In his nine years in charge of Moon Area High School’s swim team, Jeff Berghoff has seen both sides of the spectrum, from triumphant winning teams to teams that were less successful. Still, the Tigers coach feels confident and ready for the 2024-2025 boys and girls swim season this year.
Berghoff spoke about how this year’s team is one of the biggest he has ever coached, but also that it was one of the most varied. “We’ve even got a good class of senior divers this year,” Berghoff said. “Two senior boys and one senior girl who are going to be great contributors to the team this season.”
Berghoff spoke with conviction that his team would make him proud this season, despite having had only one dual meet under its collective belt when he offered his thoughts on the upcoming campaign. “Well, it’s an exciting roster,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of numbers this year, one of the largest teams I’ve had. We have a variety of returning talent and some exciting newcomers. So it’s an exciting roster. We’re looking forward to the season.”
Berghoff also spoke with passion about his standout performers, including a number of returnees who reached the WPIAL championship meet a year ago and a couple performers from the boys team who reached the state meet last year.
“We graduated a really good boys class last year, so we’re a little bit weaker there,” he said. “But we’ve got a couple really good incoming freshmen. Ethan Hankinson is probably our top freshman boy coming in. He’s very experienced.”
Returnees who figure to contribute in a big way include seniors Isaac Tennant, Garrett Rash, Troy Hickman and Daniel Sirbu and sophomore Chris Bailey. All five of them qualified for last year’s WPIAL meet.
Berghoff spoke with just as much conviction about his girls team. “On the girls side, we’ve got girls in every class who are going to make an impact,” Berghoff said.
Berghoff said the girls team’s top returning performer is sophomore Madison Puthoff, who last year broke the school record in the 500 freestyle. Berghoff said Puthoff combined with senior captain Elli Patterson and twins Addi and Mimi Munnell to finish ninth in the 200-yard medley relay at last year’s WPIAL meet.
“So we’re looking to move up in that event, and hopefully go on to States for that relay,” Berghoff said.
The Tigers started their dual meet season with wins over South Fayette and Quaker Valley before heading into Saturday’s Jim Stacy Memorial Invitational in Geneva, Ohio.
“It was a great start for our season,” Berghoff said of the victory over South Fayette.
The Moon girls piled up 160 points to finish 10th among more than 35 schools competing at the Jim Stacy Memorial Invitational.
Puthoff won both the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, breaking her own school record in the 500 free.
On the boys side, the Tigers finished ninth with 160.5 points. Seniors Garrett Rash and Isaac Tennant made the “A” finals and Hankinson was Moon’s top performer overall, according to Berghoff.
The Tigers’ boys and girls teams will return to the pool Jan. 2 when they face off against North Hills in the Class 3A Section 2 opener.
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