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By Andy Sandrik, July 27, 2008

Last updated: Sunday, July 27, 2008 12:01 AM EDT

By Andy Sandrik

Sentinel Reporter

asandrik@cumberlink.com

The Mid Cap Championships is the event that local swimmers have been looking forward to all summer. Over 800 swimmers participated in the championships at Cumberland Valley High School on Saturday.

“This is the best meet around for the summer league,” said Tara Young, a coach for the Carlisle Swim Club. “All summer long, the kids have been at practice every morning working for this.”

The event, according to organizer and Dover Area Aquatic Club coach Richard Janosky, drew a crowd of 4,000.

“We started planning in Sept. with two goals,” Janosky said, “one, to create a swim meet that was fairly operated with the best competition and two, to treat all the coaches with the respect they deserve.”

The Mid Caps, which have been running since 1980, were a dream come true for many of the children involved.

“It was scary, but exciting,” said 10-year-old Anna Schmittle, member of the West Shore YMCA and new record holder for the 9-10 year-old 100 freestyle event. “To see all those people cheering and standing up, it’s fun.”

Added Camp Hill’s 13-year-old Mark Penas, “It’s a lot of fun because you get to meet a lot of new people from other teams.”

Saturday’s meet was a very eventful day for all involved:

•There were 11 records broken, six of which were shattered by Sentinel Area athletes.

•First-place finishes were in abundance, with 28 locals winning events.

•Many locals were competitive, as 216 finished in the Top 8 of their respective events.

“I was really happy with the swims we saw today, there were lots of records that fell,” Janosky said. “It just shows the hard work of the kids and the quality of this pool.”

8 & Under

The West Shore YMCA highlighted 8 & Under action with a pair of winners.

Konrad Heinbaugh won the 25 backstroke with a time of 21.02, less than a second off the meet record set by Brian Duffie in 1978 (19.31). Heinbaugh’s teammates also pulled their weight as the 100 freestyle relay team of Jack Dengler, Kodi Ireland, Karl Schmittle and Logan Skiles won their event in 1:25.46, winning a photo finish over the Hershey Aquatic Club (1:25.80).

The only other local winner was the Carlisle Swim Club’s girls’ 100 freestyle relay team. The team of Madison Young, Sierra Young, Ellie Tate and Sarah Thompson won the relay with a time of 1:18.08.

“There was no secret to our success,” coach Young said. “The kids just worked hard and were excited to be here.”

Other local finishers include Tyler Horan (third in the 25 freestyle, third in the 25 backstroke, eighth in the 25 butterfly), Tyler Francis (third in the 25 butterfly, third in the 25 breaststroke, seventh in the 25 freestyle), Konrad Heinbaugh (eighth, 25 freestyle), Julia Pokrzywa (second in the 25 freestyle, third in the 25 backstroke, third in the 25 butterfly), Alisea Munshower (fourth in the 25 freestyle, eighth in the 25 butterfly), Ellie Tate (fourth in the 25 backstroke, sixth in the 25 freestyle), Quinn Pickering (fourth in the 25 backstroke, fifth in the 25 breaststroke), Sara Bixler (seventh, 25 backstroke), David Boyer (sixth, 25 breaststroke), Sarah Thompson (third, 25 breaststroke), Ava Arnold (fourth, 25 backstroke), the Camp Hill boys’ 100 medley relay team (third, 1:32.74), the West Shore boys’ 100 medley relay team (fourth, 1:39.26), the East Pennsboro girls’ 100 medley relay team (fourth, 1:35.70), the Camp Hill boys’ 100 freestyle relay team (third, 1:27.36), the Hampden boys’ 100 freestyle relay team (fourth, 1:30.71), the Carlisle boys’ 100 freestyle relay team (seventh, 1:51.87), the East Penn girls’ 100 freestyle relay team (second, 1:20.81) and the Northern girls’ 100 freestyle relay team (third, 1:22.75).

9-10

It was a recordbreaking day for three local swimmers.

Cory Poe, of the Northern Aquatic Club, took down the 50 backstroke with a record time of 35.41.

“That was my best time, I gave it all I had,” said Poe, who also won the 50 butterfly with a time of 33.84. “I really liked the competition here, it makes me work harder and drives me to get best times.”

Anna Schmittle, who said she’s been swimming since she was four, won the 100 freestyle with her record time of 1:07.90.

“These races can be hard,” Schmittle said, “but they’re also fun.”

Representing East Penn, Lillian Swartzell finished with a new Mid Caps record of 35.42 in the 50 backstroke. Swartzell also took second in the 100 freestyle.

The West Shore YMCA’s Summer McIntyre was a two-time winner, earning first-place finishes in the 100 IM (1:20.06) and the 50 breaststroke (41.91).

Also winning on Saturday was Zachary Snyder (first in the 50 freestyle, 32.86, second in the 50 butterfly, fifth in the 100 IM), the West Shore YMCA girls’ 200 medley relay team (2:34.52), the Carlisle Swim Club’s boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (2:29.43).

