First Posted: 11/25/2014

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YATESVILLE — Things couldn’t have gone much better for the Pittston Area girls swim team last season.

After cruising through an unbeaten season in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 3, the Patriots sent several young athletes to the District 2 championships. Pittston Area expects much of the same this season as those young athletes are returning to the team.

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Senior Mia Nardone won District 2 gold last season in the 100 fly and took home bronze in the 100 backstroke. She will anchor an almost-identical team from a year ago.

“She leads by example in the water,” Pittston Area coach Amy Hazlet said. “She’s the hardest working kid. She has put her time in and she’s great to have on the team because the kids look and see the hard work she puts in. They can’t get there without the hard work.”

Nardone rewrote the record books in her time at Pittston Area, including a school record 59.67 in the 100 fly. At last year’s PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University, Nardone finished 16th in the state with times of 1:00.03 and 1:00.06.

Nardone’s goals this season are to improve each individual time while getting the Patriots to the best they can be.

“She’s very versatile and can swim any stroke I put her in,” Hazlet said. “She’s a great asset to have.”

Sierra Williams returns for her senior season after making it to the PIAA championships last season as a diver. Williams copped bronze at the District 2 championships.

According to Hazlet, the Patriots have won several meets because of diving points. Williams, along with freshman Abby Norwillo and sophomore Madi Osticco, will give the Patriots those points.

“We’re looking for (Williams) to do well and lead our two new divers,” Hazlet said. “A couple years ago, we won the division against Meyers because of diving points. It’s extremely important.”

After taking off her junior year, senior Shannen Brady returns to the pool. Juniors Adison Hazlet and Kate Musto are back after having impressive sophomore seasons. Following solid freshman seasons, Arianna Boccardi and Erin Senese will look to return to districts and compete for medals.

Do-it-all junior Kassity Roche helped the Patriots wherever they needed her last season. She’s back for her junior season.

“Kassity can swim anything,” Hazlet said. “I have a lot of tools; I just need to put them in the right spots.”

The Patriots swam in Division 3 last season, an all girls division. A bump up to Division 1 Class AAA this year leaves some work to do while swimming against some of the best in the Wyoming Valley. Division 3 in the WVC have since been dissolved.

The girls, however, look to the change of scenery as a challenge. Hazlet said if that would have been the case last season, the Patriots may have fared better in districts.

“They look at it as a challenge,” she said. “They are excited to have more competition. That will serve us well in districts.”

On the boys side, Pittston Area will not field a team this season. The team consists of 11 swimmers that can compete individually throughout districts and on to states.

Brandon Winters returns to the pool for the Patriots after a stellar campaign last season. Winters took silver at last year’s District 2 championships in the 50 free. He finished fifth in the 100 backstroke, missing states by 0.02 in both events.

“He’s really focused this year,” Hazlet said. “He’s the heart and sole of this team.”

Nardone and Winters are in the top of their classes at Pittston Area.

“They are leaders on the team, leaders in the school and leaders in the classroom,” Hazlet said.