Bridgeport High School has had 14 swimmers named as Big 10 Conference standouts and Jan Grisso has been named boys’ coach of the year.

 

“It’s always nice when your peers vote for you,” said Grisso about the post-season honors voted upon by high school coaches within the conference. “I feel very honored, but I wouldn’t be able to do my job without the help of (Assistant Coach) Jack (Merinar) and the kids. The kids are great.”

 

Lady Indians landing on the first team Big 10 were junior Sarah Stallman, senior Catie Wilson and freshman Darian Spencer.

Senior Jenna Soltesz, sophomores Maria Lacaria and Cheri Signorelli and freshman Vaughn Vincent were included on the second team.

For the boys, juniors John Carter and Philip Malenich and freshman Luke Pinti made the first team while the Rodriquez brothers – Marcel and Viktor – and Kyle Malcolm made second team. The Tribe’s Ryan Knapp was named honorable mention.

 

Grisso said all are deserving.

 

“They were just all hard workers and they’re young, which is nice, and some swim year-round, which pays off,” she said. “But some who do not swim year-round were also still able to get post-season honors.”

 

Cracking the Big 10 is no easy feat, Grisso said.

 

“The Big 10 has some pretty great competition, including Buckhannon and, of course, Fairmont Senior, so to get on that team is pretty impressive. It’s all done by secret ballot by coaches, so that makes it nice that other people see their talent.”

 

All Big 10 swimmers participated in the WVSSAC state swim meet at WVU’s Natatorium last week.

 

Marcel Rodriquez, Malcolm, Malenich and Carter (pictured above) took first place in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay. Stallman, Wilson, Spencer and Lacaria (pictured left) finished fourth in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay and also broke the BHS record, first at prelimniaries, then again at finals.

 

Malenich, Carter, Malcolm and Pinti claimed fifth place in the 200-yard medley relay. Pinti finished thid in the 100-yard breaststroke event and Carter placed fifth.

 

Malcolm picked up 11^th place in the 50-yard freestyle event, Malenich finished eighth place in 100-yard backstroke and Viktor Rodriquez placed eighth in the 100-butterfly event. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Marcel Rodriquez, Reed Smith, Malcolm and Malenich finished seventh.

In individual girls’ events, Stallman picked up seventh place in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle event. Spencer finished the 100-yard breaststroke in seventh place and the 100-butterfly in ninth. Soltesz finished the 100-yard butterfly in 11^th place. Wilson got ninth place in 50-yard freestyle and ninth place in the 100-yard freestyle. Lacaria picked up 11^th place in the 100-yard freestyle. The 200-yard medley relay team of Spencer, Kaitlyn Pinti, Stallman and Wilson finished fifth.

 

There were some impressive finishes and some good surprises at states, but there were also some disappointments, Grisso said.

 

“And I think that’s because of their youth; their first time at states and that happens,” she said. “But now that they have a state meet under their belt, I look for them to fare even better next year. We have swimmers coming back and more talent coming up.”

 

Overall, Grisso was pleased with the Tribe’s state swim meet performance. She was impressed to see so many improve their finish times and the character displayed. She said she is proud of the entire Indian swim team.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured just above is Coach Jan Grisso.