The Dallas Post Section 2 March 11, 1998 Sports Pair of Dallas swimmers upbeat at chance to compete with the best EA POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK Matt Schweitzer climbed out of the College Misericordia pool at practice last week. He will swim the 200 and 500 freestyle at the next season. ‘state swimming meet this week. He and Stephanie Potisek qualified for states for the second consecutive year, and both will be back for By JEFF FANECK Post Correspondent DALLAS - Another year, an- other trip to the state swimming and diving tournaments for sopho- more Matt Schweitzer and junior Stephanie Potisek of Dallas High School. They left Wednesday morning for Penn State Univer- sity where the tournament will take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A few weeks ago the duo, who earned Dallas's first two invita- tions to last year’s state tourna- ments, won the Mountaineers’ first gold medals at the district tour- naments. Matt took top honors in the 200 freestyle and second in the 500 freestyle, and Stephanie won the gold in the diving compe- tition. Coach Matt Stretanski is very upbeat about their chances to do well this week. “If Matt does what he’s capable of doing, he should definitely make the first cut which is the top 18, and I am very con- fident that Stephanie will make the first cut and possibly even the second cut,” he said. He also hopes the experience of participating last year will help : immensely. “Their championship experience should help them a lot this week,” Stretanski said. “Without all the | support, this pro- gram would not be where it is today.” Matt Stretanski Dallas swiming coach “They're extremely strong com- petitors and should be'very fo- cused. Last year | think they were nervous, but that was under- standable. They'll do just fine.” Schweitzer added, “This year will be different from last year. I know now what's it like to partici- pate in a state tournament and I know what the competition is like.” The fact that Matt and: Stephanie have qualified for states two consecutive years is a reflec- tion on the direction in which the Dallas swimming program is head- ing. “We started out with 19 ath- letes and one team. We now have separate boys and girls teams and a total of 45 athletes,” Stretanski said. “Our numbers are increas- ing at a rate of about eight kids per year.” This year the boys team earned its first winning record, ending the year at 7-6. Schweitzer sites the team’s closeness as a major Maciejczak takes 4th in state at 135 1b. Lake-Lehman’s Eric Maciejczak finished fourth in the state at 135 pounds in last weekend’s state wrestling championships, held at the Hersheypark Arena. Maciejczak won his opening match Thursday with an 12-4 decision over ~ Steve Kaylor, Southmoreland. He followed with an 11-2 decision over Tyler Camp, E. Pennsboro in the quarterfinals. After being pinned by Justin Olano, Tri-Valley in the semifinals Friday morning, Maciejczak came back to decision Jeremy Artman, Saegertown, 6-4. He then lost a tough match in the third place consolations Saturday, 6-4 to Josh Weyandt of Chestnut Ridge. Maciejczak is shown in Thursday’s match, about to throwdown his opponent (top photo). Nick Raczkowski, wrestling at 103, was the only other Back Mountain grappler to qualify for states. He lost a hard-fought opening match 6-4 to Adam Renner, Seneca Lake. He bounced back Thursday afternoon with a 9- 1 win over Thad Walstrom, Moshannon Valley, but didn’t win from then on out. He's shown in action against Renner in one of Thursday’s best matches (right). POST PHOTOS/RON BARTIZEK GOH, Northwest claim Sth, 6th orade championships Fifth Grade Gate of Heaven Green 50 - Gate of Heaven White Jimmy Schwerdtman scored 19 points and Tim Crossin 12 to lead Gate of Heaven Green to a 50-40 win over Gate of Heaven White in the championship game of the Dallas Youth Basketball Fifth Grade Tournament. | Also enjoying fine tournaments for green were Vince Carboni, John Foster, Evan Harris, Jared Northstein, Doug Harris; Sean Leary, Brian Ostrowsky and Michael Sobeck. The team was coached by Joe Leary and Ed Ostrowsky. White was led by Matt Wilson with 19 points and Ken Regan with 14. Also playing well in the tournament were Bob Bauer, Jim DeReemer, Michael DeRojas, Steven Goode, Conor Judge, Jus- tin Singer, Jonathon Stevens, Greg Suhocki, and Ryan Ward. The team was coached by Chuck Wil- son, Juan DeRojas and Jim Regan. Gate of Heaven White 37 - Dallas 3rd/4th Grade 35 Gate of Heaven White reached the finals with a 37-35 win over Dallas 3rd/4th Grade, who were led by David Harding with 8 points, Bobby Lenahan with 4. Also play- ing well were Conner Lenahan, Robbie Tomko, Kyle