess (backstroke/IM), Levi Horst (backstroke), Riley Morgan (breaststroke/IM), Owen Shockey (breaststroke), Josh Lynch (butterfly), Colby Smith (IM), and Tank Benedict (diving) … Much like the girls, Waynesboro’s boys will be favored to win most of the events.
Meet the Colts: Cedar Cliff, coached by Justin Chubb, has a girls squad highlighted by the swimming of Charlotte Louden and Sam Shoop. Louden is the Colts’ top swimmer in the 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 100 butterfly, while Shoop leads the Colts in the 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 200 IM. … Louden and Shoop will be looking to get theirs against a tough Waynesboro lineup, while Lucy Winger (freestyle), Taelyn Troutman (freestyle/butterfly), Libby McCurdy (freestyle/IM), Gwyneth Edwards (freestyle/backstroke), Jiya Patel (freestyle), Kiana Smith (backstroke), Hallie Garinger (breaststroke/IM), Emma Rainey (breaststroke, butterflY), and Faith Mincer (breaststroke) will also be aiming to factor into the scoring … On the boys side, get used to hearing the names of Oscar Poli and Samuel Bitting. Poli leads the Colts in three freestyle events (50, 100, 200), while Bitting is Cedar Cliff’s top swimmer in the 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly, and 200 IM … Theo Culleiton (freestyle), Lincoln Govelovich (freestyle/breaststroke), Owen Schweitzer (freestyle/breaststroke), and Ryan Mahrady (freestyle) will also be aiming to make an impact … On paper, Cedar Cliff will be the underdogs, but look for the Colts to ramp up their efforts to give Waynesboro a competitive battle.
Sandrik’s prediction: Waynesboro’s boys and girls sweep the Colts for victory.
