The Corry Beaver Ladies swimming and diving team traveled to North East Saturday to compete in the 35th annual North East girls swimming and diving invitational. The Lady Beavers team of nine, competed amongst 15 teams from the District 10 region in the mid-season championship and came away with a 4th place team finish. Cathedral Prep (formerly Villa Maria Academy - Erie) won the 2023 team title while General McLane finished 2nd and Fairview placed 3rd. "Our girl's were one of the smallest teams in attendance and were able to finish 4th ahead of some very deep and talented teams. Our ladies made it known loud and clear that, pound for pound, we are one of the best teams in district 10" exclaimed coach Doug Gerould. "Every one of our girls had incredible time drops and contributed to our team finish". 

Sylvia Elmquist, the Beavers only senior, set the tone in the morning diving competition with a 2nd place finish out of 12 female competitors. She was the Lady Beavers best finisher throughout the swimming and diving competition. Beavers diving coach Richard Zarger was very pleased with Emquists results on the diving board. "Sylvia went back-and-forth for first place with Fairview's Elena Veres for most of the diving competition", mentioned Zarger. Elmquist's 11-dive score of 383.00 was her personal best, surpassing her total from last season's district 10 diving championships where she finished 8th. 

The Ladies continued to ride the momentum set by Elmquist's morning efforts on the diving board. Corry junior Mackenzie Spence found the podium in each of her two individual events finishing third in both the 100 butterfly (1:01.76) and 100 backstroke (1:01.63). Spence's times in both would have qualified her for the 2022 PIAA State championships. Alli Goodwill, also a junior, finished 5th in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.30) and 9th in the 200 IM (2:27.68). Taylor Moats, another junior, finished with a couple of personal best times, placing 8th in both the 200 freestyle (2:09.98) and 500 freestyle (5:47.11). Rachel Moats, a freshman, had strong performances with two personal best swims as she finished 8th in the 100 backstroke (1:05.69) and 10th in the 200 IM (2:28.34). Mahra Goodwill, also a freshman, had a good showing in the sprint events where she finished 8th in the 100 freestyle (58.37) and 14th in the 50 freestyle (26.71). Lily Hogan, another freshman, finished 30th in the 100 freestyle (1:09.35) and 31st in the 50 freestyle (30.44). Sophomore Taylor Mitchell finished 34th in both the 50 (30.99) and 100 (1:10.93) freestyle events while Vonneece Hayes, another sophomore, finished 40th in the 50 freestyle (33.08) and 43rd in the 100 freestyle (1:15.86). 

In relay action, the Lady Beavers led off the 200 Medley relay with Rachel Moats, Alli Goodwill, Mackenzie Spence, and Mahra Goodwill teaming up for a 4th place finish (1:59.32). Then in the 200 Freestyle relay, Taylor Moats, Alli Goodwill, Mackenzie Spence, and Mahra Goodwill joined up to finish 5th with a time of 1:49.28. To cap off the Beaver relays, Taylor Moats, Rachel Moats, Vonneece Hayes, and Taylor Mitchell teamed up to finish 12th in the 400 Freestyle relay (4:30.21).

"Its tough to say who had the Beavers top swims with all of them finishing with season best and personal best swims" mentioned coach Gerould. " Vonneece Hayes had a breakout meet dropping significant time in the sprint events and improving her placement in each. She also stepped up to help the Beavers 400 freestyle relay to a 12th place finish". Taylor Moats dropped the most time, shedding over 8 seconds in the 500 Freestyle. Mackenzie Spence was the ladies leader in points as she found the podium twice." 

The Beavers will continue their 2022-23 schedule as they will host the Harborcreek Huskies on Thursday at the YMCA of Corry's Arlene and Bruce Smith Natatorium. The Beaver men will prepare to compete at the 39th Iroquois coaches association boy's invitational at Iroquois High School on Saturday.