Girls' Swimming: Talent pool runs deep for NA
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If a team is looking to win a WPIAL swimming and diving team title, having a deep talent pool is important.
Nobody understands that better than veteran North Allegheny High School coach Kirk "Corky" Semler.
Depth has played a large role in Semler helping guide the Tigers to three consecutive WPIAL Class AAA girls championships. Overall the girls' program at North Allegheny has won a remarkable 15 team titles.
Last season, the Tigers did it in typical North Allegheny fashion.
The Tigers had only one individual champion. Allie Pennetti captured the gold medal in the 100-yard freestyle, although North Allegheny's 400-yard freestyle relay of Pennetti, Katerina Borisov, Dana Scherer and Kally Vanderbilt also placed first.
Yet at the end of the day it was North Allegheny celebrating its third consecutive team championship at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool. The Tigers did it with a 100-point cushion against second place Oakland Catholic.
So when Semler says, "We have terrific depth," he's not just talking about using a bigger van to get his swimmers to Trees Pool in early March. The Tigers will need a bus.
Last season, Semler took 16 members of his girls' team to the WPIAL championships. In addition, three North Allegheny divers qualified for the league finals that are held a week earlier.
Of those 19 WPIAL participants, 13 are back this season, making the Tigers the clear-cut favorite to win yet another team title at the WPIAL championships even with stiff competition from Oakland Catholic, Franklin Regional and Upper St. Clair.
"We are as deep a team as anyone," Semler said. "We are deep and we are strong. I think we will be favored to win the WPIALs but you never know what will happen."
Semler did concede that the Tigers lacks the front line depth of some of their stronger teams in the past, but most coaches would likely be envious of his top swimmers -- Pennetti and Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt is a George Washington University recruit and Pennetti is headed to Penn State next year. They are threats to win WPIAL gold medals.
Pennetti is arguably the top sprint freestyler in the WPIAL. Vanderbilt did not win WPIAL gold as a junior, but she did as a sophomore.
That was when Oakland Catholic and Leah Smith were competing in Class AA. Smith, one of the top female swimmers in the state, moved to Class AAA with her team last season and Smith swept the distance freestyle events.
"Kally is a very grounded and mature lady," Semler said. "When Leah Smith moved in [to our classification], it is what it is. Kally doesn't feel bad, she works hard and does the best she can."
Smith has decided to forgo swimming for Oakland Catholic this season while she prepares for the United States Olympic Trials. Vanderbilt should be a top contender to regain the 200-yard freestyle gold medal she won as a sophomore.
First Published January 20, 2012 12:00 am
