Dallastown's Shelley O'Conor won the girls' 100-yard backstroke, as the Wildcats beat the Rockets to clinch a tie for the Division I crown. (Daily Record/Sunday News -Bil Bowden)
Although Dallastown's girls' swim team garners a lot of attention, the boys' team has been pretty good in its own right over the years.

This season is no exception as Thursday's home meet against Spring Grove demonstrated.

The Wildcat boys proved to be very good and, behind a pair of wins by Graham Knaub and Gerard Woody, posted a 116-69 victory.

With one YAIAA meet remaining, Dallastown improved to 9-1 overall, 4-0 in the league, and clinched at least a tie for the YAIAA Division I title.

Co-captains Ever Gonzalez and Alex Pandelidis both found it hard to believe that Thursday was their senior night, but each know they have been a part of something special.

"We have had the luxury of being one of the best teams," Pandelidis said. "This year we put a pretty good team together and are winning our meets by a large margin."

"All of the hard work everybody has been putting in this year has given us the results we are looking for," Gonzalez said. "This year has been amazing for us. We set the bar high."

Of course, the Wildcat girls are just fine as always, knocking off the Rockets, 121-63, and also clinched at least a tie for the Division I crown, which would be the sixth straight and 15th out of the last 17 seasons for Dallastown.

It didn't take long for the Wildcat boys to take control of the meet. After Pandelidis and Knaub combined with Chard Howley and John Hudish to win the 200 medley relay (1:50.15), Knaub (1:55.88), Ryan Schuessler

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and Gonzalez swept the 200 free.

Spring Grove (7-1, 3-1) came right back with a one-two by Colin Trettel and Austin Libertore in the 200 individual medley, but Woody (22.98), Hudish and Howley pulled another sweep in the 50 freestyle for a 41-21 lead heading into the diving competition.

Woody (57.48) and Howley did the trick again in the 100 butterfly and, although Chris Bankert took the 100 free in 50.66 for the Rockets, Dallastown took second, third and fourth to gain more points.

"We have great depth all around," Pandelidis said. "Not just the top swimmers, but the second and third in each event can really get it done as well."

A later sweep by Knaub (5:15.97), Brandon Flynn and Schuessler in the 500 free put the meet out of reach.

"Something must be clicking with the boys," Wildcats coach Rich Howley said. "There are 37 of them out and that is all because of the boys, their personality and their passion for the sport.

"Dallastown's assets have been that second, third and fourth swimmer, not the first. We are like a bunch of bees. Our first stinger won't get you, but our hive will."

In the girls' meet, Jen Flinchbaugh and Julie Brown scored a pair of wins each to lead the Wildcats, who improved to 8-2, 4-0.

Flinchbaugh won both distance events, the 200 free (1:59.84) and 500 free (5:30.92), while the senior Brown took care of the sprints, the 50 free (24.76) and 100 free (55.29).

The two also were on a pair of victorious relay teams, helping Dallastown overcome a pair of firsts by Rockets senior Allie Jenkins, who won the 200 individual medley (2:13.10) and 100 fly (1:01.58).

"We know Dallastown is our biggest rival, but mainly with this meet, it's all about getting best times," said Jenkins, whose team fell to 6-2, 3-1. "They have such depth. We have good swimmers, but they just out-number us."

Shelley O'Conor (100 back) and Karley Marquet (100 breast) earned wins for the Wildcats, as did Leigh Waltz, who enjoyed her senior night by posting a league-best score for the season of 256.50 on the diving board.
snavaroli@ydr.com; 771-2060

  

at Dallastown
Boys
DALLASTOWN 116, SPRING GROVE 69
   200 medley relay -- 1. Dallastown (Alex Pandelidis, Graham Knaub, Chard Howley, John Hudish), 1:50.15; 2. Spring Grove; 3. Dallastown 200 free -- 1. Knaub, D, 1:55.88; 2. Schuessler, D; 3. Gonzalez, D. 200 IM -- 1. Colin Trettel, SG, 2:11.68; 2. Libertore, SG; 3. Pandelidis, D. 50 free -- 1. Gerard Woody, D, 22.98; 2. Hudish, D; 3. Howley, D. Diving -- 1. Andrew Hartman, D, 124.45; 2. Dixon, SG; 3. Iula, D. 100 fly -- 1. Woody, D, 57.48; 2. Howley, D; 3. Libertore, SG. 100 free -- 1. Chris Bankert, SG, 50.66; 2. Godboldte, D; 3. Gonzalez, D. 500 free -- 1. Knaub, D, 5:15.97; 2. Flynn, D; 3. Schuessler. 200 free relay -- 1. Spring Grove (Chris Bankert, Greg Fry, Austin Libertore, Kyle Huber), 1:36.33; 2. Dallastown; 3. Dallastown. 100 back -- 1. Alex Pandelidis, D, 59.31; 2. Trettel, SG; 3. Paine, D. 100 breast -- 1. Ethan Greco, SG, 1:14.10; 2. Dube, D; 3. Haines, D. 400 free relay -- 1. Dallastown (Alex Pandelidis, Ever Gonzalez, Michael Godboldte, Gerrad Woody), 3:27.43; 2. Spring Grove; 3. Spring Grove.
  

Girls
DALLASTOWN 121, SPRING GROVE 63
   200 medley relay -- 1. Dallastown (Shelley O'Connor, Karley Marquet, Jordan Haines, Teresa Casolo), 1:57.46; 2. Spring Grove; 3. Dallastown. 200 free -- 1. Jen Flinchbaugh, D, 1:59.84; 2. L. Miller, D; 3. R. Miller, SG. 200 IM -- 1. Allie Jenkins, SG, 2:13.10; 2. O'Connor, D; 3. Craver, SG. 50 free -- 1. Julie Brown, D, 24.76; 2. K. Miller, SG; 3. Casolo, D. Diving -- 1. Leigh Waltz, D, 256.50; 2. Magalski, SG; 3. Rothrock, D. 100 fly -- 1. Jenkins, SG, 1:01.58; 2. Casolo, D; 3. Haines, D. 100 free -- 1. Brown, D, 55.29; 2. L. Miller, D; 3. K. Miller, SG. 500 free -- 1. Flinchbaugh, D, 5:30.92; 2. Boeckel, SG; 3. Bartha, D. 200 free relay -- 1. Dallastown (Julie Brown, Jen Flinchbaugh, Karley Marquet, Laura Miller), 1:42.99; 2. Dallastown; 3. Dallastown. 100 back -- 1. O'Connor, D, 1:05.40; 2. Boeckel, SG; 3. Baynum, SG. 100 breast -- 1. Marquet, D, 1:12.44; 2. Craver, SG; 3. Carlisle, SG. 400 free relay -- 1. Dallastown (Shelley O'Connor, Jen Flinchbaugh, Laura Miller, Julie Brown), 3:49.51; 2. Spring Grove; 3. Dallastown.