Abington Heights storms to win over Delaware Valley – Scranton Times-Tribune

S. ABINGTON TWP. — As each race went off, Abington Heights swimmers attacked the water with a fierce determination and will to win.

Their desired goal: to seize complete control of the Lackawanna League.

With an emphatic performance that featured first-place finishes in all 12 events, the Comets powered to a 123-62 win over Delaware Valley on Wednesday afternoon at a loud Abington Heights High School Natatorium.

“This was great,” Abington Heights senior Jason Casper said. “The energy was great. We had a couple of meetings after practices to get pumped up for this meet. Everyone showed up, gave their all, and did awesome.”

Abington Heights dominated on its way to improving to 8-0 while handing Delaware Valley its first loss of the season. The Comets also ended the Warriors’ league-winning streak at 39.

Casper, last season’s Times-Tribune Male Swimmer of the Year, Derek Williams, Geoff Stanton, and diver Micah White have each been named to the All-Region team in their careers. They earned a combined seven individual wins for the Comets, who avenged a 109-76 loss to Delaware Valley last season, a 115-71 loss in 2024, and a 107-78 loss in 2023 during this senior class’ three previous seasons.

The onslaught started with a win in the 200-yard medley relay by Lucas Allspaugh, Adrian Azar, Charles Voytek, and Alec Allspaugh. Azar and Voytek also added individual wins later in the meet.

Stanton, then, pulled away to win the 200-yard freestyle in 1:56.72. The senior won the 100 backstroke (1:01.13) and was part of the winning 200 free and 400 free relay teams with Casper, Williams, and Judah Donnelly.

“We have always had a strong team, and then we would get to that big meet and fall short,” Stanton said. “This is something special. We have had a great year; we have practiced hard and had great times at invitationals.

“We were finally able to put it all together in a big meet, against a big rival. It’s a special thing that I am just fortunate to be a part of.”

Casper took first in the 200 individual medley (2:00.92). A senior, he had a second win in the 100 butterfly (53.08).

“I feel like I am in a good spot right now,” Casper said. “Les Richards meet will kind of show where I am. I am excited for the end of the season.”

Williams, one of the dominant sprinters in District 2, cut through the choppy waters to win the 50 free (22.08). He overcame an early deficit to Delaware Valley’s Ryan O’Connell, who is also an All-Region swimmer, to win the 100 free (49.85).

“This is surreal,” said Williams, who contributed to wins in the 200 and 400 free relays. “We never thought it would happen like this. We just wanted to try a sport, and we chose swimming. We stuck with it, through all the hard practices, and here is where we are. We are all swimming great. It’s been a great senior season.”

White, last season’s District 2 Class 3A diving champion, won the event against Delaware Valley with a six-dive score of 280.40. Teammate Ryan Horutz was second.

It was a total team effort by the Comets, one that will build momentum heading down the stretch of the league schedule and into the postseason.

“We are all very close,” Williams said. “We have a special bond, and I will never forget these guys and all that we have accomplished.”

200 Medley Relay: Abington Heights (L. Allspaugh, Azar, Voytek, A. Allspaugh) 1:52.57, DV, AH; 200 Free: Geoff Stanton (AH) 1:56.72, Fisher (DV), Zaucha (DV); 200 IM: Jason Casprt (AH) 2:00.92, O’Connell (DV), A. Allspaugh (AH); 50 Free: Derek Williams (AH) 22.08, Azar (AH), J. Donnelly (AH); Diving: Micah White (AH) 280.40, Horutz (AH), B. Kruler (DV); 100 Fly: Jason Casper (AH) 53.08, Calabria (DV), O’Connor (DV); 100 Free: Derek Williams (AH) 49.85, O’Connell (DV), J. Donnelly (AH); 500 Free: Charles Voytek (AH) 5:23.28, R. Donnelly (AH), Fisher (DV): 200 Free Relay: Abington Heights (Williams, Stanton, J. Donnelly, Casper) 1:32.75, DV, AH; 100 Back: Geoff Stanton (AH) 1:01.13, Calabria (DV), L. Allspaugh (AH); 100 Breast: Adrian Azar (AH) 1:08.11, Zaucha (DV), Voytek (AH); 400 Free Relay: Abington Heights (Williams, Stanton, J. Donnelly, Casper) 1:32.75, DV, AH: Records: AH 8-0, DV 7-1.

