Here is my story about the District 3 Double-A swimming championships from Saturday’s New Era. I wanted to post my stories here in case you missed them over the weekend. My Triple-A story also appears in another post below. Enjoy.
MECHANICSBURG – They are nomads, a team without a home pool or even a league to participate in.
“We call ourselves the orphans,” Donegal swim coach Mary Gildea said. “We are definitely the outcasts.”
Friday, those outcasts walked away from the first day of the District 3 Double-A swimming championships in Cumberland Valley High School’s natatorium with three medals in tow.
None of them were gold, silver or even bronze.
But for a team of just nine kids with no league affiliation – in fact, there’s an asterisk next to Donegal in the official program, signifying the Indians’ lack of a league — it was a nice showing.
“Oh my gosh yeah, that’s great for us,” Gildea said. “That’s amazing. District 3 is super, super competitive, so we’re thrilled with three medals.”
Junior Keri Chandler won her heat and finished sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (25.08), junior Chad Houck took sixth in the 50 free (22.40) and sophomore Brandon Smith finished seventh in the 50 free (22.45) for Donegal.
“I think people are finally starting to notice us,” Houck said.
Smith was seeded fourth and Houck was seeded fifth in the 50, but when Houck turned in his personal best time, he jumped ahead of Smith. But both swimmers made the trip to medal podium.
Chandler, who finished second in the 50 free in Lancaster-Lebanon League Meet, was seeded ninth Friday, and jumped all the way up to sixth.
“That’s my personal best time, so I’m really happy with that,” Chandler said. “I wasn’t really worrying about the seeds. I just go out and swim.”
Donegal has been an independent team for the last 10 years under Gildea, who is officially listed as the team’s swim chaperone.
The Indians participated in nine meets this season, swimming mostly in the outside lanes in meets featuring teams with small rosters. It was considered an exhibition on Donegal’s schedule, but swimmers could use their times to qualify for the L-L League Meet and Districts.
Gildea’s goal is to get Donegal in the L-L League.
“I’ve worked my magic as much as possible,” she said. “We’re still trying to get it past the school board. It’s pretty futile at this point. But there are plans to build a community center in Mount Joy, and if that happens, hopefully they’ll put a pool in there.
“If they put a pool there, that could be our ticket, because the sticking point right now is finding a place to practice full time.”
And lack of funds.
Gildea often buys swim caps and goggles out of her own pocket.
“I’m like the den mother,” she said.
Chandler, Houck and Smith should all qualify for the PIAA Meet with their times on Friday. Smith made it in the 50 free last year, becoming just the fifth swimmer from Donegal to make States in the last 10 years.
The top three finishers in each event automatically qualified for the state meet – set for March 14-17 at Bucknell – and the rest of the field will be determined by the fastest times in all the district championships across the state.
Another local swimmer who should also be going to States is Pequea Valley sophomore Zach Wilt, who was seeded fourth in the 100 butterfly, but settled for an eight-place finish in 54.77.
He qualified for States last year with a 55 in the fly, so his 54.77 should get him to Bucknell.
“I’m definitely happy,” Wilt said. “More than likely I’ll be going to States, and that was my goal.”
Wilt is a team of one.
He’s the only swimmer that represented Pequea Valley all season. His club coach, Kevin Hughes, has coached him this winter.
“It’s just me,” Wilt said. “So I’m proud to be representing my school.”
Lauren Malloy, representing Lancaster Catholic, was the only other swimmer from Lancaster County to make a trip to the medal platform Friday. The junior finished seventh in the 200 freestyle (2:00.79).
JEFFREY REINHART
