In a meet against school rival Whitehall High School on Thursday, Jan. 5, the Northampton boys varsity swim team came away with a win by a score of 90-80.

This was a particularly important meet – at least to the pride of the team and school – as the swim team, among all the varsity teams, had the opportunity to participate in the Cement Belt challenge this year.

“There are some specific matchups we are looking forward to,” said Northampton coach Cullen Mentzel as he highlighted Whitehall as one of those matchups. “We haven’t gotten to swim against them [Whitehall] for two years.”

The rivalry between the two neighboring towns of Northampton and Whitehall has taken the shape of an official sports contest between the two high schools for the Challenge.

“We have the Cement Belt Challenge that we get to contribute to this year,” said Mentzel.

The Cement Belt challenge is an ongoing contest between the two schools which covers multiple sports throughout the year.

In the boys 200 yard freestyle relay, the team of Michael Bauer, Jared Iasiello, Jarin Gaumer, and Gavyn Frankenfield took first place with a time of 1:38.28. Bauer also took first place in the boys 200 yard individual medley (2:05.09) and the 100 yard backstroke (57.80). Frankenfield placed first in the boys 100 yard butterfly (57.22).

The Northampton girls varsity swim team also had a strong meet despite coming up short.

The relay team of Alexis Frey, Morgan Fehnel, Brynne Rockovits, and Rebecca Nothstein took first in the 200 yard medley relay with a time of 2:04.20. Fehnel, Rockovits and Nothstein were joined by Larisa Calvo for another Northampton girls’ win in the 200 yard freestyle medley (1:51.49).

Rockovits also took first in the girls 200 yard individual medley (2:21.43) and the girls 100 yard breaststroke (1:13.88). Northampton’s Nicole Somers placed first in the girls 500 yard freestyle (6:08.60).

This week, Northampton will host Liberty High School at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12.