Leading the way
Senior Callithen shines as Butler swimmers go to 3-0

http://www.butlereagle.com/graphics/nothing.gifBy Derek Pyda 
Eagle Staff Writer 

BUTLER TWP — As one of four seniors on the Butler boys swimming and diving team, Nathan Callithen wants a strong finish to his scholastic career.
 
According to Golden Tornado coach Dave Bocci, he is on pace to do just that. 
Callithen, a four-year letter winner for Butler, won the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke with times of two minutes, 6.17 seconds and 57.31, respectively, in Butler’s 99-73 home win over Shaler on Wednesday. 
Both efforts made the cut for the WPIAL Class AAA championship meet, though Callithen had already swam a 2:04 and 55.0 earlier this season. 
“Our goal is to get as many kids to the state meet as we can,” said Bocci. “Last year, 53 (seconds) was good enough for the state meet in the backstroke and Nathan is capable of doing that. 
“He’s come a long way,” added Bocci. “He’s worked really hard with his strength and conditioning, has put on some muscle and is more suited now for some of the heavier weight training.” 
Callithen, who has swam individually and on relay teams at the WPIAL meet, also wants to slice time off his IM, saying, “I’d like to get down to 1:58. Between now and WPIALs, I want to drop my seed time in both events.” 
In the meantime, he is mindful that Butler’s younger swimmers may be looking at him and the other seniors for an example to follow. 
“You need to work hard in practice and think about your goals every day,” he said. “That way, you’re doing what you need to do to reach them.” 
Joe and Alex Deemer also won two individual events for Butler, taking the 50 freestyle/100 butterfly and 200/500 freestyle, respectively. 
Butler’s team record last year was 9-3 and the Golden Tornado (3-0) are well on their way to challenging that finish. 
Butler’s girls also improved to 3-0, scoring a 95-85 victory over the Titans. 
Butler’s strong freshman class, which is headed by Laura Goettler, Ellie Weiss and Morgan Casteel, had a strong night. 
Goettler won the 200 IM and breaststroke while Weiss took the 200 and 500 freestyle events. 
Ellie is the younger sister of Butler junior Emma Weiss, a strong swimmer in her own right. 
“Both of them are hard workers and two-sport athletes,” Bocci said. “They play soccer and it says a lot about their ability to move from one sport to another. Their season is really just getting started.” 
Butler’s Paige Williams earned a win in the diving competition with a score of 226.2. 
Girls 
Butler 95, Shaler 85 
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Rachel Ledford, Laura Goettler, Emma Weiss, Morgan Keelan) 1:55.44 
200 freestyle: 1-Ellie Weiss (B) 2:10.55 
200 individual medley: 1-Laura Goettler (B) 2:08.8 
50 freestyle: 1-Jenna Stanton (S) 26.48 
1-meter diving: 1-Paige Williams (B) 226.2 
100 butterfly: 1-Emily Schafer (S) 1:01.1 
100 freestyle: 1-Morgan Keelan (B) 58.74 
500 freestyle: 1-Ellie Weiss (B) 5:49.43 
200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Rachel Ledford, Morgan Keelan, Ellie Weiss, Laura Goettler) 1:46.47 
100 backstroke: 1-Emily Schafer (S) 1:04.56 
100 breaststroke: 1-Laura Goettler (B) 1:07.01 
400 freestyle relay: 1-Shaler (Claire Blaha, Sara Magoun, Emily Schafer, Jenna Stanton) 4:02.99 
Boys 
Butler 99, Shaler 73 
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Nathan Callithen, Trai Kish, Joe Deemer, Alex Deemer) 1:44.38 
200 freestyle: 1-Alex Deemer (B) 1:52.45 
200 individual medley: 1-Nathan Callithen (B) 2:06.17 
50 freestyle: 1-Joe Deemer (B) 23.0 
1-meter diving: 1-Evan Kelly (S) 262.35 
100 butterfly: 1-Joe Deemer (B) 54.34 
100 freestyle: 1-Trai Kish (B) 53.17 
500 freestyle: 1-Alex Deemer (B) 4:55.42 
200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Trai Kish, Zach Callithen, Simon Diehl, Luke Puchnick) 1:41.06 
100 backstroke: 1-Nathan Callithen (B) 57.31 
100 breaststroke: 1-Evan Kelly (S) 1:09.7 
400 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Joe Deemer, Zach Callithen, Nathan Callithen, Alex Deemer) 3:32.73