The Carlynton Cougars swim team has entered its 2024 season hopeful, despite tough early losses to teams like Central Valley and Hopewell. With promising talents on both the boys and girls teams, and under the tutelage of Kevin MacMurdo, the Cougars are hoping to turn their season around.
MacMurdo is a former Carlynton student and was a standout on the swim team all four years he attended the school. MacMurdo was an all-around swimmer, with expertise in freestyle.
MacMurdo spoke with confidence about his team and its chances moving forward this season. “It’s always tough at the beginning of the season, getting all the kids and their schedules together,” MacMurdo said. “But we have some really skilled swimmers on our roster this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they do.”
One of those swimmers is senior Dom Pelescak, who competes all around for the boys team. “Dom is an extremely strong performer,” MacMurdo said. “And he’s one of our captains for the boys side.”
Other standouts on the boys team include Tony Burkhart, Graham Harman and Fionn Hites. These boys also constitute the other captains on the boys side.
For the girls, MacMurdo spoke excitedly about their new talents, one of whom is freshman Evey Fahnestock. “Evey broke two middle school records, so we’re very excited to see what she brings in her first season with the varsity team,” the Cougars coach said.
Another to look out for in the girls team is Mallory Rose, who was less than one-tenth of a second from qualifying for the 50-yard freestyle at last year’s WPIAL meet. “So I’m looking forward to seeing how she does this year as well,” MacMurdo said.
Sarah Loney, a junior this year, is another performer that MacMurdo said is talented and helps lead the team.
In a meet against Brentwood Thursday, Dec. 19, the boys team sped to a 71-67 win while the girls dropped a 76-74 decision despite winning eight of 11 events.
On the boys side, Harman won both the 100 breaststroke and the 100 freestyle, Dominic Hixenbaugh took the 100 back and 200 IM and Pelescak won the 50 free and 100 butterfly. Single event winners were Harry Miller in the 500 free and Hites in the 200 free. Carlynton’s boys also won the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays.
On the girls side, Carlynton had two double-event winners, as Fahnestock won the 100 back and 200 free and Rose took the 50 free and 100 free. Loney won the 500 free and Allie Glass the 200 IM. The Cougars girls team also won the 200 free and 200 medley relay events.
In a meet against Central Valley on Dec. 12, the Cougars boys team fell 59-48. Miller won the 500 freestyle, and Pelescak won the 50 freestyle, just beating his teammate Harman by 0.3 seconds. Still, it wasn’t enough for the Cougars to take home the win.
In the girls meet, Central Valley prevailed 74-67. The highlight was the Cougars’ effort in the 400 free relay as Fahnestock anchored the final leg and brought her team from behind on the final turn.
Carlynton will enjoy a holiday break before returning to action Jan. 7 at South Park.
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