Mahle, Adam King, Ronnie Shiner and Ben Tho- mas. The team was coached by Joe Noon, Bob Lenahan and Lew Thomas. Dallas 3rd/4th Grade 28 - . Dallas Blue 26 In other 5th grade action, Dal- las 3rd/4th grade topped Dallas Blue 28-26 behind Eric Domzalski's 12 points and Mike Race's 7 points. Blue was led by Matt Kelly with 13 points and Tom Hadzor with 5. Also playing well were Michael Lloyd, Matt Daube, Andrew Gramps, Ryan Murray, - Colin ‘Baird and John Paul Parulski. The team was coached by George Gracely. Sixth Grade Northwest 54 - Dallas -41 Keith Mazonkey and Brendon Evans scored 16 points each to lead Northwest to a 54-41 win over Dallas. The victory gave Northwest the tournament cham- See 5-6 BALL, pg 10 Gate of Heaven White met DYB 3-4 In the semi-final 5th grade game Saturday. At right, Ryan Ward, GOH, went up for the shot over David Harding, Eric Domzalski and Michael Race. Below, Jonathan Stevens guarded Ronnie Shiner. * to learn from Stephanie, so good _ port, this program would not be factor. “We came together more as a team and showed more dedica- tion this year.” Stretanski agrees. “The guys team showed great dedication this year. They had strong leadership and a good state of mind.” The girls team ended 6-8 but many of their losses were by only a few points. Competition was very tough. : Interest in the program is grow- ing and younger athletes are com- ing in and contributing right away. Freshman diver Erin Cooper ended a fine year by finishing sixth at districts. She continues things should be expected from her in years to come. This past season was the fourth year Dallas has had a team, and Stretanski has been there from the beginning. He comments, “Ev- erything as a whole has gone well. A new team coming into a league needs about two or three years of experience to become a true con- tender. Swimming is a sport where you have to practice and practice and practice so your body is pre- pared. The support of everyone involved - the parents, the. offi- cials, the press - has been abso- lutely great. Without all the sup- POST PHOTO/JIM PHILLIPS Stephanie Potisek practiced diving last week. where it is today.” | BMT Softball tryouts March 21 Back Mountain oftball will conduct tryouts for the 1998 season Thursday, March 12 at the Dallas Township School gymnasium, adjacent to the softball fields. Tryouts for new players or for players not already on maj ; league 0 or senior league team will be held : according to : ; year olds not on a se foi league team. Tryout or girls U- 10 travel soccer team There will be an open tryout for a new Back Mountain girls U-10 travel soccer team Saturday, March 14 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Penn State gymnasium in Lehman. All girls born between 8/1/87 and 7/31/ 88 are invited. The team will play Sundays this spring in the outdoor travel league. For more information, call Paul Callahan at 675-0094 eve., 288-7216 days. Dallas Jr. Football registration March 13-14 Dallas Jr. Football will hold its registration for all boys and girls (age 6-13) on Fri., March 13 from 6-8 p.m. and Sat., March 14 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the Dallas Twp. Municipal Bldg. All participants must bring arecent photo, a copy of his/her birth certificate and a copy of his/her health insurance. Fees are $35 /player and $15/each additional family member. For more information contact Kim Anderson at 696- 2305 or reach us on our hotline at 674-5549. KT Raiders signups Saturday Kingston Township Raiders Junior Football will be holding registra- - tion sign-ups for Players and Cheerleaders Sat., March 14, at the Shavertown Fire Co. on Main St., Shavertown, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Registration is open to boys and girls ages 6 through 14 who reside in Kingston Township as well as some surrounding areas. Registration is'$35 per participant or $50 per family with more than one child. New participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and a recent photo. Call Bob Zaruta at 675-0066 for additional information. Dallas HS Soccer craft show March 22 The Dallas High School Soccer Club is sponsoring the annual Spring Craft Show on Sun., March 22, at the Dallas Senior High School from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 100 vendors from Pennsylvania and New Jersey will be represented, ‘selling crafts including semi-precious gemstone jewelry, needlework, candles, ceramics, potpourri, quilts, stencilled lamp shades, woodcrafts, wreaths, handmade dolls and homemade candy. Soccer Club members will be selling lunch and baked goods throughout the day. There is no admission charge.
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