ATHENS ROLLS TO WINS OVER TOWANDA

By: Tim Birney  /  January 20, 2022  /  Photo: Chris Manning

TOWANDA — The Athens girls and boys both turned in strong performances in convincing wins over Towanda here Thursday in NTL swimming & diving action.

The Lady Wildcats won by a lopsided tally of 93-32, while the boys won, 94-46.

GIRLS
ATHENS 93, TOWANDA 32
Four different Lady Wildcats — senior Brooke Kopatz, juniors Taegan Williams and Taylar Fisher, and sophomore Grace Cobb —  were double-winners to lead Athens to a 93-32 win over Towanda.

Kopatz won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 28.76 seconds, and junior Alli Thoman was third in 31.28 seconds.

Kopatz led a sweep in the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:18.06, while Thoman was second in 1:21.79, and sophomore Emily Henderson was third in 1:42.3.

Williams won 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:11.06, and Cobb was third in 2:28.75. Williams also won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 1:03.07

Fisher won the 100-yard butterfly in a district-qualifying time of 1:14.02, and freshman Elizabeth Talada was second in 1:35.94.

Fisher led a sweep in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:13.37, while sophomore Emily Marshall was second in 1:20.81, and freshman Maryrose Bertsch was third in 1:50.03.

Cobb won the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 6:35.98, and Marshall was second in 6:38.55

Cobb, teamed with Bertsch, Talada, and sophomore Rebecca Gifeisman to win the 400-yard freesrtle relay in a time of 5:21.8.

Sophomore Abby Panek won the 1-meter diving competition with 171 points

BOYS
ATHENS 94, TOWANDA 46
Juniors Ethan Denlinger and Chris DeForest were quadruple-winners, and freshmen Ronel Ankam and Ethan Hicks were double-winners in Athens’ 94-46 win over Towanda.

Denlinger won the 200-yard IM in a time of 2:27.5, and Hicks was second in 2:28.16.

Denlinger also won the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:12.92, and freshman Pierce Oldroyd was third in 2:11.94.

DeForest won the 100-yard freestyle in a district-qualifying time of 1:03.07.

Deforest, and Denlinger teamed with Hicks and Ankam to win the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 2:04.81. The same foursome won the 200-yard freestyle relay in a time of 1:44.38.

DeForest teamed with Ankam, Hicks, and senior Reuven Gifeisman to  win the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 4:01.97.

Freshman Ryan Gorman won the 50-yard freestyle in 27.01 seconds, and Gifeisman was second in 27.57 seconds. Gorman finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:28.51.

Freshman Carter Lewis won the 1-meter diving competition with 88.25 points

Ankam finished second in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:18.75, and Gifeisman finished second in the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 1:04.45.

Junior Joe Blood finished second in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 6:47.15.

Athens returns to action Saturday against Lewisburg at Towanda.