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Quaker Valley School District - Home of the Quakers

Quaker Valley Athletics

Quaker Valley School District - Home of the Quakers

Team News.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 9:44AM

Quaker Valley swimmer Sophie Besterman to join sister at Bloomsburg

By: 
Monday, June 29, 2020 | 11:52 AM


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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Quaker Valley’s Sophie Besterman competes in the girls 100 backstroke during the 2020 WPIAL Class AA Swimming and Diving Championship at Trees Pool on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

After turning down an offer to play soccer, Quaker Valley graduate Sophie Besterman will join her sister Amelia on the Bloomsburg women’s swimming team.

Besterman, 18, committed to compete for the Division II school next season.

Besterman was part of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that placed third in this season’s WPIAL Class AA championship meet. She was fourth in the 400 freestyle relay.

In 2017, she and her sister earned gold medals in the 200 freestyle relay and silver in the 400 freestyle relay.

“(At) John Carroll, I would have played soccer, but I have always loved (the) Bloomsburg campus,” said Besterman, who led the Quaker Valley girls soccer team to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs last fall. “The coaches and girls on the Bloomsburg swim team were so welcoming.

“It is such a strong program, and I see how much my sister has appreciated being part of it.”

Huskies assistant coach Bridget Hilferty said Besterman, who plans to study marine biology, will make an impact in the freestyle events. The Huskies placed third in this season’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship.

“We love having siblings on the team,” Hilferty said.

Amelia Besterman, a rising senior who competes in freestyle, butterfly and individual medley events, said it will be fun to have Sophie as part of the team.

“It will be interesting to see what we each get a chance to swim,” she said. “Getting the chance to swim again with Sophie is a great way to cap my career.”

Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said it would be great to see the two on a relay together.

“Being on a relay with your sibling adds an element that can make a relay very special,” she said.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 10:47AM

Quaker Valley’s Huang seeking more hardware at PIAA meet

By: 
Friday, March 6, 2020 | 5:15 PM


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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Quaker Valley’s Isabel Huang competes in the 100-yard backstroke during the WPIAL Class AA swimming and diving championships Feb. 28 at Trees Pool.

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After earning two gold medals at the WPIAL Class AA championship, Quaker Valley sophomore swimmer Isabel Huang looks forward to more awards at the PIAA meet Friday and Saturday at Bucknell.

“My main goal is to continue dropping time, but I also hope to make the podium in both of my events and possibly get our relays to finals,” said Huang, a Sewickley Academy student who competes for the Quakers as part of a cooperative sponsorship. “I will be a lot more confident there because I know from last year what to expect.”

Huang, who lives in Franklin Park, repeated as WPIAL champion in the girls 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 6.04 seconds and the 100 backstroke (57 seconds).

She anchored the 200 freestyle relay team (1:41) that placed third and the 400 freestyle relay (3:40.38) that was fourth.

Junior Halle Wagner, freshman Ella Fuener and senior Sophie Besterman joined her in both relays.

The Quakers finished tied for fifth in the team rankings.

“I was a lot more excited when I won in comparison to last year,” Huang said. “I felt more pressure going into the meet.

“I was more confident about the process and what swimming in the pool at Pitt would feel like, but unsure about the outcomes.”

Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said Huang has gained confidence since last season.

“It has been incredibly rewarding for me to watch her develop,” said Glenn, in her second season with the Quakers. “She’s an incredibly talented swimmer.

“I’m excited to see what she can accomplish this time around.”

Huang took fifth in the 200 individual medley and 11th in the 100 backstroke in last season’s PIAA championship.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 8:39AM

Quaker Valley athlete of the week: Halle Wagner

Trib logo 

Tuesday, March 3, 2020 | 11:46 AM


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Submitted 

Quaker Valley’s Halle Wagner is a member of the 2019-20 swim team.

Halle Wagner

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Swimming

Class: Junior

Claim to fame: Halle Wagner used to dream about making it to the podium at WPIALs, and this year she did it four times.

