Lukas Iannone has lofty goals and even higher expectations of himself.
He trains in the early morning hours, even before the sun rises, challenges himself, and pushes past perceived limitations.
In the first week of his senior season, the three-time All-Region performer from Scranton Prep endured a busy schedule. He won races and etched his name in the history books. He even found time to squeeze in a Christmas concert for his school.
Now, Iannone will let his body recover slightly over the holidays as he prepares to finish fast as a dominant swimmer in the Lackawanna League and District 2.
“Last weekend, I competed in Lancaster for a three-day meet, recovered a bit on Monday, and then had meets on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Christmas concert was also on Wednesday, so I was busy,” Iannone, 18, said. “I am very grateful, though. I look at having pressure as a privilege. It’s stressful, but I love it. I am grateful to have the next couple of weeks to kind of just reset and enjoy the holidays before getting back at it and having a great season.”
Iannone, The Times-Tribune Swimmer of the Year as a sophomore in 2024, has had an outstanding career at Scranton Prep. Last season, he won a bronze medal in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1 minute, 54.38 seconds, and finished 12th in the 100 breaststroke at the PIAA Class 2A Championships.
A multiple-time District 2 and Les Richards champion, he started this winter off with powerful performances in wins over Valley View and Holy Cross on back-to-back days.
On Tuesday, Iannone won the 200 IM in a time of 1:54.78, just off his state medal-winning effort from 2025. That time broke the record for the event at the Byron Center Pool on the campus of the University of Scranton. The previous mark of 1:55.75 was held by collegiate athlete Teague Mayer of The United States Merchant Marine Academy since 2024.
“I have trained at the U basically since I started swimming,” Iannone said. “I always looked up at the record board and hoped that one day I would get my name up there. That was one of my big goals, as well as doing well at districts and states. I wasn’t sure that I got it when it happened. I worked really hard for that.”
Iannone is confident and relaxed. Before the season started officially, he signed his National Letter of Intent to The College of the Holy Cross, where he will compete at an NCAA Division I level.
“I looked at several schools over the summer,” Iannone said. “Holy Cross was the best fit for me. It checked all the categories for me. The coaches are great. The team environment is great. Academics are important to me, and Holy Cross is outstanding.
“All those early morning workouts are worth it.”
Good start
North Pocono freshman Alex Johnson had an impressive debut in her first performance at a league meet.
Because North Pocono does not sponsor swimming, she races four times as an exhibition athlete with the Dunmore team. Last week, when Dunmore faced Elk Lake, Johnson had the fastest times in the 200 freestyle (2:07.97) and the 100 butterfly (1:04.63).
Both of those times would have ranked among the top six finishers at last season’s District 2 Class 2A Championship meet.
Abigail Krape and Alaina Kelly also swam races for North Pocono at the meet.
Krape had the top time for the 100 free (1:00.77). Kelly had the fastest time in the 100 breaststroke (1:21.65) and the third-best time in the 100 free (1:03.75).
Double duty
Scranton Prep junior and returning All-Region swimmer Eva Kaszuba is once again competing in two winter sports at the same time.
As a swimmer and basketball player, her schedules have conflicts. That results in her making hard choices. On Feb. 12, if the schedule holds without any weather-related issues, Kaszuba will attempt to compete in an important dual meet at Delaware Valley in the afternoon, followed by a basketball game at Wallenpaupack.
Kaszuba won an eighth-place medal in the 100 backstroke at last season’s PIAA Class 2A championships. She has NCAA Division I scholarship offers from St. Bonaventure and Duquesne.
This basketball season, she is averaging 11.0 points per game for the Classics.
A look ahead
The Lackawanna League is on break until Jan. 6.
When the teams return to the pool, Delaware Valley will host Wallenpaupack, and Valley View will be at Dunmore.
On Jan. 7, Scranton is at Holy Cross, and Elk Lake is at Scranton Prep.
Elk Lake girls defeated Scranton Prep last season to snap its 73-meet winning streak. The Lady Warriors had an unbeaten season and won the Lackawanna League championship. The Classics are the preseason favorites this year.
West Scranton will compete against Abington Heights on Jan. 8. That meet will feature several All-Region swimmers, including West Scranton’s Roy Ayala and Abington Heights’ Jason Casper, Derek Williams, and diver Micah White.