Marian’s Berlitz, Dando shine at Schuylkill League swimming championships

POTTSVILLE – Marian may not have a swim team, but what it does have is Danny Berlitz, a junior who swims effortless and a swimmer who has Division I schools recruiting him like any big-time athlete in any sport you can name.

Berlitz won a pair of first-place medals, including a scintillating performance in the 200 freestyle in which he broke the record in a time of 1:43.12. His remarkable day Saturday at the Schuylkill League swim championships set a league, pool and area record at Pottsville’s Ned Hampford Natatorium..

“I’m so happy,” Berlitz said after the freestyle victory. His chief competition, North Schuylkill’s Reggie Crawford was challenging him from start to finish and finished a close second at 1:44.11. “(Reggie) is such a great swimmer and he kind of does circles going left to right. On the way down he would go on one side, and on the way back he would go on the other. He pushed me to 1:43, which is awesome”

Maddie Dando was also a headliner for Marian. Much like Berlitz, Dando won a pair of medals, finishing first in two events: the 100 free and the 100 backstroke.

“It just hit me when it was all over,” said the freshman from Frackville. “It was such a surreal moment.”

It was a special moment for Maddie’s father, Tim, who helps coach her. “Yeah, we were expecting (to win). We came here and you are at the top of your game, just go do it. She came in determined.”

Maddie said her father was a big inspiration.

“He pushes me to do my best,” she said. “I get really, really nervous before any swim. (And my dad) is my big supporter and tells me just do your race.”

While the spotlight was shining upon the two Marian swimmers, several other local girls were adding first-place wins. Tamaqua’s Lexi Kerstetter swam to victory in the 50 backstroke and Panther Valley’s Emily Newton was a winner in the 100 breaststroke.

“I’m very happy,” said Kerstetter, a senior. “I’ve been waiting since my sophomore year to get a gold medal. It was finally my year. I feel so great about it. I had some doubts about myself. I felt great. I knew my whole team would support me and the coaches.

Newton is another freshman that has potential stardom in her future. And like Marian, Panther Valley doesn’t have a swim team. Besides Newton, Jacqueline Kokinda added a bronze medal finishing third in the 200 freestyle (2:08.99) behind North Schuylkill’s winner Kylie Mallams (2:01.81) and second-place finisher Kerstetter (2:04.33).

“I was pretty nervous in my (first meet),” said Newton, who finished her event with a time of 1:12.59 and said the butterflies finally settled just before the gun sounded to start the race.

“Once I got on the block I was fine. I concentrated and felt good.”

The biggest winners on the day came from North Schuylkill’s burgeoning team. Up until two seasons ago, the Spartans had their pool shuttered, and it finally reopened two seasons ago.

The North Schuylkill girls had double winnerMallamsllams, Rylee Bolinsky and Joey Antolick in addition to Crawford on the boy’s side. The Spartan girls freestyle relay team added a gold medal.

SPLISH-SPLASHING … Tamaqua’s Oliva Stanek copped a silver medal in the 50 butterfly event and a bronze in the 100 fly. Blue Raider Kayla Sherrya, a junior, added a third place in the 50-yard breaststroke.

OH DANNY BOY! ... Berlitz previously held the record in the 200 freestyle event. There are a number of colleges knocking at his door, from Arizona to Florida to the Big 10.