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Gateway Heights claims third straight swim meet championship
Michael Love | The Times Express
Members of the Gateway Heights Swim Club team are all smiles after winning a third-straight Monroeville Invitational title July 13, 2013, at Garden City Swim Club.
From 2007 to 2010, Haymaker enjoyed a run of four straight Monroeville Invitational swimming championships.
Now, Gateway Heights is building a streak of its own.
The club unseated Haymaker in 2011 and defended its crown last summer.
Last Saturday, Gateway Heights claimed its third title in a row, as it bested the six-team field at the 44th annual event at Garden City Swim Club.
“The kids work so hard in practice day in and day out,” said Kristen Swaney, Gateway Heights head coach.
“They come together as a team. This is our favorite meet to come to. All of the teams swam well, and we were just fortunate enough to come out on top.”
Points are scored in 30 relay and individual events, and the points scored in both the boys and girls events are combined to reach the overall team score.
Gateway Heights finished with 224 points, while Haymaker was second with 211.
Rounding out the standings were Foxwood in third (201), Bel-Aire in fourth (154) and Park and Garden City tied for fifth with 135 points each.
Gateway Heights took first place in 12 of the 30 events.
More than 300 swimmers ages 5 to 18 took part in the annual invitational.
Rain throughout the week held off Saturday morning and sunny skies greeted the swimmers, coaches, meet volunteers and officials and spectators.
Meet director Glennis Rozeck said the meet again was a great success, and she thanked everyone who played a part.
State Rep. Joseph Markosek and Monroeville Mayor Greg Erosenko were on hand to present the team trophies to each squad.
Recent high school graduates from the six teams — Hayley Muro, Katie Mazza, Billy Mazza, Alex Elizeus, Brandon Madjerich, Jessica Kubler, Jordan Doman, Tia Bentley, Jack Babik, Alyssa Grieco, Ben Sheldon, Katie Baran, Zach Turi, Ray Doerfler and Kenny Stevens — were recognized and celebrated during the meet.
The six Monroeville-area teams continue their Eastern Swim Association meet schedule this week and also are focusing on the season-ending ESA championship meets on July 27.
Gateway Heights and Haymaker will join Edgewood, Highlands, Meadowink, Murrysville, Plum Aqua and White Oak at the Division I championships at White Oak.
The Division II meet will be at Forest Hills and will feature Bel-Aire, Foxwood, Garden City and Park, along with Blackridge, Forest Hills and Rosedale.
Michael Love is a staff writer with Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-388-5825 or at mlove@tribweb.com.
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