The Media Press, February 26, 2003
By Bob Denney Jr.
Sparked by prime-time performances from senior stalwarts Cody Clauser and Katie McCann, Penncrest swimmers had a banner day at the Boys and Girls Central League Championships, held last Thursday at Radnor High School. The premium pair each powered to two individual titles while the Lions also racked up a number of top finishes to go with another victory in the relays.
As he has done the previous two years, Clauser cruised to the crown in the 100 butterfly, grabbing a slight lead on the second lap and then holding off the hard charging Dan Kaiserian of Radnor over the final 25 yards to successfully defend his title. “I saw that he (Kaiserian) was real close on the final lap, and my arms were shot so I started to use my legs more,” explained Cool Cody of his triumphant swim. Penncrest’s ‘fly guy’ then made his final CL meet twice as sweet when he motored to the top spot in the 500 freestyle race in 4:52.65, nearly four seconds ahead of the nearest challenger. The Lions leader in scoring this season flew to his fastest mark of the year to capture his first Central League crown in the 500. Not satisfied with two titles, Cool Cody joined with feisty finmates Kent Ikeler, BJ Stubbe and Chad Williamson to win the final event, the 400 free relay. Seeded fourth, the Lions rallied from behind when Clauser clocked the field on the third leg of the race, handing a three-stroke lead to Williamson who plowed home for the victory.
In his last go-round in Central League waters, just a ‘kewl’ Kent had an impressive afternoon as well, grabbing a third place finish in the 100 breast stroke and a fifth place showing in the 50 free to go with the dramatic relay triumph. Williamson, a junior, also had a strong individual outing, garnering sixth in the 100 free and seventh in the 50 sprint. Meanwhile, another pair of Penncrest underclassmen provided a glimpse of future greatness as freshman Owen Kinney cruised to the four spot in the 100 breast and 13th in the 200 IM and sophomore Henry Neeb knifed to ninth in the 100 backstroke and took tenth in the 200 free.
For the gals, McCann was the woman mastering both the 100 and 200 freestyle races. The little lady with the big kick successfully defended ‘her’ title in the 200 for the fourth straight year, blazing to an early lead and then holding off Conestoga’s Amanda Dunlap down the stretch. Using rapid, economical strokes and taking only short breaths, Katie cruised home to win by seven tenths of a second. “I saw her (Dunlap) and she pushed me. I know her from previous meets so I wanted to go out fast and get a lead. Once I have a lead, I don’t want to give it up,” related the exhausted but elated diva of Delco pools. Five events later, McCann was at it again, surging to a slight lead in the 100 sprint during the first two laps before winning by an arm’s length. “I took it out (the start) to slow,” explained Katie, who trailed after the first lap, “and then I told myself that this was the 100 and that I had to pick it up now.”
The lady lion then closed out her Central League career with one of her finest performances when she clocked a 54.19 split to help ignite Penncrest to a second place finish in the 400 free relay. McCann combined with the other members of the “K Crew”, Caitlin Mulholland, Kellie Fredrichs and Katie Lorenz to cut an eye-popping 10 seconds off their previous best this year. “That was great, to drop that much time,” shared head coach Ted Woolery. “I’m really happy with all of the girls today,” shared the Lions tamer. “Considering that we didn’t get much time to practice this past week, they swam well,” continued Woolery who cited Jamie Brown, Grace Martin, Eleanor Hewes, Rachel Perzchowski, Mia Prezio and Laura McCann, in addition to the K Crew, for their performances.
Clauser, McCann and both the boys and the girls relay squads will now venture to West Chester for the District One Championships this Saturday where they will look to write the final chapters of their illustrious careers with a return to the States.