Phoenixville Area School District | Archive | January, 2017

Courtesy of Tom Nash, Pottstown Mercury

http://papreplive.com/2017/01/17/46492/

PHOENIXVILLE >> Neither one of them will deny it.

There’s certainly a bit of an inter-squad rivalry going on between Perkiomen Valley teammates Ethan Hinz and Ryan Keenan.

“We’ve got a good thing going,” said the sophomore Keenan of his competitive edge with freshman teammate Hinz. “It’s definitely competitive, but it’s also friendly. We go back and forth in practice and we’re always racing neck-and-neck.”

That competitiveness is paying off for the Vikings this season, their latest result a 107-63 win over Phoenixville on Tuesday afternoon at the Phoenixville YMCA. On the girls side, the Phantoms claimed a 112-58 win — their first over Perkiomen Valley in program history.

Keenan and Hinz put their rivalry on grand display during the 400-meter freestyle, where Keenan swam a 4:24.36, just pulling away from Hinz (4:27.62) during the closing stretch of the race. Together, the pairing bettered the field by over 23 seconds — the next-best finisher Phoenixville’s Kyler Lewis at 4:50.89.

“I don’t like to be beat,” Hinz said sternly before cracking a smile. “I was trying to beat him the whole time, but I got pretty tired late and he was able to grab (the win). It definitely gives me something to set my sights on.”

Together, the pairing combined for three individual firsts and were also part of three first-place relays on the meet as the PV boys improved to 4-1 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference and 5-1 overall. Hinz swam the first leg of PV’s 400 free relay with Keenan right on his toes as the pairing gave teammates Logan Newman and Michael Yannantuono plenty of cushion to claim it at 3:59.72.

Hinz posted the top time in the 200 individual medley (2:24.95) and also swam the breaststroke of the Phantoms’ 200 medley relay (1:59.53). Keenan took top honors in the 200 free (2:04.72) and also swam the second leg of the 200 free relay, which finished up at 1:45.53.

Although they both turned in successful days for the Vikings, don’t think for a second that either will take their foot off the pedal any time soon.

“We’ve got two, three more meets coming in the next week or so,” said Hinz, “so I’m thinking I can definitely get him by the end of the week.”

The competition between Hinz and Keenan is just a small serving sample of what head coach Brian Zeigler is hoping will begin to rub off on the rest of his Vikings team.

“Veterans are leading the way, showing the tradition of Perk Valley,” he said, “and our underclassmen are starting to pick up on it. That’s made it a very exciting season for us so far.”

Matthew Marsh was also a four-race winner Tuesday, taking top individual honors in the 50 free (25.84) and 100 back (1:07.34) and mixing in relay wins with the 200 medley and 200 free contingents.

Dominic Sposato posted the lone Phoenixville (3-2 PAC; 4-3 overall) win with a 1:14.62 in the 100 ******.

“We competed,” said Phoenixville head coach Dan Weinstein. “Some of our relays kept it close and our boys swam well. Not much more that we can ask for — Perk Valley is a strong team.”

* * *

Weinstein was noticeably much more upbeat in talking about the girls result — their first win over Perk Valley just a season after they fell just short (96-80) in last year’s meet.

“We had last year’s meet on our mind, definitely,” said Weinstein. “We know they lost a lot to graduation and they’re young, but I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have this one circled on the calendar.

“You get up for Perk Valley — they’re always a heavy in the league. So it’s really nice to come away with this one.”

The Phantoms (5-0 PAC, 6-1 overall) ran the table Tuesday, winning all but two events en route to the win over Perk Valley (2-3, 2-4).

Seniors Maddie Cooke and Emily Fabius each posted two top individual times and both swam as part of the 200 medley relay (2:07.02) and the 200 free relay (1:57.17).

Cooke, a Penn State University commit, took individual firsts in the 50 free (27.67) and the 100 ****** (1:17.16). Fabius took individual honors in the 200 IM (2:39.60) and the 100 fly (1:10.75) while Liz Hussin was atop the charts in the 400 free (5:08.67) and the 100 back (1:15.38).

Although it’s taken them some time, Zeigler says the PV girls have started to find out who’s who among the Vikings.

“Really during the winter break, we came together as a group and found our identity,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of building on it and building for the future.”

