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Article published March 3, 2010
Eyes on a bigger prize Mars girls swimming team taking aim at WPIAL championships
The Mars girls swimming team will take another crack at a Section 3-AA title next year. But for now, the team's focus is on the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool. That's the site of the WPIAL Class AA Swimming Championships Thursday and Friday. For the third straight season, the Planets (7-1) placed second in the section behind Shady Side Academy. But Mars coach Heidi Brandon didn't witness a second-place effort this year. "The girls were phenomenal," she said. "They're in the pool by 5:30 in the morning for practice. Plus, we've got a great feeder program." A big contributor to the team's success for four years running is Gabri Pierre. The senior is seeded eighth in the 200 freestyle and 13th in the 500 freestyle. "Making states the last few years, that's the most memorable thing about my high school career," said Pierre, who will swim at St. Francis (Pa.) University next season. "And the fact that I was teammates with my sister (Chloe). "Gabri really became a leader this year," said Brandon. The Planets' Maggie Gruber might be a freshman, but she already holds school records in the 100-yard backstroke, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. She is seeded second in both the 100 butterfly (57.5 seconds) and the backstroke event (59.87). "She swam for Pine-Richland Aquatics and we practice alongside them," said Brandon. "I've watched her for a couple of years and knew she was going to be good." Pierre and Gruber will swim on Mars' best relay team, the 400 freestyle, which also features Phoebe Pierre and Corinna Luschini. The quartet is seeded fourth (3:52.59).Boys
Mars' Jack Muehlheuser went from finishing 19th in the 100 backstroke a year ago to being a major threat at WPIALs this time around. The sophomore's time of 56.96 has him seeded third behind Indiana's Matt Rochna and West Allegheny's Tim Mangis. Muehlheuser, one of 12 boys on the Mars team, has taken nearly three seconds off his previous best time. "Since last year, I've been working really hard to improve my technique and increase my endurance," he said. "My goal is to swim a 55.09, which would qualify me for USA Sectionals and, hopefully, get me to states as well." "He's gotten stronger and taller, and he's swimming a smarter race now," Brandon said. "He has a lot of confidence in himself right now."Class AAA Girls
Change is good. At least that's the case for Seneca Valley's Makena Lynch. The junior spent the first two years of her high school swimming career competing in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. In January, she was moved to sprint events: the 50 and 100 freestyles. She qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA Swimming Championships in her freshman and sophomore seasons, but was never seeded as high as fourth going into the event. With a time of 55.04 seconds, that's where Lynch finds herself in the 100 freestyle Thursday and Friday at Trees Pool. She's seeded fifth (25.02) in the 50 freestyle. "Coming into this season, I had no idea I'd end up swimming two new events," said Lynch. "But it was something both Coach (Jerry) Koller and I agreed I should try around midseason. "At first, it was a big difference, but it ended up not being as hard as I thought it would be." Koller said he is pleased with the progress Lynch has made in her new role. "She's adjusted really well to it," he said. "She's got a nice burst in the water. If she hasn't surprised people by now, she's about to at WPIALs." Lynch is also a member of the 400 freestyle relay team with Julie Titley, Stephanie Ciraula and Katie Miller. The group is seeded second at 3:42.57, behind only Latrobe (3:38.07). "For that relay team, a state berth is the ultimate goal," said Koller. "The place doesn't matter, as long as its in the top three, which would guarantee us a spot at states. "To get that, we probably need to swim in between a 3:37 and 3:38." Like Lynch, Titley also is seeded high in a pair of individual events: third in both the 200 freestyle (1:58.21) and 500 freestyle (5:17.12). "This season, we've mixed in rest in between some of our practices and I've adapted well to that," said Titley. "I usually seem to do better in the 500, but I'm just hoping to do my best in both events and see where that gets me." "Julie is a pure racer," said Koller. "She wants to win every event she swims in. You can't teach that; it has to be innate." Ciraula, a junior, is seeded seventh in the 500 freestyle (5:19.49) and 10th in the 200 event (2:01.61). Boys Like so many swimmers who will be competing at WPIALs, Justin Pritchard is hoping Trees Pool is a springboard to something even bigger. A junior making his third appearance at the district meet, Pritchard will swim the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. He is seeded 10th in the latter with a time of 1:04.05, but claims it is not his best event. "The 50 is my best and I really want to get to states in it," said Pritchard, who is currently slated 16th at 23.19. "I figure, if I can swim a 21.85, that should get me to where I need to be." "I swear that kid has grown two or three inches since I started working with him," said Koller, who is in his first season at SV. "He's a dark horse, but has worked really hard. He is confident it will pay off for him."
