1990 Girls Swimming & Diving Team
It 1990 North Penn Girls Swimming and Diving team had a memorable season. Midway through the season head coach Selma Robinson and assistant coach Michaeline Botti had a team meeting with the girls discussing the reality of winning a PIAA state championship. The season was going very well with many outstanding dual meet performances. The team was working extremely hard while focusing on a common goal – individual time improvements which would result in a successful season for all. It was the belief of the team that hard work would pay off in the end while stating many times that “We are on a mission.”
Entering into the championship part of the season, the team posted a dual meet record of 11-0 to complete an undefeated season. The closest meet was against Council Rock where North Penn outdistanced the Indians by 46 points. It was evident that the North Penn girls were the most competitive team in the Suburban I League. The girls also won the very prestigious Wilson Relays in January by scoring 318 points and defeating three very strong teams from Wilson West Lawn, Cumberland Valley and Emmaus.
Although there was no score kept at the Suburban One National Swimming and Diving Championships held at Council Rock, the North Penn girls started to show hints of what was to come in the next several weeks. North Penn won the majority of the events with many girls finishing in the top six. Several championship records were also broken by the North Penn swimmers.
North Penn was the favorite to win the District One Swimming and Diving Championships that were held at the University of Pennsylvania in late February. The team did not disappoint their loyal fans. North Penn won the team title by amassing 185 ½ team points along with qualifying a number of swimmers to the state meet. The 200 yard Medley Relay team of Justine Gibbons, Julie Krail, Danielle Strader and Kristen Downey set a new district record along with Danielle Strader setting new District One records in both of her individual events the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard butterfly.
Arriving on Penn State’s campus in early March to compete in the Pennsylvania State Swimming and Diving championships was an exciting time for the North Penn swimmers. The group of girls representing the team included seniors Kristen Downey, Justine Gibbons, and Carolyn Hahn. Cathie Brittin, Darienne Drissel, Danielle Strader and Tory Young were sophomores and two freshmen Julie Krail and Tracy Ostrowski rounded out the group. The team knew deep down that if they kept their focus on the season’s goal, personal time improvements, everything would fall into place.
The North Penn Maidens were on a mission. The first race of the competition was the 200 yard Medley Relay. The North Penn team that broke the record at Districts swam to a first place finish by smashing the state record by three seconds. The winning time of 1:46.93 registered as the fastest time in 1990 of all high school medley relay teams in the United States. Rick Carroll, North Penn swimming’s respected mentor, reminded us that “so goes the medley, so goes the meet.” The team was off to a great start. Danielle Strader went on to win the 50 yard freestyle in state record time along with finishing first in the 100 yard butterfly. Julie Krail placed fifth in the 200 yard Individual Medley. After the first day of competition the young ladies from North Penn were leading the team competition by scoring a whopping 77 points. To put that first day’s team total in to perspective, Dover High School finished as state runner up by scoring a team total of 78 points after two days of competition.
The second day of state competition was just as exciting. Senior Justine Gibbons posted a personal best time and earned the silver medal in the 100 yard backstroke. Not to be out done, freshman Julie Krail was crowned state champion in the 100 yard breaststroke while breaking the state record. The 400 yard freestyle relay team of Tory Young, Darienne Drissel, Carolyn Hahn and Kristen Downey placed sixth to finish off an amazing weekend of competition. After a long season of hard work and positive mental attitudes the 1990 North Penn Swimming and Diving team was crowned PIAA State Champions by scoring 124 points.
If winning the state championship wasn’t enough, later in the summer, Swimming World Magazine recognized this amazing team of athletes by naming them the 1990 National Public High School Swimming and Diving Champions.
Mission Accomplished!
1989-1990 Dual Meet Record
Undefeated 11- 0
Vs. Upper Dublin 117-55
Vs. Methacton 132-40
Vs. Council Rock 109 -63
Vs. Pennsbury 110-62
Vs. Neshaminy 113-43
Vs. Bensalem 123-48
Vs. William Tennent 136-36
Vs. Abington 111-61
Vs. Norristown 130-38
Vs. Central Bucks West 135-32
Vs. Central Bucks East 120-52
State Titles
1990
200 yard Medley Relay Team: Justine Gibbons, Julie Krail, Danielle Strader, Kristen Downey
1:46.93 State Record, Fastest Team in the Nation
50 yard Freestyle: Danielle Strader
23.45 State Record
100 yard Butterfly: Danielle Strader
55.74
100 yard Breaststroke: Julie Krail
1:04.72 State Record
1990 PIAA State Participants
Danielle Strader, Julie Krail, Carolyn Hahn, Kristen Downey, Justine Gibbons, Tory Young, Cathie Brittin, Darienne Drissel, Tracy Ostrowski
Other members of the PIAA State Championship team
Donna Brown, Megan Bunting, Sharon Conley, Noreen Downey, Kristen Fink, Jenny Hahn, Jeanette Jansen, Melissa Kramer, Kelly Miller, Cheryl Milligan, Megan Moyer, Melissa Nagle, Jeanine Periguini, Tammy Quinn, Kristen Schickling, Kathy Schoenfelder, Barb Stuart, Sarah Szymanski, Stacey Tieger, Grace Tsuei, Lynda Vogel, Barb Weigner, Tracey Williams, Michelle Williamson, Jen Zapata, Michelle Zapata
Team Captains – Kristen Downey, Justine Gibbons, Michelle Williamson
Coaches – Selma Robinson (Head Coach), Michaeline Botti (Assistant Coach), Steve Kuttruff (Diving Coach)