Three swim relays qualify for WPIALs

Alana Eckels and Savannah Nguyen

Tuesday’s final swim meet of the season was a big one for Baldwin, as the boys team defeated Bethel Park for the first time in 15 years, and both the boys and girls teams had multiple swimmers achieve WPIAL qualifying times.

Although the girls swim team lost to Bethel, two girls relay teams qualified for WPIALs.

Jordan Fediaczko, Kaleigh Varney, Lauren Conklin, and Hailey Guzzi qualified for the 200 freestyle relay, while Varney, Conklin, Sophia Altavilla and Guzzi reached WPIALs in the 400 freestyle relay.

“I’m really proud of the girls. We all thought we weren’t going to make it and then we looked up at the board and it clicked,” Guzzi said.

Meanwhile, the boys relay team of Joey Webber, Jake Fowler, Chris Collins, and Liam Watterson qualified for the 200 medley relay. Also, Watterson qualified for the 100 backstroke.

This was the seniors’ last meet as part of the Baldwin swim team. Senior Sean Hissong said he felt sad but happy because this was the last time swimming at Baldwin, and he will miss the team.

“We’ve grown up with the seniors,” Conklin said.

Among one of the seniors leaving is Liv Altavilla.

“Liv is our mama duck. She would push us to make us better,” Conklin said.