Knight Site

The 1979 Girls Swim Team was young and very inexperienced.  They had four seniors and only one swimmer who had competed in a relay at the State level.  In coach Patricia Henry’s words, “We thought maybe this team would be a target for a Championship in a couple of years.”

Since its inception in 1971, the Girls Swim Team had achieved a dual meet record of 57 wins, 12 losses and 2 ties.   They had won seven consecutive Bux-Mont League Championships and were building a strong foundation for a successful future. No one realized the future was now.

The North Penn Maidens opened the 1978-79 season by winning the 200 Medley Relay and the 800 Freestyle Relay at the Central Bucks East Relay Carnival.  Little did they realize at that time that winning relays would contribute to a dream come true.  After four early season dual meet victories the team was prepared to challenge Upper Dublin.  Upper Dublin had won the past three PIAA Girls State Championships and had a 49 dual meet winning streak.  North Penn won the meet 89-83, proving that they were capable of competing at the highest level of State competition.  This win paved the way for their first undefeated season and eighth Bux-Mont Championship.

1979 North Penn High School Girls Swimming Team

Before the District One Championship Meet some very calculated decisions had to be made.  After much discussion the team members decided to set aside personal opportunities for the ultimate success of the team.  By strategically placing sophomore Sharon Herzog and freshman Juli Schulte in two Relay events, each sacrificing one individual event, it would make the team a stronger contender at the State Championship meet.  The girls swam well at the District One meet winning both relays and finishing fourth in the Team Championship.

The headlines in the North Penn Reporter read, “North Penn Turns a Dream into a Stunning Reality” by winning the PIAA Girls Swimming and Diving State Championship.  “It was quality not quantity that won the championship” said Coach Patricia Henry.  The Medley Relay composed of Juli Schulte, Becky Heinz Sharon Herzog and Jenny Sanders won the PIAA State title.  Sharon Herzog finished second in the butterfly setting a new State record in the preliminaries and Juli Schulte placed third in the backstroke.  The 400 Freestyle Relay Team consisting of Jenny Sanders, Juli Russell, Sharon Herzog and Juli Schulte needed a third place or higher to win the State title; they placed second finalizing the dream come true.  North Penn High School had its first Girls PIAA State Swimming and Diving Championship.