Wagner placed seventh and eighth in the 100 and 200 freestyles races, respectively. She also qualified for states with Ella Fuener, Isabel Huang and Sophie Besterman in the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams with top-four finishes.

“I can definitely say it’s taken hard work and experience, so I’m super excited to place higher than I was seeded individually, and I’m really proud of what we did as a relay team,” Wagner said.

How does it feel to be going to states on the freestyle relay teams? 

I think it’s going to be awesome. It’s an improvement from last year when we only went for one relay event. I think we can make some time improvements.

On a team with swimmers from two schools and some who practice more often with their club teams, how do you build chemistry with each other? 

Between the four of us, it’s come naturally. Isabel is with her club team almost every day, and Sophie occasionally will be at Quaker Valley practices. Ella and I tend to be with the high school team all of the time. When we all come together, everything clicks.

How have you helped Ella become a key part of those relay teams? 

Being that’s it’s her first year in these big meets, I think about what it was like for me as a freshman and how the excitement took over. I’ve talked to her about how we have nerves and how we turn that into adrenaline and good races for the team. … We all feel those nerves. It never goes away.

What’s your favorite individual event? 

I really like freestyle as my general stroke. I made the WPIAL cut for the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle. It’s really a tie between the 100 and 200 freestyle.

What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of being a swimmer that fans probably don’t think about? 

Swimming is a mental game. Sometimes people can be really good at it and can push through any pain and make their goals. As soon as something is off in your head and your nerves don’t turn into excitement, it can kind of throw your whole game off.

Do you have any pre-race rituals? 

My brother Alex and I eat Gatorade chews before every race. They are these little gummies that are supposed to be an energy burst.

What do you love about this team? 

I like how we’re big for a Class AA team, but it’s still small enough you know everyone pretty personally. That’s a big part of the structure of our team. I think that’s why we’re successful, and that played a big role in becoming section champs.

Do you have a favorite swimmer? 

It’s hard to say one in particular. Obviously, Katie Ledecky is one of the best swimmers ever. She has so many records. She also goes to Stanford, keeps a 4.0 GPA, swam in the Olympics and for the school the whole time. That’s amazing. 

 

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 3:24PM

Quaker Valley’s Huang in position to defend WPIAL swimming titles

By: 
Friday, February 21, 2020 | 6:02 PM


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Submitted

Quaker Valley’s 200-yard freestyle relay team won at the Midwest Athletic Conference championship on Feb. 15, 2020. Top down, then to right are Halle Wagner, Sophie Besterman, Isabel Huang and Ella Fuener.

For the second consecutive season, Quaker Valley sophomore swimmer Isabel Huang looks forward to topping the podium at the WPIAL Class AA championship Thursday and Friday at Pitt.

Huang earned a pair of gold medals at the Midwestern Athletic Conference meet Feb. 14-15 at Moon. Her times of two minutes, 7.22 seconds in the 200-yard individual medley and 57 seconds in the 100 backstroke were seconds faster than her seeds.

Huang, the defending WPIAL Class AA champion in both events, entered the meet ranked third in WPIAL Class AA in both.

The Quakers, who finished with an 8-0 record in Section 2-AA, placed third of 17 teams from Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties.

“I was able to race in a tech suit and see where I am in the season so far,” said Huang, a Sewickley Academy student who competes for the Quakers as part of a cooperative sponsorship. “My results are helping me prepare for how I am going to swim at WPIALs.”

Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said she expects Huang, as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams, to have an outstanding meet. Anchored by Huang, the 200 freestyle relay (1:40.50) and 400 freestyle relay (3:40.45) placed first and second at the MAC championship.

Junior Halle Wagner, freshman Ella Fuener and senior Sophie Besterman also competed.

Huang said her main goal is to keep dropping her times.

“Additionally, I hope our relays make it to states,” she said. “I want to have lots of fun.”

Top finishers at WPIALs advance to the PIAA championship March 13-14 at Bucknell. Huang placed fifth in the 200 individual medley and 11th in the 100 backstroke last season.

