The Upper Dublin boys and girls squads both captured District One AAA titles last week. To view photos of all the district action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Upper Dublin performed quite a feat at the District One swimming championships, held March 1-2 at La Salle University.
The Cardinals won both the boys and girls team titles in Class AAA. The boys scored 298.5 points to beat runner-up North Penn, which posted a 262, while the girls also bested North Penn, scoring 246 points to 191 for the Maidens.
The last time Upper Dublin won the team title in both genders was 1993, when it was a Class AA school.
“Winning it was a team goal this year,” said girls coach Brian Palme. “We kept it on our radar but as the season progressed, it was always questionable.
“We had some team health issues so there were some creeping doubts but we believed it could be done and our kids did some great things.”
The girls won the team title last year as well.
“Winning it a second time is definitely something to always remember,” said senior Carolyn Meier. “It was a great achievement.
“The boys meet was first so when we heard the results that pumped us up to do even better. We have a very strong district and for both of us to win it shows how strong our program is.
“I think it gives us a lot of confidence going into states. Everyone is very positive and we’re not finished yet.”
The girls started off the meet with a fourth place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. Alex Wheatley, Emeline Leyens, Sam Wheatley and Lindsey Schmidt finished in 1:50.62.
Casey O’Neill took fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:54.29), while Sam Wheatley was third in the 200 individual medley (2:10.42) and Schmidt was fifth in the 50 freestyle (24.50).
Schmidt, O’Neill, Emily Houser and Meier were second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:37.24).
Meier was third in the 100 freestyle (52.64) and Houser was sixth in the 100 backstroke (59.74).
They ended the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay, taking the gold when Council Rock North was disqualified.
O’Neill, Sam Wheatley, Houser and Meier posted a 3:32.18.
“We were disqualified at our championship meet and I was the one who did it, so I felt their pain,” Meier said. “As bad as that was for me and our team to do it at champs, it’s worse to have it happen at districts because then you don’t go to states.”
After the first day of competition, Upper Dublin’s boys held first place by a mere half point, 162.5-162 over defending champion North Penn.
“It was so exciting,” boys coach Lisa Fantini said. “We knew we’d be in contention but we weren’t expecting it.
“When you scored out the meet we lost by about 80 points so the cards really had to fall our way. After the first day, when everyone swam so well, it became believable for us, and then for the girls to win also was just amazing.
“The kids train together and Brian and I are good friends so this was just so special.”
The Cardinals got to the podium in every event except the 50 freestyle.
The boys started off with a win in the 200 medley relay. Bobby Bantley, Cooper Tollen, Zach Brech and Eric Jensen clocked in 1:33.74 to set the tone for the Cardinals.
Bantley won the 200 freestyle (1:40.18) while Jensen was fourth (1:44.12). Ian Flynn was sixth in the 200 individual medley (1:58.51), with Tollen taking eighth (1:59.14).
Brech took second in the 100 butterfly (50.88), with Flynn taking eighth (53.02).
The 200 freestyle relay of Tim Klein, Tollen, Flynn and Joe Starosta was third (1:27.80).
Bantley won the 100 freestyle (45.97) with Brech taking sixth (46.59). Chris Devlin was sixth in the 500 freestyle (4:50.62).
In the 100 backstroke, Jenson finished fourth (51.84) and Starosta was sixth (53.59).
Tollen won the 100 breaststroke (57.76).
The Cardinals capped off the meet with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay. Jensen, Flynn, Brech and Bantley finished in 3:07.69 to seal the win.
“It was pretty awesome,” said senior Eric Luttmann. “We’ve all been on a journey since November and it’s a great feeling.
“Winning the medley relay just set the tone for us and when Bobby opened up Friday by winning the 100 free that really kept it going for us.
“He beat Jason Deana (of North Penn) and that really set us up for the rest of the day.
“North Penn always had depth, that was how they won so many district titles, but this year, I think our depth really shined.
“We had so many guys finishing in the 14-16 spots and picking up those points here and there. Everyone notices the top finishers but all those other points really add up and those are the points that make the difference.”
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