Emmaus’ swimming program is a perennially strong program that has gathered a string of conference championships, district championships and even state champions. The boys just picked up their ninth straight district title and they’ve got an 11-season streak of winning conference championships. On the girls side, things have been a little leaner. Their last conference title came in 2008 and their last District 11 championship was in 2007, although they have been district runner-up in seven of the last eight seasons. The girls can claim the last PIAA gold medal winner though in Taylor O’Brien, who won gold in 500 freestyle in 2012.

While the boys program continues to show signs of strength for the long-term, the girls program has all the makings of a team that will be back in the spotlight in the very near future.

The girls went undefeated this season until their run-in with rival Parkland in the final dual meet of the regular season.

They took the Lady Trojans into the last event of the meet before Parkland pulled out the 400 freestyle relay to win their fourth straight conference title and wrap up their own undefeated season.

In districts, the Emmaus girls also finished second to Parkland, but closed the gap between the two teams from previous seasons.

The Emmaus girls made enough strides this season that their rivals from further down Cedar Crest Boulevard have taken notice.

“Emmaus has so many good young swimmers, it’s going to be fun to see just how much better they get and how far they can go,” said Parkland senior Siena Salvaggio, herself a state gold medal winner.

Salvaggio got a close-up look at part of Emmaus’ future when she swam head-to-head against Emmaus freshman Chelsea Gravereaux in the 100-yard freestyle in districts. Salvaggio won by just over one-second, but Gravereaux made her presence felt.

“It was just an honor to swim against someone like her,” said Gravereaux. “She’s a gold medalist and has won so many other medals that to get to challenge her was a lot of fun. Now, I can’t wait to get to states and experience that, because this [districts] was so much fun.”

“I think she has the potential to dominate that event over the next few years,” said Salvaggio of Gravereaux’s performance this season. “It’s really like passing the torch to her. “She’s that good.”

After getting shut out on the girls side for competition in the PIAA Championships last season, Emmaus has three girls, senior Casey Young and freshmen Gravereaux and Katie Champagne going to states this year. The three of them also team with freshman Abby Heilenman on teams for the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

On the boys side, there are four swimmers headed to states, including senior Tom Schlechter and juniors Ethan Carr and Connor DeJohn, along with sophomore Patrick McAllister. Those four will also compete in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.

“It’s great to see our girls program getting better by leaps and bounds, and at the same time, there are a lot of talented swimmers on the boys side to carry on their tradition,” said Emmaus head coach Tim O’Connor. “It’s really a credit to the EMAC program and to those young athletes, who have worked so hard to become as good as they are. I’m excited to see how they keep getting better.”

Schlechter, the only senior on the boys team, is excited to follow how his teammates do in their pursuit of continuing the winning tradition for the team.

“It’s fabulous that so many of our underclassmen are so strong,” said Schlechter. “I don’t have any doubts that they’ll be able to continue competing and winning. They’ve been a lot of fun to work with and they definitely helped push me to be a better swimmer.”