Besterman said she would love to make states with a relay.

“We are looking strong,” she said.

On the boys side, junior Simon Iwanonkiw leads the Quakers.

Iwanonkiw took first place in 1-meter diving at the MAC meet. The Quakers, who went 4-4 in the section, took ninth.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 8:38AM

Quaker Valley athlete of the week: Ella Fuener

Hampton trib logo 

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 | 12:12 AM

   


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Submitted

Quaker Valley’s Ella Fuener

Ella Fuener

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Swimming

Class: Freshman

Claim to fame: Ella Fuener didn’t expect to make an immediate impact on Quaker Valley’s swimming team, but she cuts time in nearly every meet she’s in. Fuener has qualified in for WPIALs in the 100 and 50 free, which she recently swam in 1 minute, 1.57 seconds and 26.79, respectively.

How much fun are you having in your first year on the swimming team?

It’s been great, and making (WPIAL cuts) was kind of surprising. I started off the year pretty behind, but I was able to improve a lot from a new kind of practice compared to what I did in middle school.

What’s different about practices at the high school level?

I used to swim three days a week, and now I’m really swimming a lot more. I also feel high school practices at the YMCA are just a lot more rigorous.

When did you begin to love competitive swimming?

I began to swim at the Woodland Swim Club in second grade. I just started with a lot of friends from school, and I always thought it was fun.

Do you have a favorite event?

I love being in relays, because then it feels like more of a team effort. If I’m swimming individually, I like the 50 free.

What’s the key to cutting time in an event like the 50 or 100 free?

You’ve got work on really fast starts and turns, because that’s where you’re most likely to fall behind. Also, you have to try to minimize breathing.

Does the rest of your family enjoy swimming?

I’m the oldest sibling, and we all swim. They swim at the Y.

Who is the closest to beating you in a race?

We do race, and it’s a lot of fun. I love racing my younger brother Thomas. He’s two years younger than me but catching up very fast. He kind of keeps me on my toes.

What are your goals this season?

I hope to drop time and get my best time at WPIALs. I just want to have fun and help the team, and I hope we can be section champions this year.

What else do you enjoy at Quaker Valley?

I like just hanging out with friends and playing soccer. The team is really fun.

What’s your favorite meal?

I like all breakfast food. It would be waffles with maple syrup and bacon.

Who do you look up to in the sport of swimming?

I really just look up to the most famous Olympians like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky. I’m looking forward to the summer Olympics this year to see all of the great swimmers.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 10:22AM

Quaker Valley freshman swimmer Alex Wagner having breakthrough season

By: 
Friday, January 24, 2020 | 5:27 PM

   


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Submitted

Quaker Valley’s Alex Wagner is a member of the 2019-20 swim team.

Quaker Valley freshman swimmer Alex Wagner favors the breaststroke but found he is good at other strokes, too.

The 14-year-old qualified for the WPIAL Class AA championship meet in late February in the boys 200-yard individual medley. His time — 2 minutes, 16.05 seconds — is on the list of top times in WPIAL Class AA.

Wagner said he made the cut after hitting a growth spurt.

“(I) am finding since growing to over 6 foot, my long arms are an advantage,” he said. “I’m concentrating on making cuts for backstroke and breaststroke.

“I think we can get one of our team relays to WPIALs. My (goal is) to make more than one event.”

Wagner is the only Quaker Valley boy to qualify for the meet so far. The boys were 2-3 in Section 2-AA.

“I am surprised by how well this season has been going,” he said. “I want to get way better still.”

Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said Wagner came in as a strong swimmer with a lot of potential.

“He takes any event and gives it his best shot,” she said. “He’s very coachable.

“(He) is willing to try every event to see what will give him his best shot at WPIALs.”

A member of the Moon Aqua Club, Wagner said his sister is a role model.

Halle Wagner is a junior standout on the undefeated Quaker girls team.

“She has pushed me in practices and meets,” he said. “I am very happy she is on (the) team. The brother-sister competition has helped the both of us greatly.”