‘Cat’s Pajamas

Next week’s girls matchup between Phoenixville and Owen J. Roberts — PAC champions two of the past three seasons — surely won’t disappoint.

Weinstein hopes the meet will bring about an atmosphere that his girls will thrive under.

“When you go to Owen J. and look around in their natatorium, it’s full of banners — a ton of All-Americans and school records,” he said. “So just to even consider that we’re competing with them for a championship, it’s something special.”

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Courtesy of Tom Nash, Pottstown Mercury

http://papreplive.com/2017/01/17/46492/

PHOENIXVILLE >> Neither one of them will deny it.

There’s certainly a bit of an inter-squad rivalry going on between Perkiomen Valley teammates Ethan Hinz and Ryan Keenan.

“We’ve got a good thing going,” said the sophomore Keenan of his competitive edge with freshman teammate Hinz. “It’s definitely competitive, but it’s also friendly. We go back and forth in practice and we’re always racing neck-and-neck.”

That competitiveness is paying off for the Vikings this season, their latest result a 107-63 win over Phoenixville on Tuesday afternoon at the Phoenixville YMCA. On the girls side, the Phantoms claimed a 112-58 win — their first over Perkiomen Valley in program history.

Keenan and Hinz put their rivalry on grand display during the 400-meter freestyle, where Keenan swam a 4:24.36, just pulling away from Hinz (4:27.62) during the closing stretch of the race. Together, the pairing bettered the field by over 23 seconds — the next-best finisher Phoenixville’s Kyler Lewis at 4:50.89.

“I don’t like to be beat,” Hinz said sternly before cracking a smile. “I was trying to beat him the whole time, but I got pretty tired late and he was able to grab (the win). It definitely gives me something to set my sights on.”

Together, the pairing combined for three individual firsts and were also part of three first-place relays on the meet as the PV boys improved to 4-1 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference and 5-1 overall. Hinz swam the first leg of PV’s 400 free relay with Keenan right on his toes as the pairing gave teammates Logan Newman and Michael Yannantuono plenty of cushion to claim it at 3:59.72.

Hinz posted the top time in the 200 individual medley (2:24.95) and also swam the breaststroke of the Phantoms’ 200 medley relay (1:59.53). Keenan took top honors in the 200 free (2:04.72) and also swam the second leg of the 200 free relay, which finished up at 1:45.53.

Although they both turned in successful days for the Vikings, don’t think for a second that either will take their foot off the pedal any time soon.

“We’ve got two, three more meets coming in the next week or so,” said Hinz, “so I’m thinking I can definitely get him by the end of the week.”

The competition between Hinz and Keenan is just a small serving sample of what head coach Brian Zeigler is hoping will begin to rub off on the rest of his Vikings team.

“Veterans are leading the way, showing the tradition of Perk Valley,” he said, “and our underclassmen are starting to pick up on it. That’s made it a very exciting season for us so far.”

Matthew Marsh was also a four-race winner Tuesday, taking top individual honors in the 50 free (25.84) and 100 back (1:07.34) and mixing in relay wins with the 200 medley and 200 free contingents.

Dominic Sposato posted the lone Phoenixville (3-2 PAC; 4-3 overall) win with a 1:14.62 in the 100 ******.

“We competed,” said Phoenixville head coach Dan Weinstein. “Some of our relays kept it close and our boys swam well. Not much more that we can ask for — Perk Valley is a strong team.”

* * *

Weinstein was noticeably much more upbeat in talking about the girls result — their first win over Perk Valley just a season after they fell just short (96-80) in last year’s meet.

“We had last year’s meet on our mind, definitely,” said Weinstein. “We know they lost a lot to graduation and they’re young, but I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have this one circled on the calendar.

“You get up for Perk Valley — they’re always a heavy in the league. So it’s really nice to come away with this one.”

The Phantoms (5-0 PAC, 6-1 overall) ran the table Tuesday, winning all but two events en route to the win over Perk Valley (2-3, 2-4).

Seniors Maddie Cooke and Emily Fabius each posted two top individual times and both swam as part of the 200 medley relay (2:07.02) and the 200 free relay (1:57.17).

