WAYNESBORO – A week ago, the Waynesboro Area Senior High School boys’ and girls’ swim teams both achieved a milestone in the school’s second season of sanctioned swimming.
After competing as an independent for years, the Indians and Maidens – coached by Sharon McIlquham – joined the Mid-Penn Conference and were sanctioned members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association two seasons ago.
A wonderful combination of individual talent and depth across the 11 events, the 2023-24 squads proved too much for opponents to handle, resulting in Mid-Penn Colonial Division titles this season.
The Maidens consistently won three-fourths or more of races, including all three relay events (200 freestyle, 200 medley and 400 freestyle).
When challenged, the girls didn’t flinch. They put off a heated contest against Boiling Springs on Jan. 23, winning by the score of 97-88. That was by far the closest any opposing team came to dethroning the Maidens, who dominated all others by high double-digit scores.
What’s more, each team will be losing only three swimmers to graduation.
Here’s what they had to say about the memorable campaign:
GIRLS
Maddy Stoops: “It’s crazy to see all our hard work pay off while being on a team that supports and cares for each person.”
Isabel Hess: “I can’t put into words what it feels like. It’s such a great way to end my senior year.”
Ashlynn Carbaugh: “It’s an honor to be undefeated two years in a row as only a third-year team.”
BOYS
Ben Royer: “It was an amazing experience, being a team of like-minded individuals, with a desire to achieve an end goal in succeeding, through all of our hard work and efforts.”
Brenner McIlquham: “We set a goal as a boys’ team last year after seeing the success of the girls’ team. Through a lot of hard work and dedication, we were able to earn our own division title and it was made all the better as the girls repeated and we were both able to claim division championships for Waynesboro.”
Parker Hull: “I think we worked so well because our team was unique. We were always listening to music in the locker rooms; we were also already close from last year and a lot of us came from football.”
For the Maidens, junior Eve Phillips turned in dominant efforts in the 200 freestyle and 200 IM. She also swam legs in the 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay. Ruth Phillips was consistent in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. She also was a member of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.
The Maidens also fielded 1-meter divers this season, which proved invaluable against Boiling Springs between Camryn Bonner and Jada Creager.
In addition to the above-mentioned, others like Belle Hess, Lillian Moreno, Maddy Stoops and Ava Brandes were key contributors.
McIlquham was virtually unbeatable in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle events. He also made his mark in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
Will Yost (200 freestyle), Cello Dimino (100 butterfly), JB Bonner (200 IM) and Owen Shockey (100 breaststroke) contributed points in their signature events.
Aiden Hess, Gabe Blake and Andrew Bryan helped add to Waynesboro’s competitive team this season.
The postseason begins Friday as Waynesboro will compete in the Mid-Penn Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Cumberland Valley High School, Friday and Saturday.
GIRLS’ RESULTS
Dec. 12, Waynesboro 130, James Buchanan 34
Dec. 19, Waynesboro 111, Northern York 59
Jan. 3, Waynesboro 106, Shippensburg 79
Jan. 11, Waynesboro 92, Trinity 74
Jan. 23, Waynesboro 97, Boiling Springs 88
Jan. 25, Waynesboro 121, Big Spring 64
Jan. 30, Waynesboro 123, East Pennsboro 54
BOYS’ RESULTS
Dec. 12, Waynesboro 134, James Buchanan 25
Dec. 19, Waynesboro 129, Northern York 31
Jan. 3, Waynesboro 136, Shippensburg 40
Jan. 11, Waynesboro 118, Trinity 90
Jab. 23, Waynesboro 93, Boiling Springs 90
Jan. 25, Big Spring 119, Waynesboro 60
Jan. 30, Waynesboro 139, East Pennsboro 37
