The Northampton boys and girls varsity swim team kicked off their 2016-2017 season with a win against Dieruff High School for both the boys and girls teams on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The Northampton girls won by a sizable margin, 73-21 while the Northampton boys bested Dieruff 59.5 to 34.5.

Dieruff hosted Northampton for a contest that produced 13 individual first-place finishes by K-Kid swimmers, including wins in the boys 200 yard IM and 100 yard backstroke by senior Michael Bauer. Bauer swam the 200 yard IM in 2:04.61 and the 100 yard backstroke in 56.83. Senior Gavyn Frankenfield also added to Northampton’s first place tally with wins in the boys 50 yard freestyle (23.14) and the boys 100 yard butterfly (55.45).

For the Girls team, sophomore Brynne Rockovits was first to the wall twice against Dieruff with a first place finish in the girls 200 yard freestyle (2:04.16) and the girls 100 yard butterfly (1:04.67).

In the relays, Northampton took first place in the girls 200 yard medley relay, the girls and boys 200 yard freestyle relay and the girls and boys 400 yard freestyle relay.

“I felt really good about the first meet,” said coach Cullen Mentzell. “It was good to see kids doing some of the races they don’t normally do.”

Mentzell explained the importance he places on pushing his swimmers to compete in more than just their strongest races.

“It builds confidence when they see they can do something they didn’t think they could do,” he said.

Throughout this season, Mentzell intends to continue pushing the Northampton swimmers to try new things and get out of their comfort zone.

Northampton continued a strong start to the 2016-2017 swim season with wins against William Allen High School on Thursday, Dec. 15, and Saucon Valley on Friday, Dec. 16. Individually, it’s been a good season already for some Northampton swimmers as four of the 22 team members have qualified for a spot in the district championship during this first week of competition.

Looking forward, the team is preparing to swim at home for the first time this season.

“We are excited for our first home meet,” commented Coach Mentzell. “We’re looking forward to a great meet and hopefully more qualifying district times.”

Northampton will host East Stroudsburg North for their first home contest at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22.