Glenn said like his sister, Alex is a role model to his teammates and works hard.

“(It) is just the beginning for him,” Glenn said. “I can’t wait to see great things from Alex.”

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 10:32AM

Wagner leads youthful, talented Quaker Valley swimming team

By: 
Saturday, January 18, 2020 | 12:19 AM


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Submitted

Quaker Valley’s Halle Wagner is a member of the 2019-20 swim team.

On a Quaker Valley team with a lot of new members, junior swimmer Halle Wagner is a mainstay.

Wagner qualified for the WPIAL Class AA girls championship in two events individually in each of the past two seasons. Last season, she went to the PIAA meet in a relay.

“My experience has helped me understand what it takes to perform at championship meets,” she said.

Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said Wagner is a natural leader.

“Many of the team’s younger swimmers look up to her,” Glenn said. “She’s done a great job of fostering a positive team culture. Having people like her gives us a huge advantage.”

Wagner qualified for February’s WPIAL championship in the 200-yard freestyle relay with senior Sophie Besterman, freshman Ella Fuener and sophomore Isabel Huang. The team’s time (1 minute, 47.50 seconds) ranks third in WPIAL Class AA this season.

Individually, Wagner is close to advancing in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles.

“I hope to make cuts in my typical events and some new ones,” she said.

Wagner hopes the Quakers, who are part of a cooperative sponsorship with Sewickley Academy, can go undefeated and earn the Section 2-AA title. They started 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the section.

“We will put up a fight,” she said. “I’m very excited to see (the) WPIAL meet. Between the newcomers and the returning swimmers, it will be a good meet.”

The Quakers expect to be contenders for their first WPIAL title.

“Our team is versatile in a way (we) weren’t in past years,” said Wagner, a two-time WPIAL medalist in relays. “Coach Alexis and Coach Chad (Bateson) have done a great job including everyone.”

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 10:40AM

Sewickley Academy athlete of the week: Simon Iwanonkiw

Hampton trib logo 

Friday, January 10, 2020 | 1:04 PM

   


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Submitted

Sewickley Academy’s Simon Iwanonkiw is a member of the 2019-20 diving team.

Simon Iwanonkiw

School: Sewickley Academy

Sport: Swimming

Class: Junior

Claim to fame: Simon Iwanonkiw broke his arm in gymnastics years ago, and his mother responded by signing him up to be a diver as a safer alternative.

Diving from heights as high as 10 meters, which is about 33 feet, is too tall for some, but Iwanonkiw thrives on the long descent into the water. He also has been one of the most consistent athletes on Quaker Valley’s cooperative team and earned a spot at WPIALs.

Why do you enjoy diving?

It’s fun and I like all of my coaches. I’ve been with Pitt Diving Club for two or three years. They’re always fun even though conditioning isn’t too great.

What’s your typical conditioning like?

We have to do a bunch of abs and then run. It is not good.

What’s your favorite dive to execute?

Probably one and a half front from tower (at 7 to 10 meters), because I just love hitting the water from that dive and being able to have a good entry.

What challenges are there diving from as high up as 10 meters?

It’s not too different except you have more time falling before you hit the water, which makes it more difficult. It can be scarier if you look over the edge, because you know a lot more can go wrong.

What are your goals at WPIALs?

I don’t necessarily have any goals for placing. I just really don’t want to mess up any dives, because last year I forgot one and ended up doing the wrong dive. So, that’s the goal. Just don’t mess up there.

What do you feel is your greatest strength?

Probably twisting dives.

What do you want to improve the most this season?

Reverses, because I used to be afraid of them. I am getting a lot better.

What else do you enjoy at Sewickley Academy?

I enjoy my English class actually. I normally don’t like it, because I’m not that good in it but my literary teacher makes her class fun.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 9:26AM

Quaker Valley athlete of the week: Sophie Besterman

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 | 1:23 AM

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Quaker Valley soccer players, from left, Arabella Grant, Sophie Besterman, Fiona Benge, Sydney Persuit and Haley Steffey pose before a game during the 2019 season.

