Time is always of the essence in swimming. Last week, Parkland’s girls and boys swim teams were two teams in a hurry.

Finally able to compete - albeit coordinated virtually on laptops - against East Penn Conference competition, the Trojans started their abbreviated 2021 campaign with two victories in two different meets against three different competitors.

Last Saturday Parkland’s girls and boys teams beat Whitehall 153-29 and 138-42, respectively. The day before, the Trojans downed Dieruff and Central Catholic - 293-19 and 290-126 on the girls side, and 283-26 and 274-139.

Coach Robert Robitaille believes most meets are won or lost long before anyone dips or jumps into the pool. That doesn’t change this year despite the pandemic and their virtual nature.

“In the end, the preparation that each athlete takes on days when we do get to practice will separate those that will from those that won’t,” said Robitaille.

The Trojans received solid performances from several swimmers to start the year. Against Whitehall, the foursome of Devon Corvaia, Gwendolyn Houser, Kayla Johnson and Sophie Cerimele finished in 1:55.54 in winning the girls 200-meter relay. Corvaia, Johnson, Cerimele and Claire Weaver won the girls 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:45.98.

In the girls 400-yard freestyle relay, Parkland relied on the good work of Olivia Stevenson, Madison Tewksbury, Simone Lin and Weaver to win the race in a taut 3:51.56.

In solo efforts, Johnson won the girls 200-yard freestyle in 2:00.25, while Stevenson earned top honors in the 200-yard individual medley with a 2:21.45 mark. Johnson had a superb day, as she also won the 100-yard butterfly race in 1:00.43. Corvaia won the 50-yard freestyle in a brisk :26.74, while teammate Weaver won the 100-yard freestyle in :56.18.

The Trojans diving work was also sharp. Katelyn Kunz won the competition with a 149.85 score.

Parkland’s boys displayed their talent and depth during the late morning and early afternoon competition. Isaiah Moreef, Shawn Kushner, John Fahrney and Matthew Greer took the 200-yard medley relay in 1:47.44. Substituting Nicholas Zaffiro joined Moreef, Kushner and Greer to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in a quick 1:34.92. Showing endurance, the squad of Jacob Parry, Luke Willard, Fahrney and Zaffiro won the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:37.14.

Willard also distinguished himself in solo work. He won the 200-yard IM in a whisker over teammate Fahrney at 2:06.83. He then took care of business winning the 100-yard butterfly in :56.56. Other Parkland solo stars were Kushner, who won the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races; Zaffiro for his efforts in gaining the win in the 500-yard freestyle; Moreef, who reigned supreme in the 100-yard backstroke; and Harrison Kim, who won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.22.

Diver Ethan Radio had the right frequency to win with a 202.80 score.

Robitaille believes that to make the Trojans successful this season, he needs to be successful in possessing the following traits for his team

“Belief, communication, trust, resilience and grit,” he said. “The kids that want to excel and are committed have and will continue to find a way to show resilience and be successful this year.”

Results

GIRLS

Parkland 153, Whitehall 29

200 medley relay: 1. Parkland (Devon Corvaia, Wynne Houser, Kayla Johnson, Sophia Cerimele) 1:55.54, 2. Parkland (Isabel Sheridan, Natasha Goldman, Janiyiah Colangelo, Claire Svetz), Parkland (Bridgett Reid, Olivia Luethe, Lauren Walls, Addison Soehnlen).

200 freestyle: 1. Kayla Johnson (P) 2:00.25, 2. Sophia Cerimele (P), 3. Madison Tewksbury (P).

200 individual medley: 1. Olivia Stevenson (P) 2:21.45, 2. Leyna Fleischaker (P), 3. Abigail Kirsopp (P).

50 freestyle: 1. Devon Corvaia (P) 26.74, 2. Simone Lin (P), 3. Hillary Roth (P).

Diving: 1. Katelyn Kunz (P) 149.85, 2. Leah Webb (P), 3. Hannah Whitson (P).

100 butterfly: 1. Kayla Johnson (P) 1:00.43, 2. Madison Tewksbury (P), 3. Azlynn Watkins (P).

100 freestyle: 1. Claire Weaver (P) 56.18, 2. Devon Corvaia (P), 3. Jillian Walls (P).

500 freestyle: 1. Sophia Cerimele (P) 5:32.20, 2. Simone Lin (P), 3. Natasha Goldman (P).

200 freestyle relay: 1. Parkland (Kayla Johnson, Devon Corvaia, Sophia Cerimele, Claire Weaver) 1:45.98, 2. Parkland (Simone Lin, Isabel Sheridan, Madison Tewksbury, Olivia Stevenson), 3. Parkland (Dana Montone, Leyna Fleischaker, Azlynn Watkins, Sydney Platt).

100 backstroke: 1. Claire Weaver (P) 1:04.31, 2. Wynne Houser (P), 3. Jillian Walls (P).

100 breaststroke: 1. Olivia Stevenson (P) 1:16.56, 2. Lauren Walls (P), 3. Ashley Settle (P).

400 freestyle: 1. Parkland (Olivia Stevenson, Madison Tewksbury, Simone Lin, Claire Weaver) 3:51.56, 2. Parkland (Lauren Walls, Claire Svetz, Azlynn Watkins, Wynne Houser), 3. Parkland (Jillian Wals, Sydney Platt, Hillary Roth, Janiyiah Colangelo).

BOYS

Parkland 138, Whitehall 42

200 medley relay: 1. Parkland (Isaiah Moreef, Shawn Kushner, John Fahrney, Matthew Greer) 1:47.74, 2. Whitehall, 3. Parkland (Malkolmx Rodriguez, Ethan Willard, Harrison Kim, Marcus Moreef).

200 freestyle: 1. Aaron Stinner (W) 1:54.75, 2. Isaiah Moreef (P), 3. Douglas Graham (P).

200 individual medley: 1. Luke Willard (P) 2:06.83, 2. John Fahrney (P), 3. Ian Thomas (W).

50 freestyle: 1. Shawn Kushner (P) 23.12, 2. Matthew Greer (P), 3. Karl Schmidt (P).

Diving: 1. Ethan Radio (P) 202.8, 2. Matthew Blommel (P).

100 butterfly: 1. Luke Willard (P) 56.56, 2. Nicholas Zaffiro (P), 3. John Fahrney (P).

100 freestyle: 1. Shawn Kushner (P) 51.71, 2. Karl Schmidt (P), 3. Billy Stergianopoulos (W).

500 freestyle: 1. Nicholas Zaffiro (P) 5:07.85, 2. Aaron Stinner (W), Matthew Greer (P).

200 freestyle relay: 1. Parkland (Shawn Kushner, Isaiah Moreef, Nicholas Zaffiro, Matthew Greer) 1:34.92, 2. Parkland (Luke Willard, Karl Schmidt, Douglas Graham, Jacob Parry), Whitehall.

100 backstroke: 1. Isaiah Moreef (P) 1:03.24, 2. Jacob Parry (P), 3. Eric Linchuk (P).

100 breaststroke: 1. Harrison Kim (P) 1:08.22, 2. Ian Thomas (W), 3. Marcus Moreef (P).

400 freestyle relay: 1. Parkland (John Fahrney, Nicholas Zaffiro, Jacob Parry, Luke Willard) 3;37.14, 2. Parkland (Douglas Graham, Karl Schmidt, Harrison Kim, Marcus Moreef), 3. Whitehall.