Ship girls clinch share of MPC swim crown
One year ago, the Shippensburg girls swim team was closing out its season with a 7-6 record, and 2-4 in the Mid Penn Colonial Division.
But for the Lady Hounds, one year makes a big difference.
Monday, Shippensburg clinched at least a share of the Mid Penn Colonial Division title with a 94-75 win over James Buchanan, extending their winning streak to nine meets.
Since the conclusion of the 2016 season, Ship has tossed the word "loss" out the window, and heads into the final two meets of the regular season undefeated.
Makenna Morris won a pair of events for Shippensburg, claiming the 200 freestyle (2:02.06) and the 500 free (5:29.66) against James Buchanan, while Rachel Morehouse won the 100 free (1:01.48) and aided the 200 freestyle relay to victory in 1:56.06.
"Morris had some outstanding performances in the 200 and 500 free, and Madison Osanitsch in the 500 free (5:32.90) was a really, really good swim," Shippensburg coach Jeff Kaminski said. "The back half of the meet was really, really strong for us. Makenna and Madison both are freshman who have come up through the pipeline of the aquatic club and they've stepped in as freshman and have really taken the bull by the horns for our team this year."
Morris has not lost an individual race yet this season.
On the boys side, Alby Lear was a double winner for Shippensburg, which won 101-51 over the Rockets, claiming the 200 (2:04.22) and the 500 free (5:38.18). Matt Buck (200 IM, 2:18.85), Kaiden Estep (100 breaststroke, 1:11.59), Eli Zinn (100 free, 55.87) and Sam Nonemaker (100 backstroke, 59.80) also took home individual wins. Nonemaker,
Lear, Buck, Nonemaker and Zinn teamed up to win the 400 free relay in a tight contest with James Buchanan's top sprinters, while Buck and Estep aided the winning 200 free relay, and the winning 200 medley was stacked with Nonemaker, Zinn, Caleb Eveland and Estep for a winning time of 1:50.55.
"We had a really nice swim from Alby Lear in the 200 free; that time looks like that's going to get him in the district meet," Kaminski said. "'We also had some really good swims with Eli Zinn - he's developing more and more with each meet."
NOTES: Despite being swept by the Greyhounds, James Buchanan won 10 events with standout performances by Rachel Kimmel and Nick Garbinski. Kimmel won three events for the girls team, the 200 IM (2:20.78), 100 butterfly (1:07.64) and 100 breaststroke (1:07.73). Garbinski won the 100 butterfly (56.88) and the 50 freestyle (22.48) for the boys. Annaleisse Hissong won the 100 backstroke in 1:07.29, and Annabelle McCullough won the 50 free (25.45) for the Lady Rockets.