Pennridge’s Morgan Scott won her second gold and Upper Dublin capture the 400 free relay on Sunday at the PIAA Class AAA championships. Photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for galleries of all the action...CLICK HERE to go directly to the Swimming galleries.
LEWISBURG - Morgan Scott finally got the gold in the 100-yard freestyle.
The Pennridge junior posted a time of 49.53 for the victory at Sunday’s PIAA Class AAA girls swimming championships at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.
“I’m so happy,” Scott said. “I’ve been waiting for this since my freshman year and I’m so happy I finally got it.
“The people around me really pushed me so it was a good race. I think they didn’t know I was there because I was in Lane 6 so that was to my advantage. Everything worked out for me.
“I actually missed my second wall so had to catch up and I was a little tired but honestly it doesn’t matter, I still won.”
Scott won the 200 freestyle on Saturday.
“It’s definitely something I’m grateful for, because I know not everyone gets two golds,” Scott said. “I know Olivia Paoletti (of Avon Grove, the winner of the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke) did it too, but there’s only a select few and this is my first time getting two golds in individuals so I’m really excited.
“I’m really excited for next year. That’s my last year, obviously, and I don’t know what I’m going to swim. I might change it up. I’m not sure. The 100’s got a place in my heart and it’s hard to give one up once you’ve won it but we’ll see.”
Erin Shema, Anna Beno, Scott and Claire Beno finished 12th in the 400 freestyle relay (3:33.11).
“I wanted to go a 48 but I went 49.00 but it was still a lot of fun,” Scott said. “I went third this time instead of fourth, which I usually do so that was different and it was fun. I got a different perspective on things because I’m used to going last. I felt good, I felt fast, so it was good.”
Shema was ninth in the 100 backstroke (56.77).
Upper Dublin finished the meet with a flourish, winning the 400 freestyle relay.
Abbie Amdor, Elle Braun, Aly Breslin and Jenna Johns touched in 3:24.41 for the victory.
“I’m so happy,” said Johns, the lone senior of the group. “These girls worked so hard. It’s definitely the most deserving group of girls who got to experience this and they’re all so young.
“I’m definitely leaving this program in better hands.”
Last year Upper Dublin was disqualified in the 400 freestyle relay at the District One meet, so the Cardinals didn’t even get to compete in the event at states.
“To go from not having a relay to winning is crazy,” Johns said. “At districts we knew we could definitely make it but then we came in seeded first.
“We felt the pressure of being seeded first, especially with not having prelims and finals this year so it was a little bit concerning but it turned out in our favor. We definitely had a bull’s eye on our backs and we just figured we’d go out and have fun. There was nothing to lose at that point.”
The relay had a different look at districts, as Laura Pendleton swam on the district relay. She was replaced by Breslin at states.
“Without Laura we wouldn’t have gotten to this point so she deserves all the golds, all four of them,” Johns said.
Johns was fourth in the 100 backstroke (55.93). On Saturday she finished fifth in the 100 butterfly (54.89).
“Swimming backstroke was something new to me because usually I swim the 100 freestyle,” Johns said. “But to bring home a medal in two individual events is amazing and I finally got our school record in the 100 butterfly. It was perfect.”
Amdor finished fifth in the 100 freestyle (50.82) and Braun took fifth in the 500 freestyle (4:56.31) to earn individual medals.
Breslin took 21st in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.63) to round out the day for the Cardinals.
North Penn’s Claudia Thamm, Parker Schulz, Megan Zartman and Kailyn Evans took second in the 400 freestyle relay (3:26.52).
Evans took fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.48) for the lone individual medal for the Knights.
Also for North Penn, Zartman finished 10th in the 100 backstroke (57.04), Schulz took 15th in the 100 freestyle (52.58), Heather Hartmann placed 15th in the 500 freestyle (5:05.25), Katelyn Harkrader took 19th in the 100 backstroke (58.19) and Caroline Dunigan was 25th in the 100 freestyle (53.40).
Souderton’s Jenny Rogers was 14th in the 100 freestyle (52.55).
Carly Zlotnikoff of Wissahickon just missed the podium, taking ninth in the 500 freestyle (5:00.00). She also anchored the 400 freestyle relay for Kelly Wild, Katie Sapozhnikov and Karis Kim, which finished 10th (3:32.56).
Quakertown’s Kaylee Heimes took 14th in the 100 backstroke (57.76).
Upper Dublin is second in team scoring with 176.50 points and North Penn is fourth (133). Avon Grove has a comfortable lead with 228.50 points.
Diving is still to be contested, slated for Sunday at 3 p.m. Of the 10 top teams in scoring, only two have divers. North Penn has four and Hershey, tied for eighth with Governor Mifflin (99) has one.
Avon Grove has mathematically clinched the state title, but North Penn could move up as far as second place depending on the diving finish.
“We always know with diving that we don’t have a diver and it’s going to be close so we’ve got to do what we can do in the pool and leave it at that,” Johns said.
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