Other local competitors include Benjamin Francis (second in the 50 butterfly, third in the 100 IM, third in the 50 backstroke), Jacob Deckman (fourth in the 100 freestyle, seventh in the 100 IM), Christopher Walter (third in the 50 freestyle, seventh in the 50 butterfly, eighth in the 100 IM), Bethany Walter (fifth in the 100 IM, seventh in the 50 breaststroke, eighth in the 50 butterfly), Lucas Haywood (fifth, 50 freestyle), Eric Harris (sixth, 50 freestyle), Rebecca Luft (third in the 50 freestyle, third in the 50 butterfly), Olivia Rampulla (fourth in the 50 freestyle, fourth in the 50 breaststroke, fifth in the 100 freestyle), Daniel Jones (sixth, 50 backstroke), Phil Alsher (seventh, 50 backstroke), Moriah Clark (second in the 50 backstroke, fourth in the 100 freestyle), Cameryn Cook (fifth, 50 backstroke), Gracie Heinbaugh (sixth, 50 backstroke), Peter Wheat (sixth in the 100 freestyle), Jesse Mangraf (seventh, 100 freestyle), Logan Day (eighth, 100 freestyle), Daniel Madio (sixth, 50 breaststroke), Crawford Smith (eighth, 50 breaststroke), the West Shore YMCA boys’ 200 medley relay team (third, 3:03.07), the Camp Hill 200 medley relay team (fifth, 3:17.39), the Hampden boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (seventh, 4:00.46) and the Northern girls’ 200 freestyle relay team (second, 2:31.62).

11-12

Nathan Smith, of the Latshmere Swimming Club, stole the show in the 11-12 year-old division. Smith broke records in three different races on Saturday — the 100 IM (1:05.66), the 50 freestyle (26.04) and the 50 butterfly (28.72).

Not one to be left out, Indian Creek’s Seth Wenner broke a record of his own, posting a time of 34.09 to win the 50 breaststroke. Wenner was also part of Indian Creek’s recordbreaking 200 freestyle relay team. Alongside teammates Gregory Ballew, Ben Johnston and Jack Brenneman, Wenner and Co. posted a time of 1:58.31. Wenner also took second in the 100 IM with his time of 1:07.

Anna Gasparini, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Steven, won a pair of events, the 100 IM (1:12.02) and the 100 freestyle (1:03.42).

Local winners include the Northern boys’ 200 medley relay team (2:25.40), the Northern girls’ 200 medley relay team (2:16.47) and the Indian Creek boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (1:58.31).

Other local competitors included Ben Johnston (fourth in the 100 IM, fifth in the 100 freestyle), Jordan Deckman (fifth in the 100 IM, seventh in the 100 freestyle), Gregory Ballew (sixth in the 100 IM, sixth in the 50 butterfly), Henry Tanguay (seventh in the 100 IM, seventh in the 50 freestyle), Samantha Poe (third in the 100 breaststroke, fourth in the 100 IM), Alexis Munshower (seventh, 1:19.81), Paige Ezell (eighth, 100 IM), Jack Brenneman (second in the 50 freestyle, second in the 50 butterfly), Katelyn Miller (fourth in the 50 freestyle, fourth in the 100 freestyle), Madison Bleiler (second in the 50 backstroke, fifth in the 50 freestyle), Emily Schmittle (fifth in the 50 butterfly, seventh in the 50 freestyle), Anna Amsbaugh (eighth, 50 freestyle), Jordan Grim (third in the 50 breaststroke, sixth in the 50 backstroke), Samantha Shirtliff (third in the 100 freestyle, fifth in the 50 backstroke), Becca Miller (sixth in the 50 backstroke, sixth in the 100 freestyle), Caroline Dengler (seventh in the 100 freestyle, eighth in the 50 backstroke), DJ Boyer (sixth, 100 freestyle), Zowie Day (fifth in the 100 freestyle, seventh in the 50 butterfly), Kelly Strahosky (eighth in the 100 freestyle), Lexi Walker (fourth in the 50 breaststroke), Devon Slattery (sixth, 50 breaststroke), Carly Kent (seventh, 50 breaststroke), Joshua Clarke (fifth, 50 butterfly), Olivia Sinclair (sixth, 50 butterfly), the Indian Creek girls’ 200 medley relay team (second, 2:17.97), the West Shore YMCA girls’ 200 medley relay team (third, 2:17.97), the Carlisle Swim Club girls’ 200 medley relay team (fifth, 2:32.18), the Hampden boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (fifth, 2:25.53), the Northern girls’ 200 freestyle relay team (second, 2:06.87), the West Shore YMCA girls’ 200 freestyle relay team (sixth, 2:14.50).

13-14

The 13-14 year-old’s were the only age group to not a break a record, although there were was no shortage of local winners.

Camp Hill’s Mark Penas took home first place in the 50 butterfly, winning with a mark of 29.35.