Sophie Besterman

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Swimming

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Bloomberg commit Sophie Besterman took a hiatus from swimming lasting more than a year, and she’s still one of the best local athletes in the sport.

Besterman recently qualified for WPIALs in the 100 backstroke, 200 free relay and 200 medley relay, and her goal is place in the top four in at least one event at the championship meet.

What was your reaction to making the cut for WPIALs?

I expected to make WPIALs for all three of my events. Our girls team is really strong this year, so I think we can do really well. Coming back after being gone so long and doing so well was exciting.

Why did you decide to return to swimming?

I took a break last year because I had played basketball in middle school but swam in my freshman and sophomore years. I gave swimming a break, because I never played high school basketball. This year I wanted to swim again, and I also wanted to do it for college purposes.

Would those decisions be a lot easier if the two sports were played in separate seasons?

Oh, definitely. The girls basketball team is really fun, and they also look really good this year. But, unfortunately, I had to choose one.

How challenging was it to return to swimming?

It was really difficult. It was really a year and a half since I swam in the pool, so it was rough. I also play soccer, and swimming is 100 times harder. The last time I swam before this season was sophomore year at WPIALs.

What else are you involved at Quaker Valley?

I’m part of QV Creekers, which is our environmental science program. I also do QV Voice, where we get together in a group with our guidance counselor every Wednesday and eat lunch, talk about our days, watch Ted Talks and discuss issues.

What’s your favorite class?

Research science is probably my favorite class where we make experiments, conduct them and present them at a competition.

What will you study in college?

I want to work in environmental science and do something with marine life, preserving the ocean and conservation.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 2:16PM

Quaker Valley freshman swims individually at holiday meet

By: 
Saturday, January 4, 2020 | 9:13 AM


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Submitted

Quaker Valley freshman Emma Smith competed at the West Allegheny Christmas meet on Dec. 28. At left is QV coach Alexis Glenn.

Quaker Valley freshman Emma Smith is a dedicated swimmer who has drive, coach Alexis Glenn said.

So, when the Quakers did not have enough swimmers to field a team in the West Allegheny Christmas/New Year Invitational meet Dec. 27-28, Smith asked to compete anyway.

“Much of our team was not able to make it,” Glenn said. “A lot of them go away for the holidays.

“Emma asked if she could swim two (individual events) to get times. I went ahead and entered her.”

Smith, 15, of Edgeworth, placed eighth in the girls 100-yard backstroke in one minute, 12.34 seconds and 12th in the 500 freestyle (29.12). She scored in both and earned Quaker Valley a team ranking.

Twelve squads from Allegheny, Beaver, Indiana, Lawrence and Washington counties garnered points.

“It was important I compete because the more meets I go to, the more opportunities I have to improve and try to get qualifying times for (the WPIAL championship),” Smith said. “I placed well but was hoping to place higher and drop times.

“I was at a disadvantage because I did not have (seed) times. I had to swim in the first heat and even swam one event without anyone in the lanes on either side of me.”

Smith said she had a great time.

“I enjoyed the chance to see other great swimmers our team will be going against,” she said. “It was great spending time with Coach Glenn.

“This experience will help me as the season progresses. This has shown me that to be a better swimmer, I need to continue working on the small things such as my starts, underwater and turns.”

A member of the Moon Aqua Club, Smith loves high school swimming.

“It gives me a chance to be a part of a team and have fun,” she said. “Club swimming is great for training and making friends, but the Quaker Valley team has helped me see the joy in the sport again.

“I’ve been swimming since I was 6 and have put a lot of hard work into the sport.”

Smith said she wants to do whatever she can to help the Quakers capture the Section 2-AA title.

Glenn said Smith is extremely hardworking and has a lot of potential.

Smith also shines in the classroom. According to the school district site, she was the state winner of the DAR American history essay contest last year.

