PIAA-AAA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS Gov. Mifflin girls place 3rd at states

7 Mustangs garner 4 individual, 3 relay medals

The Governor Mifflin girls swim team has experienced substantial growth over the course of the past several seasons.

And last week, they displayed it on the state’s grandest stage.

The Lady Mustangs secured four individual and three relay medals — including gold in the 200-yard freestyle relay — on the way to a third-place finish at the PIAA Class AAA Championships at Bucknell University.

Three years after sending just one representative to states — Gabriella Johnson — Mifflin had seven different swimmers hit the water this time around. The Mustangs locked up third place overall with 168 team points, behind only North Penn (258) and Avon Grove (203).

The Mustangs secured first in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:33.18, cutting nearly a full second off their morning preliminary time of 1:34.08. The contingent included Courtney Hubric, Rebecca Brown, Connar Melcher and Emma Steckiel.

Brown, Hubric and Steckiel also linked up with Ava Enriquez for a bronze finish in the 400 free relay, which finished up at 3:24.93. Mifflin also secured sixth place in the 200 medley relay. The contingent, which included Corinne McCurley, Johnson, Enriquez and Hubric, finished up at 1:45.43.

Individually, Steckiel secured a silver and fifthplace medal. The sophomore posted a 23.02 in the 50 free, behind only Gateway’s Olivia Livingston, who set a new state record with a time of 22.73. Rebecca Brown took fifth with a time of 23.49.

Steckiel also took fifth in the 100 free with a time of 50.44, right on the heels of West Chester East’s Ann Carozza (50.40). Hubric took eighth in the 50 free, touching the wall at 24.08.

As her team’s lone representative, Muhlenberg’s Cameron Gring headed back home with a pair of medals. The sophomore took gold in the 100 back at 54.28, beating the field by nearly a full second. She also finished sixth overall in the 200 IM (2:03.43).

Wilson-West Lawn’s relay proved to be their strength. The Bulldogs took fourth place in the 200 free relay at 1:35.45 with Sophia Appler, Carolyn Pitorak, Rylee Wenzel and Shelby Kahn finishing right behind North Penn. Kahn, Wenzel and Appler also took sixth place in the 400 free relay with Carly Campion. The contingent finished up at 3:30.25.

Exeter’s Brooke Bollinger finished eighth in the consolation finals (16th overall) in the 100 breast. She touched the wall at 1:05.95. Daniel Boone’s lone representative, Carlie Owens, finished 21st overall in the 100 breast at 1:05.99.

***

On the boys side, Wilson’s relays secured three medals during the state meet at Bucknell University.

The Bulldogs opened up with an eighth-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The contingent was made up of Jack Werner, Donovan Curran, Andrew Sillhart and Alexander Vottero, and finished up at 1:34.84. Wilson also finished sixth in the 200 free relay (1:35.47), with Vottero, Brody Heckman, Malachi Eberly and Caleb Eberly. The Bulldogs also closed out the meet with a seventh-place finish in the 400 free relay (3:09.16). The contingent in-

cluded Werner and Curran along with Malachi and Caleb Eberly.

Wilson finished tenth overall in the team standings with 78.5 points. North Allegheny claimed first with 301 followed by North Penn (190) and Upper Dublin (134).

Muhlenberg’s Roanoke Shirk grabbed a sixthplace medal with a 1:40.81 in the 200 free. He also placed 10th in the 500 free (4:34.32). Daniel Boone’s Chris Guiliano finished 14th overall in the 200 IM. The freshman swam a 1:54.41, cutting over a second off his preliminary time.

Governor Mifflin finished 16th overall in 200 free relay. The contingent, which included Shane Stauffer, Trevor Woolwine, Aiden McCurley and Tim Mangan, finished up at 1:28.06.