Panthers’ McKim 6th in 500 free

Paige McKim can look back at the final individual swim of her high school career with a great deal of pride.

The Schuylkill Valley senior posted a time of 5:15.80 to earn the sixthplace medal in the 500yard freestyle on the final day of the PIAA Class 2A Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium. She won an eighth-place medal in the 200 free on Wednesday.

“I’m very excited with how well this meet went for me,” McKim said. “It was very unexpected. Honestly, when I first started swimming in high school, if someone told me I was going to win a medal I’d probably have laughed. It’s bittersweet because this is the end, but I’m very thankful.

“I felt really strong in the 500. Not as strong as I felt this morning (in finishing in 5:15.07 in the prelims), but I’ll take it. I tried to go for it and swim my hardest for my last individual high school event. I can’t complain.”

Jenna Kirby, Annie Gao, Megan Reifsnider and McKim ended the meet with a 12th-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:42.65.

“This whole experience of being here with the relay was my favorite thing,” McKim said. “That’s always my favorite part of the meet because I love the team. We always get so hyped up. It’s definitely not as much pressure. We can just get in, swim and have fun.”

Also for Schuylkill Valley, Annie Gao was 13th in the 100 backstroke (59.32), Emily Gao took 15th in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.36) and Kirby finished 16th in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.27) and 20th in the 100 freestyle (55.17).

The Panthers finished in 10th place in team scoring with 78 points.

For the Schuylkill Valley boys, freshman Owen Eisenhofer reached the consolation final of the 100 backstroke, ending up in 14th place in 54.53.

“I think my district meet was pretty good, but I had a disappointing state meet,” Eisenhofer said. “The meet was bigger than I thought it would be. I’ll know what to expect next time around. I just have to work harder and hopefully I’ll have a better outcome. I’m used to coming back for night swims, that wasn’t the problem. I think I’m just tired now.

“I think this was a good foundation for the future for me. Hopefully I’ll be back next year and have a better outcome.“I had a lot of support from my teammates. I couldn’t ask for any better.”

Eisenhofer also led off the 400 freestyle relay for Hunter Moyer, Gabe Martin and David Kramer that clocked in at 3:31.28 for 27th place.

Daniel Boone sophomore Tyler Ferenz was 21st in the 500 freestyle in 5:03.38, while junior Matthew Ferenz was close behind, finishing 23rd in 5:05.05.

Kutztown freshman Alex Clauss was 32nd in the 100 freestyle (52.66).