Holy Cross 65, Valley View 47: Leo Cholish won the 50 free and 100 back, Ryan Monroe won the 200 IM and 100 fly, and each was part of two winning relays to lead the Crusaders.

Rowan Castles (500 free) and Louis LaLonde (100 free) had wins for Valley View.

200 Medley Relay: No race; 200 Free: Simon Madore (HC) 2:14.72, Canevari (VV), Domski (VV); 200 IM: Ryan Monroe (HC) 3:05.86; 50 Free: Leo Cholish (HC) 23.14, Madore (HC), Castles (VV); 100 Fly: Ryan Monroe (HC) 1:18.23; 100 Free: Louis LaLonde (VV) 1:08.31, Scochin (HC), Rotell (VV); 500 Free: Rowan Castles (VV) 7:45.93, Canevari (VV), Kennedy (HC); 200 Free Relay: Holy Cross (Madore, Cholish, Scochin, Monroe) 1:49.56, VV; 100 Back: Leo Cholish (HC) 1:05.30, Domski (VV); 100 Breast: Eric Scochin (HC) 1:35.76, LaLonde (VV); 400 Free Relay: Holy Cross (Madore, Kennedy, Monroe, Cholish) 4:28.86, VV; Records: HC 3-5, VV 1-7.

Girls swimming

Abington Heights took first place in every event in a 112-72 win over Delaware Valley in a Lackawanna League meet.

The Lady Comets improved to 7-1 and tied Delaware Valley for second place in the standings. Scranton Prep leads with an 8-0 record. Delaware Valley will host the Classics on Feb. 12.

Gianna Vachino (200 free, 100 fly), Kacey Johnson (200 IM, 500 free), Katie Giermanski (50 free, 100 breast), and Hadley Pallman (100 free, 100 back) had two individual wins each and contributed to relay wins. Sofia Mirza won diving for the Lady Comets.

200 Medley Relay: Abington Heights (Wimmer, Giermanski, Brown, Bannon) 2:11.23, DV, DV; 200 Free: Gianna Vachino (AH) 2:10.54, Cruz (DV), Azar (AH); 200 IM: Kacey Johnson (AH) 2:36.99, Bannon (AH), Moreira (DV): 50 Free: Katie Giermanski (AH) 26.30, Novikov (DV), Cady (DV); Diving: Sofia Mirza (AH) 146.50, Azar (AH), Jagger (DV); 100 Fly: Gianna Vachino (AH) 1:07.51, Brown (AH), Moyle (AH); 100 Free: Hadley Pallman (AH) 54.73, Novikov (DV), Cady (DV); 500 Free: Kacey Johnson (AH) 6:07.88, Bailey (DV), Holderith (DV); 200 Free Relay: Abington Heights (Bannon, Giermanski, Pallman, Vachino) 1:47.05, DV, AH; 100 Back: Hadley Pallman (AH) 1:04.66, O’Connell (DV), Adamsky (AH); 100 Breast: Katie Giermanski (AH) 1:16.44, Cruz (DV), Bannon (AH); 400 Free Relay: Abington Heights (Bannon, Giermanski, Pallman, Vachino) 1:47.05, DV, AH; Records: AH 7-1, DV 7-1.

Valley View 56, Holy Cross 32: Miley Domski won two events and was part of two winning relay teams to lead the Cougars. Reilly Sprague and Gabby Zurn also had individual wins and competed on winning relay teams, and Alexandra Bacu was on two winning relay teams for Valley View.

Ava Kochmer won the 200 IM and the 100 fly for Holy Cross.

200 Medley Relay: No race; 200 Free: Claire Polishan (HC 2:36.06, Bacu (VV); 200 IM: Ava Kochmer (HC) 2:37.41, Zurn (VV); 50 Free: Reilly Sprague (VV) 30.78, A. Polishan (HC); 100 Fly: Ava Kochmer (HC) 1:19.58, Sprague (VV); 100 Free: Miley Domski (VV) 1:08.68, C. Polishan (HC); 500 Free: Gabby Zurn (VV) 6:44.94; 200 Free Relay: Valley View (Sprague, Bacu, Donski, Zurn) 2:13.25; 100 Back: Anna Polishan (HC) 1:32.96, Bacu (VV); 100 Breast: Miley Domski (VV) 1:30.16; 400 Free Relay: Valley View (Zurn, Bacu, Domski, Sprague) 5:07.82; Records: VV 2-6, HC 1-7.