Another day, another record showing for Belle Vernon swimmers
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Robert Spekis pulls through the water at a record-breaking pace during the 100-yard breaststroke race. The Belle Vernon senior lowered his WPIAL record to 56.99 in defending his title.
Eleanor Bailey/Almanac
Ian Shahan leaps from the starting blocks on his way to victory in the 100-yard freestyle at the WPIAL Champinships.
Ian Shahan leaps from the starting blocks on his way to victory in the 100-yard freestyle race.
Ian Shahan (left) is congratulated by Conner McBeth after winning the 100-yard freestyle.
Robert Spekis pulls through the water at a record-breaking pace during the 100-yard breaststroke race. The Belle Vernon senior lower his WPIA record to 56.99 in defending his title.
Andrew Noll makes a big splash during 100-yard backstroke action in the WPIAL Clas AA boys' swimming championships. The Ringgold freshman placed 11th overall with a 57.45 time.
PITTSBURGH – Competition brings out the best in Robert Spekis and Ian Shahan. For when their opponents put them to the test, the Belle Vernon swimmers responded with record-breaking performances at the WPIAL Class AA Championships held at the University of Pittsburgh.
After winning double golds on the first day of the competition in their respective races – the 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly – Spekis and Shahan answered the call in different manners but with similar results – record-breaking performances.
Shahan picked up a different race this year, choosing not to defend his title in the backstroke. Instead, he upset the reigning champion in the 100 freestyle, besting Conner McBeth from Neshannock by 32-hundredths of a second. Not only was Shahan’s time of 45.48 good enough for All-America consideration, the mark shattered the WPIAL record of 45.97 set in 2009 by Blackhawk’s Mark Stepanian.
Feeling that his backstroke wasn’t quite where it was last year, Shahan asked his coach, Robert Reda, about making the move to freestyle.
“I was a little nervous but I believe in Ian,” said Reda. “We decided to see if he could do it and he did.
“He came out with a great swim that we were truly amazed and proud of,” Reda continued. “That was a hard race. He toughed it out. He fought and in the end he came up victorious.”
The race was tight throughout and came down to a touch as McBeth finished in 45.80, under the WPIAL record also but .32 off Shahan’s winning pace.
Shahan embraced the closeness of the competition.
“It is really invigorating. Energizing,” he added. “Competition is what drives me. I love to compete.”
Shahan loves record, too.
“It feels really good,” Shahan said of breaking the 10-year mark. “It’s real exciting to see WPIAL record on the board when you come up. It’s magic.”
Magic happens when Spekis swims. In winning his second straight gold medal in the breaststroke, the senior lowered his own record from 57.80 last year to 56.99.
“I was just coming in for a best time, which just happens to be a record,” Spekis explained. “I knew coming back being the defending champion and record holder I had a lot on my plate. To say that I lived up to it means a lot.”
The victory also meant sweet revenge for Spekis. Earlier in the year, he lost to William Crites during the Westmoreland County meet. This time he was able to keep a keen eye on the Greensburg Salem senior because they raced side by side in lanes 4 and 5.
“When we raced before he was on the outside and I couldn’t see him,” explained Spekis. “I knew from that meet he was going to post a good time. He did for him. That was a really good time.
“So I knew coming in that he was going to be on my left and I had to watch out for him. I had two turns to see him and I saw him in the first and I saw him on the third one. I know I am a back-half racer in everything I do. Apparently I have to make things exciting for everybody but I saw him on that third turn and said I have to give it my all.”
His all even shocked Spekis.
“I went under 57, which I thought I would never do. So being able to say that is just remarkable. Amazing,” he emphasized.
Because he thrives on competition just as Shahan does, nothing Spekis does surprises his coach.
“Robbie is a true competitor,” Reda said. “He knew he had a race coming in and he responded to that challenge.
“I am so ecstatic with Robbie. It’s hard enough to be a WPIAL champion one time but to do it back-to-back and both times he set the meet record and dropped his own time. I am so proud of him and all that he has gone through. He has worked his way up the ranks over the years.”
With his back-to-back, double-gold medal performances, Spekis’s WPIAL career has come to a close. That fact was not lost on the senior, who hopes to swim in Florida next season.
“This is bittersweet,” he said. “Before my last race, I looked around thinking this is the last time I am going to have a WPIAL meet so I want to go out in a good way. But, it’s still sad that I have to leave.”
But the scholastic world, he still has one more meet, before they see the end. As a WPIAL champion, Spekis as well as Shahan, are qualified for the PIAA Championships set for March 13-16 at Bucknell University. Both anticipate faster swims.
“I think we could go faster at states because I know that Ian and I are staying up in yardage,” Spekis said. “We are always pushing each other. Seeing him go fast and get his records pumps me up. It will be exciting at states.”
Reda is excited for his team in general. Belle Vernon finished fifth in the boys standings while Indiana beat out Northgate, 211.5-193, for the Class AA title. Northgate won the girls AA team title, edging Indiana, 225-220.
“If you think about it,” Reda said. “We had Robbie and Ian in their events. We had Cody (Danto) in his two events. Alex (Miller) in his event and the three relays. On girls’ side we had Delaney (Patterson) and her two events. She was sixth in the breast.
“We didn’t have that many individual swimmers down here at Pitt but they all showed up dropped time and did very, very well. I could not be happier or prouder for them. I hope they do realize that all the hard work does pay off in the end.”
Duncan shines
South Fayette’s Abbie Duncan excelled during the meet. The junior secured a silver medal in the 100-yard backstroke with a 56.07 time.
