The Northampton swimming and diving teams turned in a dominant performance at home on Thursday, Jan. 7, sweeping local rival Whitehall High School in a dual meet. The girls’ team triumphed 111-67, while the boys’ team delivered an even more impressive victory, 146-36.

The night was filled with standout individual performances and relay victories as the Konkrete Kids demonstrated their depth and skill across the board.

Leading the way for the Northampton girls was senior Toni Bubier, who claimed two individual first-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle. Bubier’s dominance set the tone early, as the Konkrete Kids built a commanding lead.

Senior Gabi Oswald continued a strong season with a win in the 50-yard freestyle, while junior Sophia Pina added another victory for Northampton, capturing first place in the 100-yard butterfly. The girls’ team also showcased their depth in the relay events, where they swept all three relay races.

The girls’ 200-yard medley relay team of Amelia Sommons, Oswald, Olivia Kuhns, and Ava Keenan kicked things off with a win, while the quartet of Pina, Oswald, Keenan, and Bubier took first in the 200-yard freestyle relay. In the final event of the evening, the girls’ 400-yard freestyle relay team - Bubier, Kuhns, Pina, and Sommons - won in convincing fashion, securing a clean sweep of the relay races.

On the boys’ side, Northampton’s athletes delivered an equally strong performance. Freshman Henry Schoeneberger led the charge with first-place finishes in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle events. Schoeneberger’s victories were part of a strong individual showing by the Konkrete Kids, which also included sophomore Logan Saylor’s triumphs in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly.

Junior Nick Isaac took first in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke events. Freshman Joseph Kennedy claimed a victory in the 500-yard freestyle, while Aiden Kuntz completed the individual victories with a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke event.

The boys’ relay teams were just as dominant, with the Northampton boys also sweeping the relay events. The team of Isaac, Brody Warner, Ethan Brobst, and Shane Foley claimed victory in the 200-yard medley relay, while the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Isaac, Josiah Hippert, Nate Scheirer, and Saylor outpaced the competition. Finally, in the 400-yard freestyle relay, Northampton’s team of Hippert, Tobias Scott, Schoeneberger, and Scheirer sealed the win and the meet with an impressive performance in the last event of the evening.

In the diving event, senior Isabella Kish took first place with a district qualifying score of 222.25 for the girls and senior Alex Szeplaki broke his own school record, which he set just last month, with a final score of 255.40.

Head Coach Cullen Mentzell was thrilled with his team’s performance, noting the hard work and teamwork that led to the victory.

“It’s great to get a win, especially against our neighbors who are a big rivalry for us,” said Mentzell. “We still have work to do but tonight we had some great individual wins and best times.”

With this victory, Northampton’s swimming and diving teams continue a strong winning season. The girls’ team improved their record to 5-1, while the boys’ team moves to 6-0.

The team will return to action on Thursday with another exciting matchup, this time in an away meet against Parkland High School. Fans can expect more thrilling performances as the Northampton Varsity Swimming and Diving teams continue their quest for success.