NTL SWIMMING: RECORD FALLS AS ATHENS GIRLS, BOYS POST BIG WINS OVER WELLSBORO ON 'SENIOR DAY' (January 29, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The foursome of seniors Olivia Thompson, Elizabeth Denlinger, Evey Panek and junior Kaitlyn Leonard "set the tone" with a school-record time in the first event of the meet as the Athens girls and boys posted big wins over Wellsboro here Thursday on "Senior Day."

"It was a fun meet with high spirits and low times," said Athens coach Mark Keister. "We had a boat load of season best times and good close races. 

"It was also special as we recognized the seniors from both Athens and Wellsboro," he added.

BOYS
Athens 97, Wellsboro 25
Junior Eli Hick won four events, and juniors Brayden Pettitt and Jacob Shores were triple-winners to lead Athens to a 97-25 win over Wellsboro in NTL boys swimming action.

Senior Ty Lezak and juniors Dominic Musick and Austin Quattrini were double-winners for the Wildcats.

Hicks won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 23.43 seconds.

Hicks also won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 51.33 seconds and junior Matthew Rossettie was second in 58.24 seconds.

Pettitt won the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:50.32, and sophomore Alexander Stedge was second in 2:40.0.

Pettitt won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 59.81 seconds, and junior Jacob Shores was second in 1:16.15.

Junior Jacob Shores won the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1:05.92.

Musick won the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:54.66

Hicks, Lezak, Musick. Shores teamed to win the 200-yard medley really in a time of 1:52.03.

Hicks teamed with Lezak, Quattrini and Rossettie to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in a time of 1:42.36.

Pettitt and Shores teamed with Lezak and Quattrini to win the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:41.34.

Lezak was second in the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 1:17.19.

GIRLS
Athens 93, Wellsboro 26
Senior Elizabeth Delinger was a quad-winner to lead the Lady Wildcats to a 93-26 win over Wellsboro in NTL girls swimming action Thursday.

Seniors Evelyn Panek and Olivia Thompson, and junior Kaitlyn Leonard were triple-winners, and senior Madeline Henderson was a double-winner for the Wildcats.

Thompson, Denlinger, Panek and Leonard broke the 200-yard medley school-record, clocking in with a time of 1:58.3. They eclipsed the previous mark set in 2017.

The same foursome won the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 4:01.71.

Denlinger won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 26.68 seconds, and junior Alana Reyes was third in 30.78 seconds.

Denlinger also won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:17.81.

Panek led a sweep in the 100-yard freestyle, clocking in at 57.3 seconds, while senior Kayla Marshall was second in 1:06.48, and sophomore Brooke Lyon was third in 1:08.27.

Leonard won the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 1:18.83.

Thompson led a sweep in the 100-yard backstroke, winning in a time of 1:07.26, while Panek was second in 1:16.29, and Henderson was third in 1:22.14.

Henderson won the 200-yard IM in a time of 2:42.19, and Thompson was second in 2:42.22.

Henderson, Lyon, and Marshall teamed with freshman Peighton Henry to win the 200-yard freestyle relay in a time of 2:02.38.

Senior Penelope Grubb won the 1-meter diving competition for the Wildcats with a six-dive score of 138.4.

Lyon finished second in the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 2:35.74

Athens will now gear up for big match up on Tuesday at Towanda vs Bloomsburg.

"Bloomsburg always has fast swimmers and we expect some exceptional races," said Keister.

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IN TOP PHOTO: The 200-yard medley relay team of Olivia Thompson, Elizabeth Deninger, Evelyn Panek, and Kaitlyn Leonard. IN BOTTOM PHOTO: Athens honored its seniors Thursday during its meet against Wellsboro. ... PHOTO PROVIDED.

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