The day had to arrive eventually.

Veteran Bethel Park swimming coach Bill Kennedy, did not want to see it come, but he knew it was going to.

And it finally did Tuesday. More than six years and some 90 meets ago since it last lost a dual meet Dec. 16, 2003, the Bethel Park girls were defeated in the pool.

It was North Allegheny, the clear favorite in the WPIAL this year, knocking off Bethel Park, 101-79. It was also North Allegheny who defeated the Black Hawks in 2003.

"I am one of those coaches, I don't like losing, I never liked losing," Kennedy said. "But it is not the end of the world if you lose a meet.

"It had to end sometimes. You just start a new streak."

Most of the swimmers who helped compile the winning streak in the past five years are now competing on the college level. Kennedy has watched plenty of accomplished swimmers graduate but never has he seen so many go on to compete at the next level in such a short period of time in his 32 years of coaching.

Last year alone seven swimmers -- Becca Zimmer (Akron), Katie Brinkoff (Lehigh), Kelsey Dawson (Westminster), Tiera Forsyth (University of Tampa), Tricia Gibb (West Chester), Ashley Hirsh (Clarion) and Natalie Keibler (Grove City) -- moved on to swim in college.

"When you lose that many in a two-year period, you are counting on the younger ones to step up," Kennedy said.

"We are in what a lot of people call a rebuilding year. A lot of the kids who didn't get a lot of swims will have to step up this year."

The streak looked to be in jeopardy entering this season considering the losses, but Bethel Park prevailed in two close meets early in the season. It defeated Greater Latrobe by 10 points and Seneca Valley by six.

"We have never had close meets before," senior Sara Lewandowski said. "It has been very exciting."

The streak may be over but Bethel Park remains a top program in the area with WPIAL and PIAA aspirations. Four swimmers who reached the PIAA meet last year are back for Bethel Park and with all the graduation attrition, Kennedy has done a lot of shuffling with his lineup.

Seniors Leslee Keibler, Carianna Doyle, Casey Stasenko and Lewandowski all qualified for the PIAA meet last season and return this year.

Lewandowski, one of Bethel Park's top individual medley swimmers from a year ago, is competing in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events because Bethel Park graduated nearly all of its top freestylers.

"We have so many versatile swimmers," Kennedy said. "Last year I could put anyone wherever I wanted and we could win a meet. This year you have to lock kids into meets. I have had to move them around but they are coming through."

Keibler, a PIAA finalist in the 500 freestyle last season, is swimming the 100 and 200 freestyles.

"All the seniors graduating opened up a lot of positions," Keibler said. "Especially on the relays, our younger girls realized that they can be in those spots. It is exciting and keeps everyone motivated at every meet."

Stasenko is the top swimmer in the breaststroke for the Black Hawks and Doyle competes in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

Starting a new winning streak is just one of many goals for Bethel Park. Winning the section title, which was once a given, will take a big-time performance against Peters Township, a strong contender with plenty of talent returning. At the WPIAL championships it looks as if everyone will be chasing North Allegheny, but Kennedy said the runner-up spot is within his team's reach.

"I think there will be six different teams fighting for the runner-up trophy," Kennedy said. "Everyone is going to be right there. It will come down to whoever performs best on that Friday."

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