Members of Jonathan Alder’s swimming team are from left, front row, Alexis Ahner, Anna Drewes, Rosalia Chunlian and Maggie Matessa; second row, Allie Piccolantonio, Lauren Murphy, Winnie Sheridan, Avery Wynk and Emily Wheelbarger; third row, Ashton Kennedy, Doug Nussbaum, Greg Nussbaum and head coach Katie Bumgarner. Not pictured, Eli Stol. (Photo submitted)
Jonathan Alder High School’s swimming program continues to grow.
“We have a total of 13 swimmers this year,” said coach Katie Bumgarner. “That’s our largest team to date.”
The roster includes nine girls and four boys.
The number of boys will enable the Pioneers to compete in a relay for the first time in school history.
Returning girls lettermen for JA include district meet qualifiers Maggie Matessa, Allie Piccolantonio and Avery Wynk.
They competed in several different events at the district level.
Eli Stoll was the Division II state runner-up in the boys 100 backstroke competition.
Newcomers to the program are Anna Drewes (backstroke), Winnie Sheridan (breaststroke), Emily Wheelbarger (breaststroke), Greg Nussbaum (freestyle/breaststroke), Rosalia Chunlian (a junior – exchange student; freestyle) and Ashton Kennedy (freestyle, backstroke).
Bumgarner said the goals for the 2021-2022 season are to compete at a high level within the Central Buckeye Conference, qualify more swimmers to the district meet and represent JA at the state level.