High School Sports

options

RON TARVER / Staff Photographer

Radnor senior Alexandria Dardaris joins her teammates in their home pool while preparing for the championships.

Buy High School jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and more

Posted on Fri, Mar. 5, 2010

North Penn boys enjoying an edge

Having benefited from diving success, they have the advantage in the District 1 Class AAA meet.

By Don Beideman

Inquirer Staff Writer

With 38 points already in the bag from diving, the North Penn boys are going to be hard to catch in the District 1 Class AAA swimming and diving championships, which open this morning for two days of competition at La Salle University.

It would appear the Knights are hungry for a title, too.

Upper Dublin ended the Knights' dominance years ago and, after successfully defending their crown, the Cardinals handed it over to West Chester Henderson.

"We'll have to try and rise to the occasion," Henderson coach Jeff Bott said when asked about defending the district championship. "We'll need a very consistent meet. With North Penn picking up the points in the diving [held Saturday], it's going to be tough."

Boyertown, Upper Dublin and West Chester Henderson are expected to give North Penn a run.

In girls' Class AAA, Souderton is the defending champion, but Downingtown West is hoping to give the Indians a run.

"West could open some eyes," said Bott. "They are talented and very deep."

Villa Maria Academy is a strong favorite to win another girls' Class AA title. Springfield-Montgomery County is expected to be among the contenders for the boys' Class AA trophy.

Radnor boys' coach Tom Robinson agreed with Bott that it's going to be tough to catch North Penn with the points it picked up in diving.

"That's like winning a relay," Robinson said of the Knights' diving points. Point totals are doubled for relay events.

"We're going to focus on the relays," said Robinson, whose team moved up from Class AA to Class AAA last season.

Girls' competition begins at 10:30 this morning with the boys to follow at 4 p.m. The girls resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow. The boys begin at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 267-815-0733 or dbeideman@phillynews.com.