Sharks swimmers pleased with second
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sacred Heart's Caroline Niederpruem, far left, Laura Savatierri, Jessica Cichochi, and Alex Skomra broke the school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay at last Wednesday's All-Catholic Championships at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Center. The quartet swam the event in 1:46.24.

Sacred Heart knew they didn't have a shot to win this year's All-Catholic swim meet. However, second place was a real possibility.

The Sharks beat out Mount St. Mary's for second place in team scoring, 60-52. Nardin won All-Catholics with 122 points.

The meet was held last Wednesday at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Center.

"Nardin kind of dominated the league, so getting second was a good accomplishment," said Sharks coach Kristy Michalek. "Getting second to Nardin is almost like getting first."

Two Sacred Heart school records fell, the 100-yard breaststroke, set by junior Laura Savattieri, and the 200 free relay of Savattieri, sophomore Alex Skomra, freshman Caroline Niederpruem and junior Jessica Cichochi.

Savattieri won the 100 breast in 1:12.51, breaking her own record of 1:13.36 she set at last year's All-Catholics. She beat second place finisher, Kelsey Shea of Buffalo Seminary, by two seconds.

The 200 free relay took second in 1:46.24. The old record of 1:46.46 was also set at last year's All-Catholics.

The 200 medley relay of junior Christina Ruggiero, Savattieri, sophomore Karalyn Evanco and Cichochi took second in 2:01.62. The 400 free relay of Cichochi, Ruggiero, sophomore Kristen Forcucci and freshman Sarah Mastrandrea came in third in 4:03.38.

In individual events, Ruggiero was second in the 200 individual medley in 2:22.29, which is close to a school record. Savattieri was third in the 50 free in 26.59 and fourth in the 100 back.

Forcucci came in fourth in the 200 free (2:14.64) and 500 free (5:53.05). The 500 free is a personal best time.

Sophomore Courtney Denk finished fourth in the 100 breast in 1:16.29, as did Evanco in the 100 fly in a season-best 1:11.09. Ruggiero and Skomra went 5-6 in the 100 back (Ruggiero, 1:08.55; Skomra, 1:12.30). Cichochi came in sixth in the 50 free in 27.11. Mastrandrea took sixth in the 200 free.

"Beth and I were extremely happy with how they swam," said Michalek. "The relays did better than we expected."

Sacred Heart finished second in the regular season with a 7-2 record.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com