General McLane girls among swimmers aiming for medals at this weekend's District 10 meet

It’s common to hear of coaches who conduct their athletes’ daily workouts before the sun rises.

Those associated with General McLane’s aquatics program don’t fit that category. They go the opposite direction on the clock.

Not because coach Mike Allison wants to start the Lancers’ practices after sundown, but out of necessity.

McLane’s campus has no pool. That means Allison and the Lancers must hold McLane’s regular workouts at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse natatorium.

Double dip: Harbor Creek freshman Isaac Smith experiences hybrid success as swimmer and diver

While the four-mile drive between the two schools isn’t overwhelming, factors like frequency, time of day and the weather can give one pause.

Recently, though, those issues haven’t deterred the Lancers. Specifically, their female swimmers.

McLane’s girls, for the second straight season, clinched first place in District 10’s Region 2 standings. Just as satisfying was they placed ahead of the Fairview Tigers, long one of the district’s traditional powers in aquatics.

“That means a lot,” Allison said. “There’s a lot of depth on the (girls) team right now and we have a lot of upcoming swimmers. The talent level is out there.”

Allison credited the Erie County YMCA in Edinboro for its success at becoming a feeder program for McLane. His decision to incorporate weight training and yoga sessions into the Lancers’ regular routine also have provided positive results.

“We want to work their minds as well as their bodies,” Allison said.

The Cathedral Prep Ramblers, the district’s Region 3 titlists, are expected to dominate the top of the podium for this weekend’s swimming meet at the S.P.I.R.E. Institute. Friday’s session at the Geneva, Ohio, natatorium will begin at 2 p.m., followed by Saturday’s action at 1 p.m.

However, McLane’s female trio of senior Cassidy Swain, junior Katherine Quinn and freshman Emma Shade are likely to vie for the district’s at-large berths in the March 15-16 PIAA Class 2A meet at Lewisburg.

Should they qualify, they’d compete for top-eight state medals at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.

Divers destined for states

Four programs hold leads in the district’s team standings even before Friday’s initial laps are turned at S.P.I.R.E

That’s because the district conducted this season’s diving competition last weekend at McDowell Intermediate High School.

It was there Fairview’s Aari Fox and Elena Veres repeated as the 2A male and female gold medalists. They qualified for states, as did Erie High’s Alex Gabbard and McDowell’s Josephine Gnibus as the Class 3A victors.

Fox and Veres will have company at states because the top three 2A divers all advanced.

Joining Fox will be Cathedral Prep’s Ted Terrizzi and Harbor Creek’s Isaac Smith, who also plans to swim for the Huskies this weekend.

Fairview’s Katie George, Veres’ teammate and senior classmate, and Harbor Creek’s Kyra Guntrum also qualified.

More: These 10 boys swimmers and divers made the Times-News' District 10 Midseason Breakout list

Class 2A individual girls

■ Jaslene Cage, freshman, Cathedral Prep: She’s shown definitive signs of being the next great four-year swimmer for the Ramblers based on her top-seeded times for the 50-yard freestyle (24.70 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.26).

■ Maria Costa, junior, Cathedral Prep: Her time in the 200 individual medley (2:05.69) is nearly 11 seconds faster than the one for second-seeded teammate Ellie Brugger. Costa also is favored to win the meet’s 100 backstroke. Her qualifying time of 57.94 is the only one listed below an even minute.

■ Mollie Massella, junior, Slippery Rock: She favored to win the 200 free (2:00.13) by more than two seconds. Look for her also to contend in the 100 butterfly (59.27).

■ Logan Wilson, senior, Sharon: The fourth-year Tiger is favored to get the gold handed out for the 500 free (5:26.40).

Class 2A individual boys

■ Mark Cattron, senior, Sharon: The St. Bonaventure University recruit is expected to come in first for the 200 free (1:43.72).

■ Nate Dorsch, sophomore, Sharon: His top-seeded time of 4:50.93 in the 500 free was the new meet record for the Iroquois Invitational.

■ Matthew Hinman, junior, Cathedral Prep: His 100 breast time (1:00.28) is more than a second faster than second-seeded teammate Drew Brown.

■ Jack Raimy, sophomore, Cathedral Prep: The 100 back specialist is the favorite at 51.18. His seed time of 1:57.53 in the 200 individual medley also is the only one listed in under two minutes for that four-discipline event.

■ Camden Smith, junior, Franklin: He’ll arrive at Geneva pool as the favorite for the meet’s 100 fly (51.93) and 100 free (47.49).

■ Caleb Stover, senior, Oil City: Although listed as the favorite in the 50 free (22.29), he’s likely to be seriously challenged by Franklin rival Nathan Pfennigwerth (22.38).

Class 3A individual girls

■ Havana Austin, senior, McDowell: She has a time of 2:19.36 in the 200 IM that’s more than five seconds faster than the one for Meadville second seed Skyler Bland.

■ Julianne Gowetski, senior, Meadville: Her time in the 100 fly (58.87) is the only one posted in less than 60 seconds. She’s also expected to win the 100 back based on her 1:01.87 performance during the regular season.

■ Jaidyn Jordan, senior, Meadville: The Bulldogs’ distance specialist is favored for first place in the 200 free (2:03.02) and 500 free (5:35.67).

■ Halaina Palmer, freshman, McDowell: She’s projected to win the 100 breast (1:10.21) in her postseason debut as a Trojan.

Class 3A individual boys

■ Camden Pierce, junior, McDowell: The elder of the Trojans’ Pierce brothers is favored to win the 200 free (1:49.38) and 100 breast (1:01.17).

■ Deacon Pierce, sophomore, McDowell: The sprinter is listed first in the meet’s psych sheets for the 50 free (22.58) and 100 free (49.80).

■ Nick Publicover, senior, McDowell: He’ll arrive at S.P.I.R.E. as the top seed for the 100 fly (54.20).

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: District 10 swimming meet to determine who's headed to states