All-Area squad has lots of red, black, blue
Both teams surged at states
One gold medal is rare enough.
Hatboro-Horsham’s Andy Thomas won them in back-to-back events, with barely enough room in between.
“It was kind of nuts,” he said after Day Two of the PIAA State Championships. “In a short amount of time, a lot going on.”
Thomas was the state’s best in the 100-yard breaststroke and led off the Keystone State’s fastest 400 free foursome, joinin Luke Emig, Stuart Sumner and John Scully. Both events are Hatboro-Horsham entries on this year’s All-Area Boys Swim Team.
“I’m glad that I brought it home,” Thomas said of the breast. “My best time by a ton so I couldn’t be any happier.
“The relay was phenomenal.”
Thomas was also part of the All-Area 200 free relay squad, adding to quite a season, quite a finish, for the Hatters.
La Salle’s Jake Sannem out-distanced himself from all competition in the 200 and 500 freestyles, racing to state-title swims in both events.
North Penn had their best postseason in years, led by Sean Faikish, the area’s best in the 200 IM, diver Bryce Hoch, capping his senior year with his best states performance, and newcomer Noah Jamieson, who added another dimension for NP with his talents in the 100 fly.
Souderton Area also distinguished itself in the big meets, combining its efforts for a 200 medley relay foursome that was difficult to beat. Cristian Musterait, a member of that squad, earned All-Area honors in both the 50 free and the 100 free.
Lower Moreland, meanwhile, was powered by Connor Killion. The District 1-2A Champs saw Killion race to a state gold in the 100 back, his time of 49.64 setting quite a high standard.
States brought out the best in several local competitors.
Said Sannem: “I was really happy with how the meet shaped up for everyone.”
All-Area Boys Swim Team
Swimmer of the Year: Jake Sannem, La Salle Diving: Bryce Hoch, 481.20, State Silver Medalist 200 medley relay: Souderton Area (Storm Krader, T.J. Yaglenski, Cristian Musterait, Jake Kramer), 1:33.76, State Bronze Medalist 200 free: Jake Sannem, La Salle, 1:34.76, State Gold Medalist 200 IM: Sean Faikish, North Penn, 1:49.84, State Silver Medalist 50 free: Cristian Musterait, Souderton Area, 20.44, State Silver Medalist 100 fly: Noah Jamieson, North Penn, 49.85, State Bronze Medalist 200 free relay: Hatboro-Horsham (John Scully, Luke Emig, Andy Thomas, Tim McPoyle), 1:23.78, State Silver Medalist 100 free: Cristian Musterait, Souderton Area, 45.70, Sixth in the State 500 free: Jake Sannem, La Salle, 4:21.63, State Gold Medalist 100 back: Connor Killion, Lower Moreland, 49.64, State Gold Medalist (AA) 100 breast: Andy Thomas, Hatboro-Horsham, 55.16, State Gold Medalist 400 free relay: Hatboro-Horsham (Andy Thomas, Luke Emig, Stuart Sumner, John Scully), 3:04.70, State Gold Medalist