The Northampton swim and dive team rose to the occasion in a big way last week, delivering an energetic and determined performance at the PIAA District XI AAA Championships, hosted at Parkland High School. Following a 12-1 season, the Northampton boys celebrated an overall 3rd place district championship finish. As Northampton’s head coach Cullen Mentzell beamed, “Overall, it’s been a great season. This group rose to the occasion every time, and I’m very thankful to have such a deep team.”

The meet’s most energizing events for the Northampton fans came in the form of the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays for the boys’ team. The boys 200 medley relay team of Josiah Hippert, Nathan Scheirer, Tobias Scott, and Logan Saylor set the tone early, racing to an impressive fourth-place finish and earning their first podium appearance of the meet. Northampton’s relay mojo didn’t fade as the last event of the district championship gave the Northampton fans the medals they were craving. The powerhouse relay team of Hippert, Scott, Henry Schoeneberger and Saylor rocketed to a bronze medal with a third-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay event.

Junior Logan Saylor delivered one of the most memorable champs performances, anchoring both podium-worthy relay events and racing to fifth place in the individual 100-yard butterfly in 52.81, but Logan didn’t stop there. Saylor came back to secure another top-five finish in the 100-yard freestyle in 49.01. As Coach Mentzell recounts, in both [relays], Saylor swam a clutch anchor leg - his 50 free at the end of the medley and 100 free at the end of the 400 were his best times by far.”

The momentum continued for Northampton in the individual events, where sophomore Amelia Sommons delivered an impressive performance for the girls in the 200 freestyle, finishing 9th with a time of 2:08.74. For the boys, distance standout Henry Schoeneberger placed seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:49.23) and later powered his way to sixth in the grueling 500-yard freestyle (4:56.02), capping off a tremendous championship effort. Joseph Kennedy finished 11th, and Nicholas Isaac came in 13th, also adding valuable swims in the 200 freestyle. Isaac also placed 15th in the 500-yard freestyle event.

Tobias Scott clinched a seventh-place finish in the 100 butterfly event (53.21). Kennedy and Scott added strong performances in the 100 freestyle, finishing 13th and 14th, respectively, for the boys, and Sommons brought another impressive effort, securing an 11th-place finish in the 100 freestyle for the girls.

The notable performances continued as Nathan Scheirer earned his place in champs history in the 200 individual medley, finishing seventh overall in 2:04.30. Scheirer continued his memorable champs run, placing eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.67) with teammate Reed Burkhart close behind in 13th place. Josiah Hippert powered to a 6th place finish in the boys’ 100 backstroke (54.79), another highlight in a meet full of strong performances. In a separate event, sophomore diver Mason James represented Northampton with poise, finishing ninth in the boys’ 1-meter diving competition with a score of 290.80.

Northampton also secured a sixth-place finish for the boys in the 200-yard freestyle relay with Hippert, Isaac, Schoeneberger, and Scheirer, and the girls’ 200 freestyle relay team of Sommons, Gabriella Medina, Yianna Gougoustamos, and Elizabeth Sponsler raced to a 10th-place finish.

Northampton’s girls placed 11th in the 200-medley relay with the team of Sophia Kostik, Megan Layton, Elizabeth Sponsler, and Brooke Spadaccia. The girls ended the meet with a strong effort, securing 9th place in the 400-freestyle relay with the teams of Sommons, Medina, Gougoustamos, and Sponsler.

Looking back on a successful season, it can be said that Northampton didn’t just compete; they made a statement. They ended this championship meet with momentum, confidence, and a clear message: Northampton swim and dive is building something special.