Glenn said one Quaker — freshman Ella Fuener in the 50 freestyle (26.41) — made a WPIAL cut in the season opener against Beaver Falls. She expected many more qualifying times in the Quakers’ next meet Jan. 2 against Montour.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 8:15PM

Quaker Valley’s Huang focusing on details, technique in defense of WPIAL gold

By:  
Friday, December 27, 2019 | 6:04 PM

   


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Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review 

Quaker Valley freshman Isabel Huang competes in the girls 100 backstroke during the WPIAL Class AA Swimming Championship on Friday, March 1, 2019, at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

Isabel Huang’s swimming is a thing of beauty, Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said.

The Sewickley Academy sophomore excels for the Quakers on a cooperative swim team, but she wasn’t always a natural in the water. If not for her parents’ encouragement, Huang said, she likely would have dropped the sport years ago.

The more time Huang spent in pools, the more often she placed first in races. She wasn’t surprised in her freshman year when she won WPIAL gold medals in the 200 IM (2 minutes, 7.34 seconds) and 100 backstroke (58.13).

“We looked at times from the past year to know what it would take to qualify for states, and I knew from that, that I could win,” Huang said. “There’s a lot of people at WPIALs and a lot of cheering, and all of that really gets the adrenaline going. Your team is there, so there is a lot of support, and I really like swimming because of the people and having fun with everyone.”

Huang is getting faster this year, Killer Whales club team coach Dan Taylor said.

She recently posted personal bests in seven events, shortly after battling the flu, which kept her away from both teams for a week.

“Isabel has been with us since September, works really hard in practice and I was really impressed with those meets because she couldn’t train much,” Taylor said. “… I’m still getting to know her in workouts, but she’s clearly a very good racer as we’ve seen.”

Huang splits time between the high school and club teams, which gives her the benefit of receiving instruction from multiple coaches.

She also gets more training in with the Killer Whales.

“All of my swimmers on a club team can go to those practices,” Glenn said. “We use the Sewickley YMCA. We’re only able to use it for 90 minutes, and we only use three lanes when we have diving. It’d be nearly impossible to get a really good practice in if we always had more than 30 swimmers.”

Glenn immediately noticed how refined Huang’s swimming was at the start of her high school career.

“You could tell she was going to be successful,” Glenn said. “And now she’s become phenomenal.”

Huang’s focus this year, if she is to repeat at WPIALs and place higher at states, is on fine-tuning the smaller details of her technique.

“She’s easy to coach and very receptive,” Taylor said. “As with a lot of new kids to the club team, she listens more than she talks. As they are more comfortable, they give more feedback, and that feedback to swimmers evolves into more of a conversation.”

Huang wants to be a repeat WPIAL champion, and she plans to space out the high school and club meets she competes in toward the end of the season to better prepare for each event.

“I’m really excited, overall, to swim again in those events,” Huang said. “I’d like to see how much I’ve grown, and it’d be fun to start a streak (at WPIALs). If I were to win a state championship, I really would be excited. I’d definitely be really happy if I ever won there.”

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 8:19PM

Quaker Valley swim team has title aspirations

By:  
Sunday, December 15, 2019 | 11:48 AM

   


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John Doucette Photography 

The 2019-20 Quaker Valley swim team

Bolstered by some new athletes, the Quaker Valley girls swimming team expects to be a serious contender for its first WPIAL title.

Second-year coach Alexis Glenn said 12 girls have been added to the roster, many of whom will be standouts.

“We definitely will put up a fight for section, as well as the WPIAL title,” said Glenn, a former Quaker swimmer.

Glenn said sophomore Isabel Huang and junior Halle Wagner are still swimmers to watch.

Huang, a Sewickley Academy student who competes for the Quakers as part of a cooperative sponsorship, earned gold medals in both her individual events at the WPIAL Class AA championship last season. 

She went on to place fifth in the 200-yard individual medley and 11th in the 100 backstroke in the PIAA meet.

Huang expects to have more confidence.

“I’m more familiar with swimmers on other teams and the routines,” she said. “If I make it again, I want to place higher at states.

