DVHS swim teams aim for States

Whether thinking about it on an individual, relay or team-wide scale, the sport of swimming can be intensely competitive — and that certainly includes at the high school level.

The Delaware Valley High School swimming program (boys’ and girls’ teams) are proving once again that they are ready to not only meet, but quite often surpass the difficult competition that they’ll encounter throughout the course of the 2024-2025 season.

Both Warriors’ teams are scheduled to compete at the Scranton Prep Classic Gold Relay Invitational at the University of Scranton on Saturday, January 4.

“We are hoping to win Districts and qualify for States,” Delaware Valley Head Coach Chelsea Shatt said.

The Warriors are rife with experienced, varsity-tested student athletes on the roster this year.

“Top returning performers are Ben Kruler, Jessica Willson and Etain Starr in diving,” Shatt said. “In swimming, Dean Finelli, Tyler Ingraham, Liam Fass, Ryan O’Connell, Michelle Zakharova, Eva Bogusta, Maya Sussman, Olivia Cruz and Riley Hunt [are among the key returning swimmers to the varsity roster]. Promising newcomers are Grace Holderith, Colin O’Connor, Samuel Fisher and Dylan Sevek.”

Proper leadership is a key factor in favor of Delaware Valley once again this season.

“Our captains this year are Eva Bogusta, Maya Sussman, Michelle Zakharova, Dean Finelli, Joey Kessler and Tyler Ingraham,” Shatt said. “They have been providing great guidance in and out of the pool already and I am proud of them.”

Last season, the Warriors’ boys team had a dual meet record of 9-0 and the girls’ squad also had an outstanding record of 7-2.

This winter, look for both teams to be competing at a high level in their division.

“The boys are in the top tier and the girls are definitely a contender,” Shatt said.

Delaware is ready to face several challenging opponents; coach Shatt named a few of the top teams on their schedule. “Scranton Prep for the boys and Tunkhannock and Elk Lake for the girls [will present tough challenges],” Shatt said. “We are looking forward to a great season.”