Whiz Kid

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brian Landi

Marple Newtown Patch highlights Marple Newtown High School's swimming and track star Brian Landi.

Each week, Marple Newtown Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. This week we highlight Brian Landi, a senior at Marple Newtown, who was recently recognized as an Academic All American swimmer. Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brian Landi Whiz Kid's Age: 18 Whiz Kid's School: Marple Newtown High School Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Brian, who swims the 100 meter breaststroke and 200 meter, individual medley was recently recognized as an Academic All American swimmer by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association. To qualify for the award, a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale, be a graduating senior and have …

• Photos (3)

VIDEO: School Officials Recognize MNHS Swim Team

A special recognition was also given to Marple Newtown swimmer Brian Landi for making Academic All American Swimming this season.

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Marple Newtown school officials publicly recognized the achievements of the Marple Newtown High School swim team at a school board meeting on Tuesday night. This season, the swim team received the Central League Sportsmanship Award. Several of the students attended Tuesday night's meeting to receive a special recognition from the school board. Superintendent Merle Horowitz noted that the award not only represented the team as a whole but their coaches and their parents. Andrew Kane, head coach for the boys, Marty Wooliery and Dee Endicott, head coaches for the girls, and Dan Dortone, diving coach, were also present at Tuesday's special presentation. Kane noted some of the obstacles that the team had to endure during the high…

• Videos (1)

Marple Newtown Swim Team's Special Olympian Is a Champion In Water

Even though Marple Newtown Swim Team didn't sport a winning record this summer, Ron Nagel has won the hearts of his team, his spectators and even his opponents.

BROOMALL–Ron Nagel starts each summer morning working out with 20 to 25 other teenagers as a member of the Marple Newtown Swim Team for Marple Newtown Swim Club in Broomall. He arrives each day with his ear phones in, his sweatshirt hood up, and a huge smile on his face. He's almost always the first one in the pool. The team forgets the fact that Nagel's a Special Olympian wth Down's Syndrome—to them, he's just another swimmer trying to find his way. Ron trains daily for an hour and a half, not always making all the drills and practice sets, but never failing to try. Day by day, year after year since he was  5 years old, Nagel gives it his all. This summer, as a senior, Nagel's events have doubled in distance. He now has to do four lengths…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (6)

Tigers Swim Team Splits Meet with Lower Merion

The Lady Tigers end with a 20-point shortfall, 97-77, but Marple Newtown boys come roaring back to win 100-86.

ARDMORE—Marple Newtown's swimmers continue to struggle with adversity this season due to a shortened roster and a tough practice situation–held at neighboring school Strath Haven due to renovations to their own pool–but they found a way to battle back in the second half of Tuesday's meet and take away at least one victory. "We have a few (missing players) every meet," said coach Andrew Kane, "Either sick, [at] school activities or the like...it's hurting us at just about every meet. But the biggest [problem] is the weather because we practice only at 5 a.m., I have had to cancel at least one practice a week for the last four weeks. When you have two meets a week and cancel one practice, that means we're only practicing one or two days a …

• Photos (7)

Despite More Losses For Marple Newtown, Coach Kane Excited About Future

Marple Newtown swim team has a strong underclassmen showing that has the coaching staff looking ahead to a brighter tomorrow.

Wallingford–With their home pool being renovated this season, it's literally a rebuilding year for Marple Newtown's swim team, but the underclassmen are showing a bright future. It took five races for the Tigers to see their first win on Tuesday, and it came from freshman Makaela Somma, who blew her previous best 200-meter individual medley time out of the water by 5 seconds. The first-place finishes were in scarce supply for Marple Newtown, but when they came, they came from the freshmen and sophomore girls. Somma would also finish first in the girls 100-meter backstroke, while her classmate and fellow bright spot on the horizon, Calie Coghlan, took the girls 50-meter freestyle sprint with a personal record time of 27.49 seconds. The …

• Photos (5)

Marple Newtown Wins Swim Meet Against Harriton

Marple Newtown High School's swim team won their meet against Harriton High School Dec. 21.

Rosemont–Though Marple Newtown won their swim meet Tuesday afternoon against Harriton High School, a few of their opponents qualified for districts. Marple Newtown's senior Cullen Scott stroked past Harriton junior Zico Gaeffke and finished the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.28 seconds. Gaeffke finished with a time of 24.5 seconds, coming in just behind . In the boys' 500 freestyle, Harriton freshman Grant Fisher came in first with a time of 5:41.59, Harriton sophomore Parker Laren came in second at 5:59.59, and Marple Newtown senior William McCauley came in third at 6:08.13. In the boys' 100 breaststroke, Harriton senior Barclay Walsh placed first at 1:11.62, and Marple Newtown sophomore Nate Tavani posted a time of 1:22.10. Marple …

• Photos (1)

Marple Newtown Swim Team Has Their Eyes on Districts

Marple Newtown's swim team focused on qualifying for districts against Haverford Dec. 17.

Upper Darby—Sometimes a swim meet isn't about "us versus them." On Dec. 17, Marple Newtown faced Haverford High School at Upper Darby, but all eyes were set on the clock not on the other team. Many schools know that Haverford's swim team is the one to beat, and it's predicted that the team will most likely dominate the season. However, during Friday's meet, both teams were more concerned with helping their teammates post good enough times and scores to qualify for district finals. The coaches on both sides of the pool scrutinized their rosters to see which of their swimmers were best utilized in certain roles going forward. With a time of 1:54.08 in the boys 200-meter freestyle, John Livezey was the first of Marple Newtown's team to …

• Photos (6)

Marple Newtown Varsity Swim Team Opens Season with Losses but Hopeful

Marple Newtown's swim team faces adversity from the get-go this year, but there's a lot of potential on their shortened roster.

Wallingford—Marple Newtown High School knew they had an uphill battle to fight before the swim season even kicked off Dec. 14 against Penncrest High School. One unfair advantage is that none of their home games will actually be at home anytime soon. Marple Newtown's swimming pool is currently under construction, and is estimated to end no less than six months from now. As a result the team has been forced to practice at a different location at 5 a.m., which has resulted in a noticeable drop in their overall numbers. Despite the short roster–even shorter on Tuesday with the loss of talented 6-foot-6-inch junior John Brogan to illness–Marple Newtown still gave Penncrest a good fight. Although the final score of the boys' matchup was 111-75…

• Photos (11)
• Videos (1)