On Thursday, Jan. 19, the Northampton swim teams lost a tough meet against Nazareth.

This loss comes between two additional shortfalls; a loss to Liberty the previous week and the team’s most recent and toughest loss to Parkland last Thursday evening. Despite the final outcome of these meets, Northampton coach Cullen Mentzell is focused on accentuating the positive.

“The past meets have been tough,” said Mentzell. “Against Liberty the swimmers did really well. Fifty-percent of their swims were best times for the season and there were eight pool records set - four of which were by Northampton. Nazareth swam us really well but we still had some best times.”

Finally, against Parkland, Northampton swimmers qualified for seven district times.

With an increased number of swimmers on the Northampton squad this year, the team has enjoyed not only the thrill of consistent first place finishes but also the ability to add to point totals with multiple relay teams, events with full lanes of swimmers and an increasingly competitive diving team. While the Northampton teams walked away with some tough losses, both teams fought hard and celebrated several individual victories.

Against Nazareth, senior Gavyn Frankenfield walked away with two individual wins as he took first place in the 100 butterfly (55.10) and the 200 freestyle (1:50.33). Senior Michael Bauer claimed first place in the 200 medley with a winning time of 2:02.73. Bauer also competed in a nail biter race in the 200 backstroke, ultimately finishing third in an event that saw the top-three times all within three tenths of a second.

Also against Nazareth, Northampton’s Brynne Rockovits achieved an individual first place finish in the 200 medley with a time of 2:19.04. Northampton’s Nicole Somers also claimed a decisive win in the 500 freestyle event (6:10.17).

The final scores vs. Nazareth for girls was 109-70 while the boys lost 113-70.

In perhaps the most lopsided loss of their season so far, Northampton fell to Parkland 131-55 in the girls and 130-56 in the boys. First place finishes were illusive for Northampton with two of only three: Rockovits in the 200 medley (2:15.73) and the 100 backstroke (1:01:62) while Bauer also took first in the 100 backstroke with a winning time of 56.22.

While losses are tough to take, Mentzell’s philosophy still rings true for the Northampton team.

“I have just been trying to keep the mood positive around the pool,” Mentzell said. “If we cannot win the meet I still tell the kids that it is an opportunity to swim and improve your times and qualify for districts.”

With several individual wins and even more hard fought races in recent weeks, the Northampton team obviously takes those words to heart.

On Thursday, Feb. 2, Northampton returns home to welcome Emmaus in a 4 p.m. meet.