Cooke, a Penn State University commit, took individual firsts in the 50 free (27.67) and the 100 ****** (1:17.16). Fabius took individual honors in the 200 IM (2:39.60) and the 100 fly (1:10.75) while Liz Hussin was atop the charts in the 400 free (5:08.67) and the 100 back (1:15.38).

Although it’s taken them some time, Zeigler says the PV girls have started to find out who’s who among the Vikings.

“Really during the winter break, we came together as a group and found our identity,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of building on it and building for the future.”

‘Cat’s Pajamas

Next week’s girls matchup between Phoenixville and Owen J. Roberts — PAC champions two of the past three seasons — surely won’t disappoint.

Weinstein hopes the meet will bring about an atmosphere that his girls will thrive under.

“When you go to Owen J. and look around in their natatorium, it’s full of banners — a ton of All-Americans and school records,” he said. “So just to even consider that we’re competing with them for a championship, it’s something special.”

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Courtesy of Tom Nash, Pottstown Mercury

http://papreplive.com/2017/01/03/phoenixville-boys-girls-take-down-methacton/

PHOENIXVILLE >> The Phoenixville swimming team gives off quite the family atmosphere.

And that’s not only because there are 12 sets of siblings listed on the team’s varsity roster.

Constant cheers, a got-your-back mentality and a desire to push one another led the Phantom girls and boys teams each to a 97-73 win over visiting Methacton on Tuesday afternoon inside the Phoenixville YMCA.

Senior Maddie Cooke — older sister of sophomore Hannah Cooke — led the meet with four top times. The Penn State University commit took first place in the 50 free (27.43) and the 100 free (1:00.53), and also swam legs in the Phantoms’ first-place 200 medley relay (2:06.61) and the 200 free relay (1:56.89).

A four-year standout with the program, Cooke explains that there is hardly a distinction between each grade.

“We’re all so close because we’ve pretty much all grown up around each other,” she said. “I’m close with my sister’s classmates and she’s close with all of mine. That’s really helped our team to develop really good chemistry.”

In line right behind Cooke, seniors Emily Fabius and Kathryn Bland along with sophomore Katya Hayward had a hand in both top-finishing relays. Individually, Fabius took first in the 100 fly with a time of 1:10.61.

“It’s definitely a family affair,” said Phoenixville head coach Dan Weinstein shortly after he rattled off each set of siblings with a little help from his lineup sheet. “They all grow up swimming with one another, so even if they aren’t blood siblings, there’s definitely a family component to the team. They’ve truly been a village growing up together.”

“We wouldn’t be a team without each other,” added Cooke. “By now, everyone motivates each other and knows what it takes to get everyone ready for a meet.”

Methacton senior Emily Sykes — a University of Tennessee commit — and sophomore Victoria Zang each came up with three wins. Zang swam the first leg in the 400 free relay (4:21.17) after touching first in the 100 back (1:10.24) and the 200 free (2:17.69). Sykes swam second leg in the 400 free relay and also claimed individual firsts in the 200 IM (2:30.94) and the 100 ****** (1:17.59).

“This was definitely going to be one of our toughest meets, we knew that coming in,” Sykes said. “Everyone is always a little bit tired coming off Christmas break, but hey, so are all the other teams as well.

“We put up some good times, but hopefully this gives us an idea of where we want (our times) to get to later in the season.”

* * *

Entering the season, Weinstein admits, he generally knew what to expect from his girls team, which boasts 14 experienced seniors. What he may not have fully anticipated, though, was his boys team. Led by just four seniors, the Phantoms accomplished one of their first goals of the season — a win over Methacton.

“It’s a testament to the early work they’ve put in,” said Weinstein. “They set out to achieve this one, and they came out and did it. I’m definitely proud of them for that.”

Sophomore Dominic Sposato led the way with three top finishes, swimming the second leg of both the 200 medley and (1:59.80) and the 200 freestyle (1:51.61) relays along with an individual finish in the 100 ****** (1:16.11).

Seniors Josh Hayward and Matt LoPolito were also both part of the first-place relay contingents.

For Methacton, Steven Zeng and Mike Palumbo led the way with three top times apiece. Both part of the 400 free relay (4:03.01), Zeng took top honors in the 200 free (2:11.22) and the 100 back (1:08.53). Palumbo claimed the 200 IM at 2:26.98 and the 400 free (4:34.73).

