Pleasant Valley Swim Team Opens Season Against Chester

Editor's Note: The following information was submitted by reader Jackie Tartaglione.

The Pleasant Valley Piranhas opened their swim team season last weekend against the Chester swim club, with new coaches and a bit of Olympic fever heating up their competitive spirit.

The new head coaches for the summer swim season are at Tufts University, and Tyler Gibbons, an incoming freshman at Columbia University.

Junior Assisting coache are , and who had competed in the Olympic trials, as well as student Sarah Spring.

While claiming 26 first place finishes during the meet, PVP fell short by only six points. Coach Amanda Wachenfeld said, “Everyone did a great job, especially considering it was our first meet and we hadn’t even had a practice yet. The coaches and the swimmers really step up to help the meet run as smoothly as possible.We had a very exciting first meet, only losing by 6 points.” 

PVP was in the lead following the boys 13&O 100IM, in which PVP took gold in two out of three competitions. Going into the free events, PVP was still strong placing in almost every age group from the 8U girls and boys  to 15&O girls and boys.

Starting off with the breast events, the points had PVP leading at 70, to Chester's 69. PVP earned 35 points in the breast stroke competition.. After the backstroke ,PVP was within 20 points. PVP dominated in the fly events taking 7 gold and tried to close the gap but coming up short in the end.

Some results from the meet: First place finishers in one or more events: for the 8U girls, Callie Mahoney, 9/10, Madeline West, Grace Sedlezak, 11/12, Paige Johnson, Katie Kisker, Samantha Sargen, 13/14m Evelyn Bigini, Elizabeth Buckley, Kate Bradley, 15&O, Jennifer Moore.   

Boys first place finishers: 8U, Andrew Moss, 11/12, Dylan Wachenfeld, Glen West 15&O,Aaron Schlemovitz, Coach Bradley Wachenfeld, and Coach Tyler Gibbons.

Girls second place finishers: 8U girls, Madison Grace, Sophie Paul, and Emma Grace, 15&O, Kelsey McKeon, and Molly Wolfe. Boys: Seamus Twohig, Robby Bigini, and Asa Faherty.

Third place, 9/10U girls, Gillian Warne and Kaitlyn Tartaglione. Boys: 8U John Smith, 9/10, Joseph Castago, and 13/14, Kyle Bradley.

The Piranahas' next planned meet is against rivals Bernardsville.