“Abbie did great,” said SF coach Matt Tucker. “She had a very good start. Her first stroke she came up and was going real well right away. She hit her first turn and then stayed in good position the rest of the way.”
Duncan also put herself in position to qualify for states in the 200 free. She posted her best time (1:53) in finishing fifth.
Duncan also led off the 400-yard freestyle relay that included Allie Whalen, Morgan Young and Hailey Poe. All underclassmen, the unit placed 15th with a best time of 3:42.82.
C-M podiums
Canon-McMillan swimmers Abby Mele and Max Orlowski reached the podium on the second day of competition.
A junior, Mele took eighth in the 100-yard breastroke (1:05.28). She also finished seventh in the butterfly.
A sophomore, Orlowski secured seventh in the 100 backstroke with a 52 flat.
Both are on the cusp of qualifying for the PIAA Championships along with the Big Macs’ 200 freestyle and medley relay teams. Orlowski led the medley team of Cole Orlowski, Liam Sulc and Brant Purcell to a fifth-place finish. He led the 200 free unit of Logan Stewart, Purcell and Sulc to a 10th-place showing.
PT waiting
Peters Township’s Cassidy Sweeney and Ryan Rose had the best individual performances for the Indians.
A junior, Sweeney took third in the butterfly while Rose, a sophomore, grabbed the bronze in the 50 freestyle and came close to breaking the school record for that race.
PT coach Mike Meyers anticipates both Sweeney and Rose will make the cut when qualifying times for the PIAA meet are announced March 4. He also hopes to advance two relays.
The boys’ medley relay team placed eighth overall with Rose as the anchor. Justin Manhollan, Bert Wang and Aidan Dowdall also comprised the unit.
The boys’ 400 free relay finished ninth. Garrett Buzzelli, Alexander Lepri, Alec Haag and Wang made up that unit.
Notes
Ringgold’s Jacob Niziol finished sixth in the breaststroke in 1:01.13. … Andrew Noll from Ringgold and Trinity’s Thomas Ross each scored points with 11th and 12th places in the backstroke. … McMurray resident Gennarino Conzemius placed third in 200-yard breaststroke. The Central Catholic senior and Seton Hall recruit clocked a 57.35 time.
Abbie Duncan excelled during the meet. The South Fayette junior secured a silver medal in the 100-yard backstroke with a 56.07 time.
“Abbie did great,” said SF coach Matt Tucker. “She had a very good start. Her first stroke she came up and was going real well right away. She hit her first turn and then stayed in good position the rest of the way.”
Duncan also put herself in position to qualify for states in the 200 free. She posted her best time (1:53) in finishing fifth.
Duncan also led off the 400-yard freestyle relay that included Allie Whalen, Morgan Young and Hailey Poe. All underclassmen, the unit placed 15th with a best time of 3:42.82.
“Abbie is our best shot at state. She had a great performance in the back and did well in the free,” Tucker said.
Noting this was the first year that the South Fayette boys were competing at the AAA level, Tucker said it was a “learning curve for them” but he was pleased in with the overall performance of his teams.
“The boys and the girls finished up with some of their best times,” he said. “And that 400 free (girls) relay did especially well.”
Canon-McMillan swimmers Abby Mele and Max Orlowski reached the podium on the second day of competition at the WPIAL championships.
A junior, Mele took eighth in the 100-yard breastroke with a 1:05.28 time. She also finished seventh in the butterfly.
A sophomore, Orlowski secured seventh in the 100 backstroke with a 52 flat.
Both are on the cusp of qualifying for the PIAA championships along with the Big Macs’ 200 free and medley relay teams. Orlowski guided the medley team of Cole Orlowski, Liam Sulc and Brant Purcell to a fifth-place finish. He led the 200 free unit of Logan Stewart, Purcell and Sulc to a 10th-place showing.
“We had some fantastic swims,” said C-M coach Paul Reismeyer. “So we are looking to advance quite a few qualifiers for states. Overall,” he added, “our swims were lifetime best by large margins.”
In swimming, times are always more important than medals and positions on the podium. Just ask Peters Township skipper Mike Meyers.
After the two-day WPIAL championship meet at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool, he was pleased with his swimmers.
“We did well all the way around,” he said. “We had a lot of lifetime best times and that amazing considering this meet just keeps getting so fast. It’s crazy. But, I am pleased. We did really, really well.”
Though each placed 13th in their gender’s 100-yard backstroke races, Cassidy Sweeney and Ryan Rose submitted the best individual performances for the Indians.
A junior, Sweeney took third in the butterfly while Rose, a sophomore, grabbed the bronze in the 50 freestyle and came close to breaking the school record for that race.
Meyers anticipates both Sweeney and Rose will make the cut when qualifying times for the PIAA championships are announced on March 4. He also hopes to advance two relays.
The boys’ medley relay team placed eighth overall with Rose as the anchor. Justin Manhollan, Bert Wang and Aidan Dowdall also comprised the unit.
The boys’ 400 free relay finished ninth. Garrett Buzzelli, Alexander Lepri, Alec Haag and Wang made up that unit.
Overall the boys took 11th as a team with 104 score. North Allegheny won the title with 450 points while Upper St. Clair grabbed runner-up honors with a 262 score.
The PT girls were 18th overall. North Allegheny won the title with a 313 score followed by Mt. Lebanon with 254.5 points.
McMurray resident Gennarino Conzemius placed third in 200-yard breaststroke. The Central Catholic senior and Seton Hall recruit clocked a 57.35 time.