As the water outside begins to freeze, the water in the Penn-Trafford pool is starting to heat up with the end of the swimming season next month and WPIALs right around the corner.
     Of the seven meets this season, the girls are 6-1, losing only to Hempfield, while the boys have an undefeated 7-0 record, winning against teams including Gateway, Plum, Shaler, Penn Hills, Laurel Highlands and Greensburg Salem. Both teams placed second in the Westminster relays in the first competition of the season.
     The boys and girls teams have had a number of other successes this year, too.
     Nine boys qualified for WPIALs. Most impressive is senior Christian McCurdy, who qualified for nine events, the most of anyone on the team. They include, the 50, 100, 200 and 500 free, the 100 breast, 100 fly, 200 individual medley (IM) and the 100 back.
     “I don’t know if we will win, but I expect we will place,” said freshman Kyle Edwards.
     The teams practice six days and have at least one meet every week.
      “We are going to train very hard as we have been all season,” said junior Jake Marino. “We will continue to pursue the excellence we strive for everyday.”
     One of the team’s biggest rivals is Gateway, who they overcame in the first meet of the season.  They are also hoping to beat Franklin Regional, who is said to be one of the best teams in the area.
     The girls have had success in their season, with freshman Devon Davenport qualifying for WPIALs in the 100-meter backstroke. Three girls also qualified for a relay event -- Freshman Audra Regan, sophomore Cassie Szmyd and junior Haley Muro.
     “The girls have improved from last year,” said senior Katie Gourdie.
     The girls have, so far, had a better record from last year as well as having more WPIAL contenders.
     Latrobe and Hempfield are big rivals of the P-T girls because of their high talent and winning records. P-T is also hoping to beat Norwin who, according to Gourdie, is “not that big of a threat anymore.”
     With the leadership of senior team captains Baurle, Luke Zolyak, Elaina Lonzo and Karina Sarver, along with head coach David Babik, the players hope to continue to win and place in WPIALs.