After setting two district records, Greensburg YMCA swimmer Patton Graziano looked forward to competing in the Pennsylvania YMCA State Swimming Championship at Penn State.

But the meet was canceled because of concerns over the possible spread of the coronavirus.

“I am very disappointed I don’t have a chance to swim,” said Graziano, 14, a Penn-Trafford eighth grader. “I was hoping I had a shot at a state title.”

Graziano earned gold medals in the boys 13-14 100-yard backstroke in 54.97 seconds and the 200 backstroke (1:59.58) in the West District championship March 6-7 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

He also took first in the 200 medley relay (1:47.40) with Kaden Faychak, George Horey and Grant Smith.

Horey (2:09.26) also won individually in the 200 butterfly.

“The 13-14 boys had a nice meet,” Stingray coach Kim Graziano said. “Grant Smith, Kaden Faychak, George Horey and Luke Mayo all had personal best times.”

Graziano said her son did not taper.

“The plan was to rest for the state meet,” she said. “Cancelling the state meet is super disappointing because he does not have the opportunity to see what he could do when he is rested.

“Patton has another year in this age group. Hopefully, he will be in contention next year.”

A week after leading the Elizabeth Forward girls team to its first WPIAL title, Stingray competitor Hailey Yurkovich earned a gold medal in the girls 15-and-over 200 individual medley (2:10.97) and a silver in the 400 individual medley (4:38.96).

“I was partially rested for both events but was trying to save a little for the state meets,” said Yurkovich, 15, an Elizabeth Forward sophomore who was in two relays that won in the WPIAL Class AA championship. “I added training because I was so close to making national YMCA times.

“Because PIAA and YMCA states were canceled, I didn’t get to see how fast I could really go.”

Kelly Yurkovich, who coaches the Stingrays at McKeesport, said some adjustments were made to her daughter’s schedule and training based on last year’s results.

“Besides her hard work in the pool, I would say her attitude is the key to her success in high school and YMCA swimming,” Kelly Yurkovich said. “She’s a fierce competitor.

“I expect her to do something special (in) the next few seasons.”

Brooke Yurkovich (Hailey’s sister) topped the podium in the girls 11-12 100 butterfly (1:06.57).

“I want to be as good as my sister, but even better,” said Brooke, 12, an Elizabeth Forward sixth grader.

In the boys 10-and-under age group, the Stingrays picked up three gold medals, with Owen Busch winning in the 100 butterfly (1:15.76) and 100 individual medley (1:15.88) and Matthew Novotnak in the 50 breaststroke (40.45).

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)