This past weekend in Lewisburg, Pa, at Bucknell University, the Cathedral Prep swim team took to the pool one last time in the 2016-2017 swim season. After months of hard work and dedication the D-10 champions were on the hunt for their first ever team state title in school history. After weather delays and closed highways the PIAA AA Boys State Meet was moved back a day and was now timed finals instead of a prelims finals format.
On the first day the Ramblers were looking strong after the first event, winning the boys 200-yard medley relay. A DQ by the winning team bumped the Ramblers up to the top of the podium where they were able to claim the gold.
In the 200 freestyle two different Prep swimmers madethe podium, Tony Squeglia finishing fourth and Alec Thomas seventh picking up valuable points.
In the 200 IM Ethan Neff, Calvin Behm, and JP Stark all failed to make the podium but picked up points with Behm’s 13th place finish and Ethan Neff’s 16th place swim.
In the 50 free the Ramblers picked up no points but Thomas Uht picked up a 24th place finish.
In the 100 fly, no points were picked up either. Matt Wegley and Robbie Maholic finished 25th and 29th, respectively.
In the 200 freestyle relay Prep came in second, losing to only a state record winning time with the team of Alec Thomas, Jake Schmidt, Thomas Uht, and Tony Squeglia.
Coming into the second day the Ramblers were down a whole handful of points put were still ready for a fight. Starting off on the second day Tony Squeglia highlighted the 100 free for Prep with a 13th place swim.
In the 500 free Alec Thomas came in touching tenth and picked up more valuable points for the team.
The 100 back was a great race with freshman Ethan Neff nabbing a fourth place finish and a spot on the podium.
In the 100 breast Calvin Behm and JP Stark both finished outside of the top 16 as Prep blanked for points in that event.
In the final relay, the 400 freestyle the D-10 record holding team finished in fourth place with Alec Thomas, Jake Schmidt, Thomas Uht, and Tony Squeglia.
The Prep swim team came up a few points shy of first and, without divers, the team would stay in second place.
“Although this is not what we wanted, I’m still proud of all the boys. It was a great season,” said head Coach Mike Doyle. The Ramblers will be hanging up their suits and goggles until next fall when they will start the journey all over
again.