“It was pretty tough, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to win today,” said Penas, who also finished sixth in the 50 freestyle. “This is the best swim meet around, you get to prove how good of a swimmer you are.”

Also winning was the West Shore YMCA’s Ryan Turner (50 backstroke, 29.98) and Logann Baylor (50 freestyle, 28.73, fifth in the 100 freestyle), as well as the Northern girls’ 200 freestyle relay team of Julia Atwood, Sarah Bischoff, Rebekah Wheat, Jessica Bleiler, which posted a winning time of 2:00.33.

Other local finishers included Brandon Sherbo (second in the 100 IM, second in the 50 breaststroke), Charles Seitz (third in the 100 IM, third in the 50 breaststroke, third in the 50 butterfly), Kimberly Brownrigg (fifth in the 100 IM, fifth in the 50 breaststroke), Sarah Bischoff (eighth in the 100 IM, eighth in the 50 backstroke), Ian Squires (second, 50 freestyle), Zachary Rickens (fourth in the 50 freestyle, sixth in the 50 butterfly), Jeremy Lake (eighth, 50 freestyle), Jessica Bleiler (fifth, 50 freestyle), Katherine Strahosky (sixth in the 50 freestyle, seventh in the 50 breaststroke), Julia Atwood (eighth, 50 freestyle), Austin Karper (second in the 50 backstroke, seventh in the 50 butterfly), Cliff Swartzell (fifth in the 50 backstroke, eighth in the 50 butterfly), Grace Adams (fifth in the 50 backstroke, eighth in the 100 freestyle), Caroline Finkbeiner (fourth in the 100 freestyle, fifth in the 50 butterfly), Megan Ross (seventh, 100 freestyle), Maddie Breschi (third, 50 breaststroke), Annie Purvis (sixth, 50 butterfly), Alexis Anderson (eighth, 50 butterfly) the Northern girls’ 200 medley relay team (second, 2:13.25), the Carlisle Swim Club 200 medley relay team (third, 2:13.97), the Mechanicsburg 200 medley relay team (sixth, 2:23.72), the Camp Hill boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (second, 2:00.19) and the Aquatic Club of the West Shore’s girls’ 200 freestyle relay team (fourth, 2:08.60).

15 & Over

Cumberland Valley’s Chad Schmidt has been putting in a significant amount of time to prepare for Saturday’s Mid Cap Championships.

“It took two other meets just to get here,” Schmidt said. “I wanted to get first place and set a record.”

Schmidt did just that, winning the 50 breaststroke in 30.26.

“I just went for it and went all out,” said Schmidt, who also took fifth in the 100 IM. “That was my best time.”

Schmidt wasn’t the only area swimmer to earn a first-place finish, as he was joined by Big Spring’s Emily Shumaker (100 IM, 1:10.16), Indian Creek’s Adam Wenner (50 freestyle, 24.57, second in the 50 butterfly), Steven Gasparini (50 butterfly, 25.69, second in the 100 IM) and the Indian Creek boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (1:38.87).

Other top local finishers included Eric Naylor (fourth, 100 IM), Julia Brownrigg (third in the 100 IM, fifth in the 50 backstroke), Christine Kopacko (third in the 100 freestyle, fourth in the 100 IM, fourth in the 50 freestyle), Sierra Beecher (fifth, 100 IM), Luke Trimmer (second in the 100 freestyle, third in the 50 freestyle), Steven Cashman (fourth, 50 freestyle), James Buck (seventh, 50 freestyle), Eddie LaNoue (eighth, 50 freestyle), Becky Stum (second in the 100 freestyle, third in the 50 freestyle), Benjamin Jumper (sixth in the 100 freestyle, eighth in the 50 backstroke), Emily Shumaker (second, 50 backstroke), Kelsie Jones (fourth in the 50 backstroke, fifth in the 50 butterfly), Hayley Kidd (eighth, 100 freestyle), Katie Wiechelt (third, 50 butterfly), MacKenzie Ferry (fifth, 50 butterfly), Alex Bornman (seventh, 50 butterfly), Karlee Hoke (seventh, 50 butterfly), Shannon Milstead (eighth, 50 butterfly), the Northern boys’ 200 medley relay team (second, 1:52.21), the Indian Creek boys’ 200 medley relay team (fifth, 1:59.88), the Cumberland Valley boys’ 200 medley relay team (sixth, 2:00.80), the West Shore YMCA girls’ 200 medley relay team (third, 2:08.71), the Northern girls’ 200 medley relay team (fifth, 2:10.91), the Indian Creek girls’ 200 medley relay team (seventh, 2:14.52), the Northern boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (third, 1:39.54), the Aquatic Club of the West Shore’s boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (fifth, 1:45.22), the West Shore YMCA boys’ 200 freestyle relay team (eighth, 1:54.86), the Carlisle girls’ 200 freestyle relay team (second, 1:54.06) and the Big Spring girls’ 200 freestyle relay team (fifth, 2:00.16).