HS SWIMMING: West Scranton, Scranton split meets in season finale

Feb. 10—SCRANTON — West Scranton's Chris Lipscomb and Scranton's Kaylee Butler had their ups and downs throughout their high school swimming careers, but both finished on a high note.

In the final dual meet of their senior seasons, Lipscomb and Butler helped lead their respective teams to wins Thursday night in the annual showdown between city rivals at Scranton High School's natatorium.

Lipscomb won the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 butterfly and contributed to a pair of relay wins to lead the Invaders to a 109-64 win over Scranton. West Scranton finished the season with a 6-2 record two years after going 0-15 in Lipscomb's first two seasons.

"This is fantastic," Lipscomb said. "Now that we are winning, the school is recognizing us a little bit more. I am happy for our success, but it is kind of sad because this is my last meet. I am happy and sad at the same time.

"I was the most motivated that I have been all season, because it was against Scranton, our rival."

Butler captured the 100 butterfly and the 500 free, and also contributed to two relay wins as the Lady Knights edged West Scranton, 63-60. Scranton, which had lost 33 straight meets after winning in Butler's first varsity competition in 2020, finished the season 1-7.

"This is our first win since my freshman year, and it's pretty exciting," Butler said. "I thought I swam pretty well. I really wanted to get a win to finish out my senior season right."

West Scranton boys also got two individual wins and two relay wins from Jacob Schultz and two wins and a relay win from freshman Royli Ayala to finish with the program's best record in the Lackawanna League since it formed in 2015.

In coach Marc Loretti's first season in 2021, the Invaders had four swimmers, which included Lipscomb. Last year, they finished 4-4, and this year, they only lost to league champion Delaware Valley and traditional power Abington Heights. They also had their first win over Scranton Prep since 2010 and capped the season with the win against Scranton.

Schultz got West Scranton going with a win in the 200 free in 2 minutes, 7.52 seconds; Lipscomb followed with a win in the 200 individual medley (2:33.01); Ayala sprinted to victory in the 50 free (24.33); and Angel Agosto won diving with a score of 167.55.

"I had that motivation, because you always want to beat the crosstown rival," said Schultz, who also erased a deficit in his final leg of the 400 free relay. "My freshman year, we did not win any meets, and we had only four swimmers. We recruited guys to come out for the team, and we put in the work. Beating Scranton Prep was the biggest win I have ever been a part of, and what a great way to finish with a win over your crosstown rival."

Scranton (3-4-1) put a scare into the Invaders with a run of wins.

Rocco Cipriano earned a hard-fought victory over West Scranton's Luke Brink in the 100 free (57.42); Michael Bernotsky won the 500 free (7:24.62); and Scranton's team of Cipriano, Gabriel Longworth, Coen Miller and Jeremiah Aires won the 200 free relay.

But Schultz added a second win in the 100 back (1:03.35), and Ayala stormed to an impressive win in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.36). Then, the team of Alejandro Monroy, Andy Tirva, Lipscomb and Schultz added the exclamation point in the 400 free relay (4:14.24).

"I feel great," Ayala said. "I just have to keep on working. Obviously, I am happy, but we still have to put in the work. Beating Scranton was pretty cool, because it was a really big rivalry."

In addition to Butler's wins in the 100 fly (1:20.03) and the 500 free (6:20.15), Melanie Anderson, who has battled through a knee injury throughout her career, won the 200 free (3:01.73) and the 100 free (1:15.15).

"My races were really fun," Anderson said. "I have been dealing with my knee locking up all season. I just powered through the meet. This feels really nice because we didn't have any wins coming into this meet."

Josephine Krokus, who won an uncontested race in the 200 IM (2:59.71), had an important win in the 100 breaststroke (1:29.32) that drew the Lady Knights to within 60-55 with one event remaining.

Scranton's top three swimmers — Butler, Anderson and Krokus — teamed up with Britney Dominguez for the second time in the meet and won an uncontested 400 free relay, propelling the team to victory.

"I felt really strong and got the times I was hoping for," Krokus said. "It feels really good to get a win, especially being a senior. I have been on the team for the last two years, and it feels great knowing that we can graduate with a win."

Desthiny Reyes won the 50 free and the 100 back, and Vallery Oentoyo won diving, and Courtney Hazelton, Isabella Stanton and Julenny Mercedes teamed with Reyes to win the 200 free relay for West Scranton.

Boys West Scranton 109, Scranton 64

200 Medley Relay: West Scranton (Schultz, Ayala, Lipscomb, Brink) 1:51.40, WS, SCR. 200 Free: Jacob Schultz (WS) 2:07.52, Miller (SCR), Monroy (WS). 200 IM: Chris Lipscomb (WS) 2:33.01, Longworth (SCR), Kochis (WS). 50 Free: Royli Ayala (WS) 24.33, Aires (SCR), Kochis (WS). Diving: Angel Agosto (WS) 167.55. 100 Fly: Chris Lipscomb (WS) 1:08.84, Camarillo (WS), Aires (SCR). 100 Free: Rocco Cipriano (SCR) 57.42, Brink (WS), Agosto (WS). 500 Free: Michael Bernotsky (SCR) 7:24.62, Monroy (WS), Longworth (SCR). 200 Free Relay: Scranton (Cipriano, Longworth, Miller, Aires) 1:49.83, WS, WS. 100 Back: Jacob Schultz (WS) 1:03.35, Cirpriano (SCR), Longworth (SCR). 100 Breast: Royli Ayala (WS) 1:04.36, Brink (WS), DeJesus (WS). 400 Free Relay: West Scranton (Monroy, Turva, Lipscomb, Schultz) 4:14.24, SCR, SCR.