Name of the Game

Of all the members of Phoenixville’s swimming lineup, perhaps the easiest to remember are the Hihi sisters. Pronounced Hee-hee, both Julia and Enola Hihi both constantly wear a smile that almost perfectly represents their last name.

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Courtesy of Tom Nash, Pottstown Mercury

http://papreplive.com/2017/01/03/phoenixville-boys-girls-take-down-methacton/

PHOENIXVILLE >> The Phoenixville swimming team gives off quite the family atmosphere.

And that’s not only because there are 12 sets of siblings listed on the team’s varsity roster.

Constant cheers, a got-your-back mentality and a desire to push one another led the Phantom girls and boys teams each to a 97-73 win over visiting Methacton on Tuesday afternoon inside the Phoenixville YMCA.

Senior Maddie Cooke — older sister of sophomore Hannah Cooke — led the meet with four top times. The Penn State University commit took first place in the 50 free (27.43) and the 100 free (1:00.53), and also swam legs in the Phantoms’ first-place 200 medley relay (2:06.61) and the 200 free relay (1:56.89).

A four-year standout with the program, Cooke explains that there is hardly a distinction between each grade.

“We’re all so close because we’ve pretty much all grown up around each other,” she said. “I’m close with my sister’s classmates and she’s close with all of mine. That’s really helped our team to develop really good chemistry.”

In line right behind Cooke, seniors Emily Fabius and Kathryn Bland along with sophomore Katya Hayward had a hand in both top-finishing relays. Individually, Fabius took first in the 100 fly with a time of 1:10.61.

“It’s definitely a family affair,” said Phoenixville head coach Dan Weinstein shortly after he rattled off each set of siblings with a little help from his lineup sheet. “They all grow up swimming with one another, so even if they aren’t blood siblings, there’s definitely a family component to the team. They’ve truly been a village growing up together.”

“We wouldn’t be a team without each other,” added Cooke. “By now, everyone motivates each other and knows what it takes to get everyone ready for a meet.”

Methacton senior Emily Sykes — a University of Tennessee commit — and sophomore Victoria Zang each came up with three wins. Zang swam the first leg in the 400 free relay (4:21.17) after touching first in the 100 back (1:10.24) and the 200 free (2:17.69). Sykes swam second leg in the 400 free relay and also claimed individual firsts in the 200 IM (2:30.94) and the 100 ****** (1:17.59).

“This was definitely going to be one of our toughest meets, we knew that coming in,” Sykes said. “Everyone is always a little bit tired coming off Christmas break, but hey, so are all the other teams as well.

“We put up some good times, but hopefully this gives us an idea of where we want (our times) to get to later in the season.”

* * *

Entering the season, Weinstein admits, he generally knew what to expect from his girls team, which boasts 14 experienced seniors. What he may not have fully anticipated, though, was his boys team. Led by just four seniors, the Phantoms accomplished one of their first goals of the season — a win over Methacton.

“It’s a testament to the early work they’ve put in,” said Weinstein. “They set out to achieve this one, and they came out and did it. I’m definitely proud of them for that.”

Sophomore Dominic Sposato led the way with three top finishes, swimming the second leg of both the 200 medley and (1:59.80) and the 200 freestyle (1:51.61) relays along with an individual finish in the 100 ****** (1:16.11).

Seniors Josh Hayward and Matt LoPolito were also both part of the first-place relay contingents.

For Methacton, Steven Zeng and Mike Palumbo led the way with three top times apiece. Both part of the 400 free relay (4:03.01), Zeng took top honors in the 200 free (2:11.22) and the 100 back (1:08.53). Palumbo claimed the 200 IM at 2:26.98 and the 400 free (4:34.73).

Name of the Game

Of all the members of Phoenixville’s swimming lineup, perhaps the easiest to remember are the Hihi sisters. Pronounced Hee-hee, both Julia and Enola Hihi both constantly wear a smile that almost perfectly represents their last name.

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EasternPAFootball.com named three Phantoms to the Class 5A All-Eastern PA football team for the 2016 season.  Running back Matt Garcia ’17 earned first-team honors , while two of his offensive teammates Nasir Green ’17 (WR) and Jon Miller ’18 (OL) earned honorable mention.

The complete list can be found here – http://www.easternpafootball.com/news/2016-class-5a-easternpafootball-com-team/.

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