Swim Recap: Senior Night Win Completes a Clean Sweep of
Last 4 Opponents
Claire Boughton, Nate Campbell, Caleb Gratner, Kacey LaVelle, Katie
Petrina, Jay Shane, Jeanelle Stiteler and Reese Theobald. These eight
members of the Northgate-Avonworth Swim Team were honored Monday
on Senior Night at the Northgate High School pool. This class has been
part of many storied achievements, from numerous section championships
to finishing in the top five annually at the WPIAL Championships, to nailing
the Girls 400 Freestyle Relay Gold Medal at the 2024 PIAA 2A
Championships. When it wasn’t about pursuing championships, however, it
was about friendship, fitness and fun. Thanks for the memories, Class of
2025, with more to come in the next four weeks!
Still another feather in the cap of this senior class and their younger
teammates: A clean sweep of coed victories over their last four opponents.
Neither Highlands, Keystone Oaks, Knoch nor 3A neighbor North Hills
could contain the explosive “Flame-a-lopes.”
“So proud of these swimmers,” wrote Coach Ashley Vranick, after the
recent North Hills contest, a thrilling nail-biter decided in the final 400
Freestyle Relay for both the boys’ and girls’ squads. “The kids are
amazing,” she added, noting so many were nursing colds or had just gotten
over one.
Here are the recaps and stats of these past four meets…
February 10: Senior Night Meet vs. Highlands, Girls W 93-52, Boys W
82-15
The small but spirited Rams team from Highlands HS was outnumbered
and outgunned by a Northgate team driven to honor their Class of 2025
teammates with decisive victories. When the meet ended the celebration
began, and the seniors jumped into the deep end and formed a loose
circle, only to be pummeled by splashes of belly smackers by their younger,
wise(acre) teammates. Any hard feelings quickly evaporated over
celebratory cupcakes, chocolate milk and the traditional trip afterwards to
Eat-n-Park.
February 6: Away vs. North Hills, Girls W 94-89, Boys W 93-90
It was standing room only at the North Hills HS aquatics center as
the Flame-a-lopes battled the Indians on their own senior night and final
home meet. North Hills dominated early action as their large contingent of
divers racked up a big margin of unanswered points (Northgate has no
divers this season) and then captured first place in both the girls and boys
200 Medley Relays.
Knocked off balance but not knocked out, Northgate quickly turned the
score around by nailing first place in the next five events. But North Hills
bounced back as well, and the see-saw battle was a draw, that is, until the
very last two events, the girls’ and boys’ 400 Free Relays. From the gun of
the girls’ relay to the final touch of the boy’s relay, the cheering for both
sides surely shook the roof of the natatorium. Both relay teams attacked
with force and gave it all they had but, in the end, Northgate-Avonworth
captured first in each relay, notching single digit victories of 5 points for our
girls and 3 points for our boys. Whew! What a meet!
Congrats Flame-a-lopes!
February 4: Away vs Keystone Oaks, Girls W 77-75, Boys W 90-49
Right from the start of the meet at Keystone Oaks HS, the Flame-a-lopes
had the upper hand against the Golden Eagles. After the meet, Coach
Ashley texted the team and parents: “Swimmers were on fire and [showed]
great support for each other.”
Jan 30: Away vs Knoch (@ Butler), Girls/Boys W 186-137 (combined
score)
Northgate-Avonworth headed north to take on Knoch HS, of Saxonburg, at
Butler Area HS. The Knights boast a solid swim team, led by senior Gianna
Lavorini, 2024 PIAA State Champion in the 100 Breaststroke. Though the
Knoch teams both proved to be worthy opponents, Northgate pulled ahead
early and never faltered. Even better, every single Flame-a-lope who suited
up pitched in points toward the victories.Of many highlights against Knoch, the most impressive was junior Sam
Cavanaugh’s epic performance in the 500 Freestyle. As Sam steadily
knocked off yardage, lap by lap, he wasn’t slowing a bit, and the Northgate
fans in the bleachers began to chatter about him possibly breaking the pool
record of 4:38.40, set by a North Allegheny 3A swimmer in 2018. The fans
rose up and cheered as Sam surged toward the wall in his final, 20 th length.
When the wake settled, Sam clocked in at 4:39.85, just 1.45 seconds short
of a pool record, and a whopping 12.8 second drop from his seed time.
Great job, Sam!
Meet Stats
Remaining Meets
2/13/25 AWAY vs Hampton HS (last regular season meet), 6 pm
2/27-28 WPIAL Championships
3/12-13 PIAA 2A State Championships