Athletics

For the first time in school history, Prep sits atop the state swimming world, winning team gold. Their 60-point victory was punctuated by the final of three individual state crowns, with Ethan Neff winning the 100 Back in 51:02. Neff became the first individual to win swimming gold for the Ramblers since Frank Krakowski in 2001. Michael Rahner finished 6th in the 100 Free. In the 100 Breaststroke, John Paul Stark placed 6th. Andrew Campbell finished 16th. Jack Kloecker, Robert Maholic, Gavin Ferry and Neff placed 5th in the 400 Free Relay.

Day 2 of the PIAA Championships saw the Victors make history. The Victors finished with 178 points to win the 2019 title:

In the 100 Breaststroke, Jasmine Chen finished 11th. Katy Rose was 13th.

Villa’s Megan Maholic finished in 2nd place in the 100 back. Teammate Bella Agresti placed 7th.

Gracie Girts, finished 9th in the 500.

Agresti, Maholic, Girts and Sydney Sherman were 6th in the 400 Free Relay. 

Congratulations to the entire swimming team. 

On day one of the PIAA championships, Prep won the 200 Medley Relay to earn gold. Ethan Neff, John Paul Stark, Robert Maholic and Grant Brown finished in 1:34.42. The Ramblers won the race by nearly two and a half seconds. Later they vanquished the 200 Free behind Robert Maholic, John Paul Stark, Gavin Ferry and Michael Rahner. 

Michael Rahner finished 5th in the 50 free. In the 100 Fly Prep’s Robert Maholic finished 6th. Ethan Neff was 7th, Gavin Ferry 9th. John Paul Stark finished 7th in the 200 IM.

The Victors are in 1^st place overall after Day 1 of the PIAA Swim Championships at Bucknell University.

Joelle Williams finished 17th in diving, Bella Taraski 19th.

Villa’s Megan Maholic placed 5th in the 100 Fly Sydney Sherman finished 10th in the 50 free.

Gracie Girts was 12th in the 200 free. Jasmine Chen placed 11th in the IM. 

Kelly Fessler, Olivia Mottillo, Jasmine Chen and Sydney Sherman, Villa placed 3rd in the 200 Free Relay.

The 200 Medley Relay won the 2019 Gold Medal. Bella Agresti, Jasmine Chen, Megan Maholic and Sydney Sherman are state champs.

What a year for the Ramblers in wrestling. Two state champs, a 4th and a 5th leading to a team runner-up finish in the PIAA individual event. History was made by Carter Starocci. He won back to back state wrestling titles, snaring the crown at 182 pounds with a 7-1 victory in the championship match. In the process he becomes only the second Rambler wrestler to win two state titles, joining Kevin Darkus (‘79 & ‘80).

Kawaun DeBoe captured the heavyweight class with a 3-1 victory for a state crown.

Dorian Crosby placed 4th at 220 while Paniro Johnson was 5th at 145.

Good start for the Ramblers at individual wrestling in Hershey. Paniro Johnson, Carter Starocci, Dorian Crosby and Kawaun DeBoe all won their first match to advance to the quarterfinals. Jacob Vandee and Kareem Carson remain alive in the wrestle backs.

In day two of the D-10 swim meet Villa’s Megan Maholic won the back with a new school record. Bella Agresti was 2nd. In the 500 free, Gracie Girts finished 1st. Leah Prischak was 3rd. In the 100 free, Sydney Sherman placed 4th.

In the Breaststroke, Jasmine Chen set a new school record in finishing 2nd. Katy Rose was 4th, Olivia Sanders 6th. In the 400 free relay, the Victors placed 2nd behind Megan Maholic, Olivia Mottillo, Bella Agresti and Gracie Girts.

Prep captured the meet by just under 300 points. That was good enough for their 17th straight District 10 championship. In the 100 Back, Ethan Neff took 1st. Gavin Ferry was 3rd, Jacob Clark 4th. In the 400 Free Relay, Prep finished 1st backed by Grant Brown, Robert Maholic, Ethan Neff and Mike Rahner. In the 100 Free, Mike Rahner was 2nd. Grant Brown placed 3rd, Robert Maholic was 4th and Jack Kloecker 6th. The 500 Free saw CJ Girts place 2nd while Connor Moritz was 4th. In the 100 Breaststroke John Paul Stark finished 2nd. Andrew Campbell was 3rd.

For a record-tying fourth year in a row, Prep won the Regional tournament in Altoona. Advancing to Hershey were six wrestlers: Paniro Johnson (145), Carter Starocci (182) and Kawaun DeBoe (Hwt.) all placed first. Jacob Vandee (106) and Dorian Crosby (220) placed 2nd. Kareem Carson (195) also heads to Hershey after finishing 3rd.

Villa with a 125-point lead after day one of D-10 swimming. In the IM, Jasmine Chen finished 1st with a new school record. Ellen Mercatoris-Morrison was 4th, Katy Rose 5th. In the 200 free, Gracie Girts was 2nd, Leah Prischak 5th. In the Fly, Megan Maholic placed 1st with a new school record. Bella Agresti finished 3rd, Ellen Mercatoris-Morrison 5th. In the 50 Free, Sydney Sherman was 3rd, Kelly Fessler 5th. The 200 Free Relay was 2nd with Fessler, Chen, Girts and Sherman. Swimming continues Saturday.

Prep has a 163-point lead after day one of D-10 swimming. In the 100 Fly, Robert Maholic was 1st, Gavin Ferry 2nd, Ethan Neff 3rd. In the 200 Free, CJ Girts placed 4th. In the 200 IM, John Paul Stark was 2nd, Andrew Campbell 7th. In the 50 Free, Grant Brown placed 2nd, Michael Rahner 3rd and Jack Kloecker 5th. The 200 Free Relay placed 1st behind Kloecker, Brown, Ferry and Stark.

Freshman Isabelle Taraski and senior Joelle Williams both qualified for the State Diving Championships. Joelle finished 2nd overall.

Prep had nine District champions, tying the record which was set last year by the Ramblers.

106- Jacob Van Dee- 1st

113- Kaeman Smith- 2nd

120- Jamale Crockett- 2nd

126- Ben Tirpak- 1st (2X champion)

132- Alex Chelton - 2nd

138- Caden Farr- 2nd

145- Paniro Johnson- 1st (2X champion)

152- Marques McClorin- 1st (2X champion)

160- Kelyn Blossey- 1st

182- Carter Starocci -1st (4X champion)

195- Kareem Carson- 1st (2X champion)

220- Dorian Crosby - 1st (2X champion)

Hwt- Kawaun DeBoe - 1st (4X champion)