“I’m working towards faster times and better swims.”

Wagner competed in two individual events and was on the 400 freestyle relay team that placed seventh at the WPIAL championships.

Huang, the anchor, and sophomores Amanda Kerrish and Rebecca Glass are back from that relay.

“We have a strong team,” Wagner said. “I hope to go to the state championships with a relay and maybe even in an individual event.”

Senior Sophie Besterman returned to swimming after playing basketball last season. Besterman earned gold and silver medals on the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams at the 2017 WPIAL championship.

In 2018, she placed seventh in the 200 freestyle relay, picking up a medal, and competed in two individual events.

Besterman said the Quakers are strong, and she is excited to see what happens.

“I hope the team has a super fun time,” she said.

Ella Fuener and Emma Smith are promising freshmen.

“They look to have some WPIAL events in their future,” Glenn said.

The Quakers kicked off Section 2-AA action Dec. 12 against Beaver Falls. Their next meet is Dec. 19 at Beaver.

They placed eighth in the WPIAL last season.

The Quaker Valley boys, the WPIAL Class AA champions from 2015-17, are rebuilding.

“We still have a small boys team,” Glenn said. “We only have 10 swimmers.

“I am looking for this to be a growing season.”

The Quakers lost WPIAL individual medalists Andres Hubsch (third in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 100 butterfly) and Kieran Ragoowansi (seventh in the 100 freestyle).

Junior Simon Iwanonkiw (seventh in 1-meter diving) returns.

Team News

4.0 years ago @ 8:25PM

Quaker Valley’s Besterman returns to swim team

By:  
Saturday, December 7, 2019 | 10:25 AM

   


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Submitted by Paul Besterman 

Quaker Valley soccer players, from left, Arabella Grant, Sophie Besterman, Fiona Benge, Sydney Persuit and Haley Steffey pose before a game during the 2019 season.

Thinking about her future, Quaker Valley senior Sophie Besterman returned to the girls swimming team after playing basketball last season.

Besterman earned gold and silver medals on the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams at the 2017 WPIAL Class AA championship meet. Both qualified for the PIAA championship.

The Quakers placed third in WPIAL team scoring.

In 2018, Besterman placed seventh in the 200 freestyle relay, earning a medal, and ninth in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the WPIAL meet. Besterman also was ninth in the 100 backstroke in 2017.

She said she missed swimming.

“Swimming is really special,” she said. “There are college-related opportunities.”

Besterman, whose sister, Amelia, is a junior on the Bloomsburg women’s team, is undecided where she wants to continue her career.

“I am still working through the process,” she said.

Besterman said it has been difficult going back to the sport because of the training it requires.

“We are a different kind of breed,” she said. “I have played soccer, basketball and track. They are all tough, but swimming is definitely the hardest.”

Second-year Quaker Valley coach Alexis Glenn said having Besterman back is a big plus.

“I’ve known Sophie for a while due to her sister,” said Glenn, a former Quaker swimmer. “I know her work ethic will go a long way. I plan on working with her to get her into the swing of things as quickly as possible. I have high hopes for the year.”

Besterman joins a team that placed eighth in the WPIAL last season. The Quakers kicked off the season Dec. 5 with a scrimmage at Northgate.

Their Section 2-AA opener is Dec. 12 at home against Beaver Falls. Sophomore Isabel Huang and junior Halle Wagner are their top returning swimmers.

Besterman said her goals are to get back to competitive levels and have fun with her teammates.

Jeff Berghoff, Besterman’s coach with the Moon Aqua Club, said Besterman has been working hard.

“She is a tremendous natural athlete,” he said. “While it takes time to return to her previous peak level, she is an incredibly hard worker and should not have any problem getting there.

“I am looking forward to her having a standout senior year.”

Besterman helped the Quaker girls basketball team clinch the final WPIAL playoff spot in Section 2-4A last season. After coming up with a steal, she made one of two free throws in a 45-43 win over Ambridge in overtime.


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