Records: WS 6-2, SCR 3-4-1.

Wallenpaupack 78, Scranton Prep 64

At the University of Scranton, Brendan Creamer finished first in the 50 freestyle and was part of a relay win to lead Wallenpaupack.

Liam Ong, Lukas Iannone and Alex Iannone each had two individual wins and two relay wins for Scranton Prep.

200 Medley Relay: Wallenpaupack (Ferrara, Vargo, Hearn, Creamer) 2:10.2. 200 Free: Liam Ong (SP) 1:58.28, Hathawy (WAL), Puma Stehlik (WAL). 200 IM: Lukas Iannone (SP) 2:09.29, Hearn (WAL). 50 Free: Brendan Creamer (WAL) 24.57, Vargo (WAL), DeVitto (SP). Diving: No contest. 100 Fly: Alex Iannone (SP) 1:00.09, Hearn (WAL). 100 Free: Liam Ong (SP) 52.95, Ferrara (WAL), Harmuth (WAL). 500 Free: Lukas Iannone (SP) 5:31.63, Kelly (WAL), Puma Stehlik (WAL). 200 Free Relay: Scranton Prep (A. Iannone, Ong, Gallagher, L. Iannone) 1:38.33, Wallenpaupack, Wallenpaupack. 100 Back: Michael DeVitto (SP) 1:08.38, Ferrara (WAL), Gallagher (SP). 100 Breast: Alex Iannone (SP) 1:10.84, Vargo (WAL), Hathawy (WAL). 400 Free Relay: Scranton Prep (L. Iannone, Ong, DeVitto, A. Iannone) 3:39.2, Wallenpaupack, Wallenpaupack.

Records: WAL 3-5, SP 4-4.

GirlsScranton 63, West Scranton 60

200 Medley Relay: Scranton (Anderson, Krokus, Butler, Dominguez) 2:25.82, WS. 200 Free: Melanie Anderson (SCR) 3:01.73, Mercedes (WS). 200 IM: Josephine Krokus (SCR) 2:59.71. 50 Free: Desthiny Reyes (WS) 31.68, Doninguez (SCR), Oentoyo (WS). Diving: Vallery Oentoyo (WS) 118.85. 100 Fly: Kaylee Butler (SCr) 1:20.03, Mercedes (WS). 100 Free: Melanie Anderson (SCR) 1:15.15, Stanton (WS), Oentoyo (WS). 500 Free: Kaylee Butler (SCr) 6:20.15, Hazelton (WS). 200 Free Relay: West Scranton (Hazelton, Reyes, Stanton, Mercedes). 2:24.70. 100 Back: Desthiny Reyes (WS) 1:28.87, Hazelton (WS), Dominguez (SCR). 100 Breast: Josephine Krokus (SCR) 1:29.32, Stanton (WS). 400 Free Relay: Scranton (Krokus, Dominguez, Anderson, Butler) 4:14.24.

Records: SCR 1-7, WS 0-8.

Scranton Prep 132, Wallenpaupack 38

At the University of Scranton, Ava Forgione had two individual wins and was part of two winning relays to lead Scranton Prep.

Tessa Mangan had an individual win and three relay wins for the Classics.

Rachel Keane had two individual wins for Wallenpaupack.

200 Medley Relay: Scranton Prep (H. Cross, Jervis, Mangan, Purcell) 2:00.97, Scranton Prep, Scranton Prep. 200 Free: Ava Forgione (SP) 2:06.61, Horter (SP), Muha (SP). 200 IM: Mackenzie Cross (SP) 2:23.38, Millett (SP), Bonavoglia (SP). 50 Free: Rachel Keane (WAL) 27.9, Purcell (SP), Hadley (SP). Diving: No contest. 100 Fly: Ava Newman (SP) 1:07.62, Galko (SP), H. Cross (SP). 100 Free: Tessa Mangan (SP) 57.0, Schofield (SP), Muha (SP). 500 Free: Ava Forgione (SP) 5:46.39, Jervis (SP), Cawley (SP). 200 Free Relay: Scranton Prep (M. Cross, Mangan, Newman, Forgione) 1:45.49, Scranton Prep, Scranton Prep. 100 Back: Sophia Galko (SP) 1:08.35, Purcell (SP), Kopa (SP). 100 Breast: Rachel Keane (WAL) 1:15.53, Jervis (SP), Kopa (SP). 400 Free Relay: Scranton Prep (M. Cross, Newman, Forgione, Mangan) 3:52.8, Scranton Prep, Wallenpaupack.

Records: SP 8-0, WAL 3-5.

Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; @sportsTT on Twitter