Seasoned freshmen
David Bocci and Sam
Deemer have swimming in their blood, sparking Butler
January 5, 2018 Other High School Sports
Butler
freshman Sam Deemer swims the 200 individual medley against Mars Thursday
night. Deemer and fellow freshman David Bocci have sparked the Golden Tornado
boys team this season.
DAVE PRELOSKY/ BUTLER EAGLE
BUTLER TWP — There was no need for freshman
swimmers David Bocci and Sam Deemer to spend time getting their feet wet. They
took care of that long ago.
The two came up together in youth swimming and
have earned a bevy of medals for the Butler Barracudas YMCA swim team.
“We were prepared for them to make an
immediate impact,” said Butler High School coach Dave Bocci. “They've put a lot
of work in in the weight room and for them to contribute right away for us,
it's huge. They have filled a void left by (graduates) Joe Deemer, Trai Kish
and Nathan Callithen.”
David Bocci and Sam Deemer were at it again
Thursday night. Bocci won the 100-yard freestyle and backstroke events and
Deemer the 200 individual medley and butterfly as the Golden Tornado improved
to 3-0 on the season with a 92-71 home victory over Mars.
The duo have been teammates since competing
at the 8-under level. They have already qualified for WPIALs in six individual
events apiece.
“Other than the backstroke, we swim
different events, but still push each other in practice,” David Bocci said.
“The season has been a good one so far, but varsity is tough on the body
because depending on the events you swim, there's some quick turnarounds.”
Deemer is the last of four brothers to swim
at Butler. Ryan and Joe have both graduated and Alex, a junior, is a leader on
this year's team who won the 200 and 500 freestyle events Thursday.
“I started swimming to keep up with the
family tradition,” said Sam Deemer, “but over the last few years, I've gotten a
lot better and it is incentive for me to keep going.”
Butler's Jon Hansotte had a solid night in
diving, winning the competition with a score of 256.75.
Andrew Ivory earned the lone individual win
for Mars (2-3), placing first in the breaststroke.
Butler's girls won six of the first seven
events to spark a 95-89 victory over the Planets (3-2).
Star sophomore Laura Goettler delivered wins
in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle for the Tornado (2-1) and several other
swimmers gave Dave Bocci reason to smile.
Rachel Ledford made the cut for the WPIAL
meet in the backstroke, winning the event in 1:02.77. The WPIAL time is 1:03.
Freshman Abbie Griffith won the 200
freestyle and butterfly.
“Rachel and Abbie both stepped up tonight,”
Dave Bocci said. “We have leadership with seniors Emma Weiss and Liz Graham.
There's a good mix on the girls side.”
Paige Williams earned for the Tornado a win
in diving with a score of 241.75.
Mars sophomore Caroline Stamper is the only
Planet girl back who competed at WPIALs (50 freestyle) last season. She and
Madeline Gagnon (500 freestyle) were Mars' winners against Butler.
“I hurt my shoulder over the summer and it
is still pretty sore,” said Stamper, “but my goal is to get to WPIALs in the 50
free again and also in the breaststroke.”
Despite not being 100 percent, Stamper has
had a strong showing so far.
“She's been amazing,” said Mars assistant
coach Mitch Schall. “Obviously, swimmers want to do their best in March
(districts and states), but Caroline has put up some really good times so far.
“We have a lot of freshmen who are stepping
up on the girls side,” he added. “They're dropping a lot of time.”
Mars
swimmer Jenna Halenda swims the 200 freestyle against Butler on Thursday. She
finished second in the event.
DAVE PRELOSKY/ BUTLER EAGLE
Girls
Butler 95, Mars 89
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Abbie Griffith,
Laura Goettler, Emma Weiss, Rachel Ledford) 1:57.73
200 freestyle: 1-Abbie Griffith (B) 2:06.61
200 individual medley: 1-Laura Goettler (B)
2:11.65
50 freestyle: 1-Caroline Stamper (M) 26.94
1-meter diving: 1-Paige Williams (B) 241.75
100 butterfly: 1-Abbie Griffith (B) 1:05.62
100 freestyle: 1-Laura Goettler (B) 56.65
500 freestyle: 1-Madeline Gagnon (M) 6:07.49
200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Emma Weiss,
Katie Knights, Eve Merhaut, Liz Graham) 1:58.16
100 backstroke: 1-Rachel Ledford (B) 1:02.77
100 breaststroke: 1-Eve Merhaut (B) 1:15.78
400 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Caroline
Stamper, Ellie Hall, Jenna Halenda, Megan Smith) 4:18.4
Boys
Butler 92, Mars 71
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (David Bocci,
Zach Callithen, Sam Deemer, Alex Deemer), 1:47.64
200 freestyle: 1-Alex Deemer (B) 1:49.16
200 individual medley: 1-Sam Deemer (B)
2:09.05
50 freestyle: 1-Zach Callithen (B) 24.69
1-meter diving: 1-Jon Hansotte (B) 256.75
100 butterfly: 1-Sam Deemer (B) 55.8
100 freestyle: 1-David Bocci (B) 51.42
500 freestyle: 1-Alex Deemer (B) 4:56.71
200 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Andrew Ivory,
Austin Gilstrap, Will Allison, Andrew Pierre) 1:41.94
100 backstroke: 1-David Bocci (B) 56.18
100 breaststroke: 1-Andrew Ivory (M) 1:08.26
400 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Jack Ford,
Hayden Silsby, Zach Leachman, Aidan Wolf) 4:17.3